Driving from Oaxaca to the coast

P.S. Any suggestions on which rent-a-car outfit runs best down there?

as google maps says, it take like 5-6 hrs

I drove Hwy 175 (Oaxaca to Puerto Angel) 3 weeks ago. Last 100 km through the mountains very pretty. Small logging towns perched on mountainside. I think there were 10,000 topes, perhaps more (joke). I doubt that Google maps takes them into consideration. Got lost once for about 30 minutes because of market day in one town.

I got excited a couple of times because there was signage for Hwy 175D i.e. a toll road. It was a mirage.

Overall took close to 7 hours.

That's interesting, Apple Maps sends you down Hwy 175, and Google Maps opts for 131. Did you drive 175 both ways? I might alternate to keep it fresh. (Sorry, what are "topes"? I hate to miss a joke!)

Topes are dastardly speedbumps. Sometimes they lurk unseen in the shadows of trees, sometimes they are camoflauged, sometimes they have signage indicating their presence and then, they have been removed. Always, always, they are without pity.

From Puerto Angel I did not return to Oaxaca. I headed south and across country to Palenque and then to Tikal, Guatemala.
Toucan Air has daily regional air service between Oaxaca and Huatalco. The Huatalco airport is about 15 minutes north of Huatalco and 45 minutes south of Puerto Angel. They would be a better alternative to renting a car.

I have driven along both of them. Last summer on road 175 from Zipolite to Oaxaca town and summer 2011 by road 131 from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca town. Both roads ply through most scenic terrain in the mountains. However, the road 175 is in decent shape all along by the Mexican standards whereas the road 131 was truly a challenge from the sea up to the watershed in the mountains. It was laborious to steer clear from all those potholes. Road conditions improve when the road starts to wind down to the valley and town of Oaxaca. If no major road maintenance has taken place on 131 since the year 2011, I would recommend 175 over 131. Naturally 131 is shorter route but hardly much faster. Up in the mountains both the roads turn to be most windy and hence slow.

I have traveled both roads. Google Maps gives reliable enroute times. It currently shows almost 6 and a half hrs from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido via highway 131. If you like variety, try both roads. Both Villa Sola de Vega and San Pedro Juchatengo have lots of tourist services on highway 131 and make good places for a rest stop. On highway 175 I suggest San Jose del Pacifico (I have stayed overnight in all these places). Read your government´s advice about driving in Mexico and be prepared.

PS: I bet your next question will be about the opening date for the new superhighway; at least another year (and don´t count on that).

-The 175 free highway is the worst state/federal highways in Mexico we’ve ever driven. The pavement quality is terrible and topes are as excessive as it gets. Driving your own car actually losses you time compared to public bus or collectivo. However, our single friend took a collectivo back from Pachutla to Oaxaca and she said she was flying into the air non-stop at the back seat as the van never stopped on the topes.

Here is my report from 4 years ago. It has a section on driving 175. Seems few things, if any, changed.

It’s never beeb 4 to 5 hours. I wonder if Google maps takes terrain into account. Whic road are you talking about. Route 175 is longer but in better condition than 131. A safe driving time is 6 .5 to 7 hours. I wouldn ‘t want to be in a car that made it in much less time.