Guerrero is a Pacific coast state in southern Mexico best known for the resort city of Acapulco, the colonial silver town of Taxco de Alarcón, and the twin beach towns of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. The state pairs dramatic coastline and mountain scenery with a serious, well-documented security situation that shapes how and where visitors should travel.
- Public
- Guerrero has no metro or commuter rail; public transport means city buses and colectivos within Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Taxco, plus first-class intercity buses linking those hubs with Chilpancingo, Mexico City, and Morelos along the toll highways
- Taxi
- Taxis are the default way to get around Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, with sitio (radio-dispatched) stands common at hotels and central plazas; fares in Acapulco run on a zone system rather than a meter in most cabs
- Rental
- A rental car offers the most flexibility for combining Taxco, the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, and Chilpancingo on an inland loop, or for reaching quieter beaches like Barra de Potosí and Playa Ventura that have thin bus service; drivers should stick to the cuota (toll) autopistas rather than free libre roads
- Walking
- Taxco's steep colonial center and Zihuatanejo's small downtown around the malecón are walkable, but Acapulco's bay stretches many kilometers and requires a taxi, bus, or rental car to move between zones
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Overview
- Air arrivals to Guerrero land at one of two coastal airports, ACA near Acapulco or ZIH near Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa, and each functions as a self-contained gateway rather than a shared hub, so the transfer options differ mainly by distance to the specific hotel zone.
- Options
- {'type': 'Prepaid airport taxi', 'detail': 'Ticket booths inside both ACA and ZIH terminals sell fixed-zone fares to hotel areas', 'cost': 'MXN 300-600 (about USD 18-35) depending on airport and destination zone'}, {'type': 'Shared shuttle/colectivo', 'detail': 'Shared vans wait outside arrivals at both airports and depart once several passengers heading the same direction are aboard, cheaper per person than a private taxi', 'cost': 'MXN 150-300 (about USD 9-18) per person'}, {'type': 'Rental car', 'detail': 'Counters for major agencies operate directly in both ACA and ZIH terminals, useful for travelers planning to explore Taxco, Barra de Potosí, or other spots beyond the main hotel zones', 'cost': 'From MXN 700/day (about USD 41/day) for an economy vehicle'}, {'type': 'Hotel shuttle', 'detail': 'Most resorts in Acapulco Diamante and Ixtapa arrange prepaid shuttle transfers bookable in advance of arrival', 'cost': 'MXN 200-500 (about USD 12-30) per person'}
- Tips
- Book a hotel shuttle in advance for late-night arrivals, since taxi ticket booths and rideshare availability can thin out after the last flights land, Confirm which Acapulco zone a taxi fare covers - Costera and Acapulco Diamante are priced differently from the airport ticket booth, Travelers connecting to Taxco or Chilpancingo from ACA should arrange a private driver or rental car rather than relying on the airport shuttle network, which serves Acapulco hotel zones almost exclusively
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Acapulco
- Buses
- City buses run the length of the Costera Miguel Alemán boulevard connecting the Costera hotel zone with downtown and Acapulco Diamante, for a low flat fare, though routes are informal and posted schedules are limited
- Taxis
- Sitio taxis at hotel stands and along the Costera are the standard way to get around; agree on the fare before riding, since meters are uncommon outside a few tourist-zone cabs
- Rideshare
- Uber does not operate in Acapulco as of 2026 and DiDi coverage is limited, so sitio taxis remain the primary on-demand option
- Walking
- The Costera boulevard is walkable in short stretches near hotels and restaurants, but Acapulco Bay spans many kilometers, making a taxi or bus necessary to move between the Costera, downtown, and Acapulco Diamante
Zihuatanejo Ixtapa
- Buses
- Local buses and colectivos run frequently along the short route connecting downtown Zihuatanejo with the Ixtapa hotel zone, a popular low-cost option for visitors staying in either area
- Taxis
- Taxis are widely available near Zihuatanejo's malecón, the municipal pier, and Ixtapa's hotel strip; fares should be agreed upon in advance, particularly for trips to Barra de Potosí or Troncones
- Rideshare
- DiDi has a limited but growing presence in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa; availability can be inconsistent outside peak hours
- Walking
- Downtown Zihuatanejo's waterfront and market streets are compact and walkable, while Ixtapa's hotel zone stretches along a single boulevard best covered by the local bus or a short taxi ride
Taxco
- Detail
- Taxco's steep, narrow colonial streets are best explored on foot or by the town's white Volkswagen Beetle taxis and combis, which climb the hillside routes that a standard car struggles with; a rental car is useful for reaching the town but impractical for getting around once inside it
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Taxis are the primary on-demand transport in Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, since rideshare coverage remains limited or absent; sitio (stand-based) taxis are the standard, more trusted choice over flagging down a car on the street.
- Typical Fares
- MXN 50-120 (about USD 3-7) for a short in-town ride in Acapulco or Zihuatanejo; longer runs between the Costera and Acapulco Diamante, or between Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, cost more depending on distance
- Tips
- Use sitio (stand-based) taxis rather than flagging down random cars, especially at night, Agree on the fare before getting in, since most taxis outside the airport and major hotels do not run meters, Hotel front desks can call a trusted taxi or arrange a fixed-rate transfer for airport runs or day trips to Taxco or Barra de Potosí
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Overview
First-class bus lines link Acapulco, Chilpancingo, Taxco, and Mexico City along the Autopista del Sol toll highway, while the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa coast connects separately toward Mexico City and Lázaro Cárdenas; the toll route is consistently recommended over the older free (libre) highways for both time and safety reasons.
Operators
- Name
- Estrella de Oro
- Area
- Mexico City to Acapulco (via the Autopista del Sol) and Taxco
- Website
- https://www.estrelladeoro.com.mx
- Name
- Estrella Blanca
- Area
- Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Chilpancingo, and connections across the Pacific coast and central Mexico
- Website
- https://www.estrellablanca.com.mx
- Name
- Costa Line
- Area
- Acapulco and Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa coastal routes
- Website
- https://www.costaline.com.mx
- Name
- Futura
- Area
- Mexico City to Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, plus connections to Lázaro Cárdenas
- Website
- https://www.ticketbus.com.mx
Key Routes
- Route
- Mexico City to Acapulco
- Duration
- About 4-5 hours via the Autopista del Sol (toll highway)
- Cost
- MXN 700-1,000 (about USD 41-59)
- Route
- Mexico City to Taxco
- Duration
- About 2.5 hours via the Autopista del Sol
- Cost
- MXN 350-500 (about USD 21-29)
- Route
- Acapulco to Taxco
- Duration
- About 3.5 hours via Chilpancingo and the Autopista del Sol
- Cost
- MXN 450-650 (about USD 26-38)
- Route
- Acapulco to Chilpancingo
- Duration
- About 1.5 hours via the Autopista del Sol
- Cost
- MXN 150-250 (about USD 9-15)
- Route
- Mexico City to Zihuatanejo
- Duration
- About 5.5-6.5 hours via Toluca and Highway 134
- Cost
- MXN 750-1,050 (about USD 44-62)
Tips
- Buy first-class bus tickets at Acapulco's Terminal Ejido or Papagayo, or online through the operator's website, especially for weekend departures toward Mexico City
- Estrella de Oro and Futura offer the most comfortable seating for the long Mexico City-Acapulco run, with reclining seats and onboard restrooms
- The Autopista del Sol toll highway is faster and generally considered safer than the older free (libre) road through the mountains between Mexico City, Taxco, Chilpancingo, and Acapulco
- The Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa coast is not directly linked to Acapulco by a short bus route - travel between the two takes roughly 5-6 hours, so most visitors treat them as separate trips
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Guerrero's two main visitor hubs, Acapulco and the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa coast, sit about 240 km apart by road and are each served by their own international airport, so most trips center on one coast or the other rather than combining both in a single visit. Acapulco International Airport (ACA), officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Juan N. Álvarez, handles the Acapulco Bay area, while Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) serves Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, and Barra de Potosí further north. Inland, the colonial silver town of Taxco and the state capital Chilpancingo are reached from Mexico City or Acapulco via the Autopista del Sol, a toll highway that is the recommended route over the older free roads. Within Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, taxis, colectivos, and city buses cover daily needs, while first-class intercity buses connect the coast to Mexico City, Taxco, and Chilpancingo.
Airports
Acapulco International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional General Juan N. Álvarez)
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Travel between Mexico City, Taxco, Chilpancingo, and Acapulco on the Autopista del Sol (cuota/toll highway) rather than the older free (libre) roads, which are slower and carry a higher security risk
Fly into Acapulco International Airport (ACA) for the Acapulco Bay area or Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) for the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa coast - the two airports sit roughly 240 km apart by road and are not a practical same-day combination
Use first-class Estrella de Oro, Estrella Blanca, or Costa Line buses for the Mexico City-Acapulco and Mexico City-Taxco runs; they are air-conditioned and run frequently along the toll route
Book daytime travel on intercity routes and toll highways where possible, and avoid driving after dark on rural stretches, a standard precaution given Guerrero's security situation outside the main tourist corridors
Agree on a taxi fare before riding in Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, since most cabs outside hotel zones do not run meters
Uber does not operate in Acapulco as of 2026; DiDi has a limited presence, so sitio taxis remain the primary on-demand option in most of the state
Carry pesos in Taxco, Barra de Potosí, and other smaller towns, since card acceptance is inconsistent outside Acapulco's and Zihuatanejo's hotel zones