Acapulco’s economic growth reached its peak in the 20th century. It is served by the General Juan Alvarez International Airport and by the Teniente Jose Azueta International Transatlantic port.
Transportation in this city is not a problem. Unless you need to go to special places with just your own group, renting a car is not necessary. For local trips along the coast of Acapulco, you can take the buses which will just cost you 4 pesos. For longer trips, there are buses that offer reasonable rates. Frequent travelers would advise you to take the public transportation since driving in the city proves to be a strange experience.
If you want to take the taxi, use the blue and white Volkswagen bug. Before boarding, be sure to agree on the price and that you have the right change. If you have a large bill, ask first the driver if he has change for that. The standard taxi fare is 20 pesos during the day and 30-40 pesos at night or for longer trips around town. The blue taxis are just about anywhere and you can get one on the main street of La Costera anytime of the day or night. If you’re taking the taxi from the airport, the average fare should be around 150 pesos.
Another type of taxi is called the “colectivo” which is colored yellow and white or green and silver in Zocalo. They also ply the La Costera main street and cost 10 pesos each person. It can accommodate 5 passengers – 3 in the backseat and 2 in the front seat.
Tourist taxis (those that are not the Volkswagen type and are usually white) are more expensive. These taxis are air-conditioned and more comfortable compared to the others. Regular fare starts at 50 pesos. But if you’re not that well-informed, the drivers may charge you 100 pesos.
If you want to experience mingling with the locals, then the bus ride is for you. The bus fare to any route within the city costs 4 pesos per person. Choose the blue and white buses with the word “Costera” because there are other buses with the same color but which take detours and are said to be very slow. The bus rides, though, may be very bumpy, hot and crowded but a little experience on this won’t harm you. The buses ply the main city routes until 11:00 p.m.
For a more relaxed ride, there are beige or yellow air-conditioned buses that pass through La Costera. Though they cost only 5 pesos, they are harder to look for compared to the others. But before agreeing to ride on these buses, check first if the air conditioning unit is working because if not, the ride will just be too hot with the all windows closed.
A more unique ride you can try in Acapulco is the horse and carriage ride. The price though is quite expensive at US$20 for 30 minutes only. But what’s money if you really want to have an enriching and exciting experience in a beautiful place you are visiting for the first (and maybe last) time. These carriages are also adorned with colorful balloons to make them more attractive to tourists.