Acapulco public transportation information

By Taxi -- Taxis are more plentiful than tacos in Acapulco -- and practically as inexpensive, if you're traveling in the downtown area only. Just remember that you should always establish the price with the driver before starting out. Hotel taxis may charge three times the rate of a taxi hailed on the street, and nighttime taxi rides cost extra, too. Taxis are also more expensive if you're staying in the Diamante section or south. The minimum fare is $2 per ride for a roving VW Bug-style taxi in town; the fare from Puerto Marqués to the hotel zone is $8, or $10 into downtown. Sitio taxis are nicer cars, but more expensive, with a minimum fare of $4.

The fashion among Acapulco taxis is flashy, with Las Vegas-style lights -- the more colorful and pulsating, the better.

By Bus -- Even though the city has a confusing street layout, using city buses is amazingly easy and inexpensive. Two kinds of buses run along the Costera: pastel color-coded buses and regular "school buses." The difference is the price: New air-conditioned tourist buses (Aca Tur Bus) are 50¢; old buses, 35¢. Covered bus stops are all along the Costera, with handy maps on the walls showing routes to major sights and hotels.

The best place near the zócalo to catch a bus is next to Sanborn's, 2 blocks east. CALETA DIRECTO or BASE-CALETA buses will take you to the Hornos, Caleta, and Caletilla beaches along the Costera. Some buses return along the same route; others go around the peninsula and return to the Costera.

For expeditions to more distant destinations, there are buses to Puerto Marqués to the east (marked PUERTO MARQUES-BASE) and Pie de la Cuesta to the west (marked ZOCALO-PIE DE LA CUESTA). Be sure to verify the time and place of the last bus back if you hop on one of these.

The Ejido/Central Camionera station, Ejido 47, is on the far northern end of the bay and north of downtown (Old Acapulco). It's far from the hotels; however, it serves more bus lines and routes than any other Acapulco bus station. It also has a hotel-reservation service.

From this station, Turistar, Estrella de Oro, and Estrella Blanca have almost hourly service for the 5- to 7-hour trip to Mexico City ($42), and daily service to Zihuatanejo ($14). Buses also serve other points in Mexico, including Chilpancingo, Cuernavaca, Iguala, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Taxco.