Driving from Oaxaca to the coast

I haven't been to Oaxaca in 25+ yrs. Back then, the road to Puerto Escondido (or Puerto Angel or whichever came first) was considered very long, bumpy & twisty. How is it now? I think Google Maps said it was 4-5 hrs. Is it a beating?...or not so bad?

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.

I agree it´s never been 4 to 5 hours. Unless there were no topes on the highway then. But the locals like the topes because they slow the traffic down and make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, livestock.

The road that serves Pluma Hidalgo was in much worse shape this past winter, with several places where one of the lanes had disappeared down the mountainside. And the road serving Hauatla de Jimenez, from memory of my trip years ago, was also littered with landslides, and the road to Santa Catarina Juquila, etc

Route 175 is by far the most scenic and probably in better state of repair. There are wonderful sections at the top where the road follows the ridges with spectacular views on both sides. Lovely pine forests and cool air.

No, don't blame Google...although I blame Google for a lot of other things! This was me "mis-recalling" what I had read about the trip.

This is great info. I was hoping to hear that it's a rewarding drive even if we decide against going all the way to the coast. Thx!

I have not driven this route for five years, but it was so taxing when I did it (2013) that I promised NEVER to drive it again. When we go to the Oaxaca coast, now, we fly from Mexico City. There usually are good options. When we first came to the coast by car, we arrived by following route 200 down from Guererro State (Acapulco). That drive was fine, along the Costa Chica. But the drive up the mountains from the coast in Oaxaca was awful.
I have been following "progress" on the toll road that has been under construction for years and years. I think this is a big trough, with many bellying up to it; it will not be completed any year soon.

Wow, you were a brave soul. I remember what that road looked like back then. Do your flights go into Puerto Escondido? (And just for my edification how do you define the Costa Chica geographically?)

I remember flying into the old airport of Puerto Escondido on a DC-3. I'm not sure that was any safer than driving!

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.