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By Bus

Arriving & Departing

Bus service from Mexico City to Acapulco is excellent. Grupo Estrella Blanca has first-class buses, which leave every hour on the hour from the Taxqueña station; they're comfortable and in good condition. The trip takes 4 1/2-5 hours, and a one-way ticket costs about $27. Estrella de Oro also has deluxe service, called Servicio Diamante, with airplane-like reclining seats, refreshments, restrooms, air-conditioning, movies, and hostess service. The deluxe buses leave four times a day, also from the Taxqueña station, and cost about $40. Plus service (regular reclining seats, air-conditioning, and a restroom) on the same bus line costs $27.

Getting Around

Within Acapulco one of the most useful buses runs from Puerto Marqués to Caleta, making stops along the way. Yellow air-conditioned tourist buses, marked Acapulco, run about every 15 minutes along this route. If you want to go from the zócalo to the Costera, catch the bus that says la base (the naval base near the Hyatt Regency). It detours through Old Acapulco and returns to the Costera just east of the Ritz Hotel. If you want to follow the Costera for the entire route, take the bus marked Hornos. Buses heading to Pie de la Cuesta or Puerto Marqués say so on the front. The Puerto Marqués bus runs about every 15 minutes and is always crowded. The fare is under $1. Scarlet-with-white-stripe buses are the most common but lack air-conditioning and are often packed. They follow the same routes listed above and are a few cents cheaper.

Contact

Estrella de Oro (Av. Cuauhtémoc 158, Old Acapulco, Acapulco. 744/485-8705 or 762/622-0648. Av. Taxqueña 1320, Tlalpan, Mexico City. 55/5549-8520). Grupo Estrella Blanca (Calle Ejido 47, Old Acapulco. 744/469-2028. Av. Taxqueña 1320, Tlalpan, Mexico City. 55/5628-5721).

To Taxco

To visit Taxco at your own pace, perhaps including an overnight stay, arrange to rent a car in Acapulco and enjoy the scenic drive to the mountain town. The trip takes 3 1/2 hours via the toll road and about 45 minutes longer on the more scenic free road. If you can start early, consider taking the scenic road to get there and the toll road to return. Both roads are sparsely populated between the two cities. Warning: On the toll road there are very few opportunities to turn around. Once in Taxco, follow the signs to the centro (center). You can usually find street parking near the zócalo. You may be approached by people who can help you find parking for about 10 pesos.

First-class Estrella de Oro (Av. Cuauhtémoc 1490, Acapulco. 744/485-8758. Av. de los Plateros 386, Taxco. 762/485-8705 or 762/622-0648) buses leave Acapulco for Taxco five times a day from 7 AM to 6:40 PM from the Terminal Central de Autobuses de Primera Clase (First-Class Bus Terminal). The cost for the approximately 4 1/2-hour ride is about $15 one-way.

Grupo Estrella Blanca (Av. Ejido 47, Old Acapulco, Acapulco. 744/469-2017. Av. de los Plateros 310, Taxco. 762/622-0131) buses depart from Acapulco several times a day from the Terminal de Autobuses. Purchase your tickets at least one day in advance at the terminal if it's a Mexican holiday or Christmas week. A first-class, one-way ticket is $15. Buses depart from Taxco four times a day.