By Car in Acapulco

By Car

Arriving & Departing

The trip to Acapulco from Mexico City on the old route (Carretera Libre a Acapulco) takes about six hours. A privately built and run four-lane toll road is expensive (about $48 one-way) but well maintained, and it cuts driving time between the two cities to 4 1/2 hours. Many people go via Taxco, which can be reached from either road.

Getting Around

Rent a car if you plan on being in town for a few days and want to take side trips to Taxco and the coastal villages. If you plan to spend most of your time at the beach in front of your hotel, however, you don't need to rent a car. Taxis and buses can take you around the Costera, Old Acapulco, and Acapulco Diamante.

Renting a car costs around $45 per day, including insurance and unlimited miles. It doesn't take many taxi rides to add up to the same amount. Driving in Acapulco is like driving in any crowded big city in the United States. The traffic along the Costera can get heavy, but it moves, and street parking is competitive but not hard to find. Some parking spaces have meters that accept peso coins, others are completely free.

Contact

Avis (800/288-8888). Budget (744/481-2433). Dollar (744/466-9493). Hertz (744/485-8947).