Puerto Escondido Airport Review | What to Expect
Getting to the magical Puerto Escondido is convenient thanks to the Puerto Escondido Airport, located just 10 or so minutes from the center of town and in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Puerto Escondido airport is definitely one of the smallest airports I’ve ever been to, but has everything you need and does the job!
You’ll find both international flights and domestic flights here, with direct flights from many large travel hubs including the Mexico City airport and the NLU Airport close by. I had some questions about PXM before I travelled, so I’m writing this Puerto Escondido review and guide for you to help fill you in. ✈️
Puerto Escondido Airport Complete Review : What to Expect
Below you’ll find info on the location, how to get a transfer, and what arrivals and departures are like at this small local airport.
Location
If you’re wondering how to get to Puerto Escondido in the fastest and easiest way, flying directly into the local airport is your answer. The Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM) is conveniently located just 10-15 minutes from almost all accommodations in Puerto Escondido! To get a better idea you can see the PXM airport on my Puerto Escondido map, which by the way you can save and use while you’re there. 😉
Hotel Transfers
Taxi drivers will almost definitely be waiting just outside of the Puerto Escondido airport arrivals area, which is basically one room. There’s really no need to schedule a private transfer unless you’re flying in or out very late at night or very early in the morning, and in fact scheduling a ride ahead of time will likely be as much as double the cost of taking a taxi in my experience.
When I flew into PXM I had booked a private driver and as we were walking to our car my driver saw a group of people standing off to the side and helped them find another ride. The locals are well connected and since tourism is many of the local’s main form of income, there’s always people looking to help you out in Puerto Escondido, which is great feeling! Next time I will opt to just take a cab instead of scheduling a private transfer.
Arrivals at Puerto Escondido Airport
Arriving at the Puerto Escondido airport from the NLU airport was a really pleasant experience. The arrivals space was the smallest I’ve personally ever seen, making it super quick and easy to get out of the airport and to my hotel, which was Selina Puerto Escondido.
Finding my driver was super easy and although I did book a private ride ahead of time, I wouldn’t do this next time as there are more than enough taxis to accommodate everybody and they are cheaper.
The baggage claim was so quick that by the time we had gotten off the plane, our luggage was lined up with a security officer right next to the belt. This was well received after a loooong travel day.
Departures at Puerto Escondido Airport
After an amazing experience at Selina Puerto Escondido and the Oasis Surf Camp, I was sad to leave. Thankfully my experience departing from the Puerto Escondido airport was smooth, making the journey back home much easier.
Check In & Security
When you first get to the airport, you’ll notice there might be more lines than you expect for a small airport. But don’t worry, the line goes quick. I got to the airport an hour and a half earlier than my flight, and was probably through security and waiting to board within 30 minutes.
I loved how it being a tiny airport meant that I didn’t need to navigate or put any effort into finding my way through. Security was and similar to any other airport but just a little bit scaled down. The sitting area was actually bigger than I expected based on the arrivals area, and pretty crowded but I was able to find a seat easily. That being said, if you have mobility challenged people in your group, you should plan to arrive early to make sure you get a spot to sit.
Is there WIFI at PXM?
The Puerto Escondido International Airport did not have Wi-Fi that I could find, although I would guess that will probably change soon as the WIFI throughout Puerto Escondido in general was much better than I expected and have read about. I did have cell phone service, so while I waited to board I got some work done on my computer via my mobile hot spot.
Food & Services
They have two snack bars, one which is more basic with snacks, soft, water and beer and the other one has a few hot items and ice cream as well. This was again more than I expected, and they did take both card and cash which was great.
Which airlines fly in and out of PXM?
There are only about five airlines that currently fly into and out of the Puerto Escondido International airport, and they are Aeromar, Aeroméxico, Aerotucán, Viva Aerobus and Volaris.
Viva Aerobus Review
I was on a Viva Aerobus flight from the NLU Airport and then again into the Mexico City airport on the way back, and I had a great experience on both flights. The planes themselves were larger than I expected, and although they had a tiny bit more turbulence than a larger plane, for the most part it felt like any other flight I had been on before.
Boarding was smooth and so was getting my luggage afterwards. I’m sure the pleasant experience I had at the Puerto Escondido airport is partially due to the airline itself, so cudos to Viva Aerobus!
Final Verdict
Overall I would 100% fly into the Puerto Escondido airport directly again any time I come back to this amazing surf destination in Mexico. You can find out more info about the Puerto Escondido International Airport at their website as well.
P.S. If you’re heading to this cute little surfing and tropical paradise, make sure to read my guide to where to stay in Puerto Escondido!
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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