By Air in Oaxaca

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By Air

Oaxaca City's Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, 8 km (5 mi) south of town, is the region's main hub. Most flights from the United States to Oaxaca City include a stop in Mexico City. The exception is Continental, which flies direct between Oaxaca and Houston. Mexicana and Aeromexico have regular service from many U.S. cities, all via Mexico City. Aeromexico also has direct service between Tijuana and Oaxaca City. Mexicana has frequent service from Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco; Aeromexico has frequent service from Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Phoenix.

Note that the airport completely closes at 11 PM no matter what, so try to avoid late-night arrivals, which, if delayed, can sometimes be diverted to other cities because of the policy.

At the airport, metered taxis are plentiful -- fares to the city center are around $12. If you want to save some money, Transportes Aeropuerto will pile you into the soonest available van and drop you off at your hotel for $2.50 (more if there are no other passengers). From town, buy a ticket ahead of time (ask to be picked up at your hotel). The company is closed on Sunday; for Monday departures, purchase tickets by the preceding Saturday.

Airport Transfers

Transportes Aeropuerto (West side of Alameda de León, Centro Histórico. 951/514-4350).

Carriers

Aeroméxico (Av. Hidalgo 513. 951/514-3989; 800/021-4010 in Oaxaca City; 800/237-6639 in U.S. www.aeromexico.com). Aviacsa (Av. Pino Suárez 604. 951/511-5039. www.aviacsa.com). Continental (0800/231-0856. www.continental.com). Mexicana (800/509-8960 in Oaxaca City; 800/531-7921 in U.S. www.mexicana.com.mx).

To the Oaxaca Coast

The coast is served by two airports: Aeropuerto Puerto Escondido, a 10-minute taxi ride from town, and Aeropuerto Bahias de Huatulco, 16 km (10 mi) from Tangolunda.

Click Mexicana (a subsidiary of Mexicana) flies daily between Puerto Escondido and Mexico City. Aerotucán has daily flights to and from Oaxaca City and Huatulco and Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido (connecting to Veracruz and Puebla); AeroVega also flies between Oaxaca City and both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. Continental now flies direct to Huatulco from Houston.

Shuttle service from Aeropuerto Puerto Escondido to town is available through Transportes Turísticos for about $3.50. From Aeropuerto Bahías de Huatulco, Transportes Terrestre will take you to hotels in Tangolunda, La Crucecita, or Chahué for about $10 per person.

Airport Transfers

Transportes Terrestre (958/581-9024). Transportes Turísticos (954/582-7343).

Carriers

Aerotucán (951/501-0532 in Oaxaca City; 954/582-1725 in Puerto Escondido; 958/587-2427 in Huatulco; 01800/640-4148 toll-free in Mexico. www.aero-tucan.com). AeroVega (951/516-4982 in Oaxaca City; 954/582-0151 in Puerto Escondido; 044954/588-0062 cell. www.oaxaca-mio.com/aerovega.htm). Click Mexicana (954/582-2023; 954/582-2024 in Puerto Escondido; 958/587-1220 in Huatulco; 01800/112-5425 toll-free in Mexico. www.click.com.mx). Continental (0800/231-0856. www.continental.com). Mexicana (958/587-0223 in Huatulco; 800/531-7921 in U.S. www.mexicana.com.mx).