Airport Taxis

Is it still possible to hire a taxi by walking across the airport parking lot to the gate and picking up one there? What would the going rate be from there? I haven't been back to Zihua for three years and I'm really looking forward to coming back!

still possible, depending on your destination, maybe $300 to $350 pesos for Zihua

Is it still possible to hire a taxi by walking across the airport parking lot to the gate and picking up one there? What would the going rate be from there? I haven't been back to Zihua for three years and I'm really looking forward to coming back!

Why not just use the services of Transporte Terrestre? They offer an affordable Colectivo service. They also have families to feed and bills to pay, and unlike taxis, they can't park on any street to give anyone a ride anywhere, much less to steal someone else's business.

And don't forget the Official Tightwad option of using the combi's. They are just outside the airport parking lot, on the right. Added benefit is the ability to strike up a conversation with some of the locals and practice your bad Spanish. "Que tan bonita su ciudad! Me encanta!"

Also, it's hard for me to imagine paying for transportation down, rent, food, etc. and being cheap about cab fare from the airport.

Also, it's hard for me to imagine paying for transportation down, rent, food, etc. and being cheap about cab fare from the airport.

Ah, Señor Frostbite, you obviously don't know how little can be paid for transportation to and rent in Zihuatanejo. Food, on the other hand, is never something to scrimp on! Even Certified Tightwads know that.

Check out v.pass on Volaris.com. One round trip ticket from anywhere in Mexico to anywhere in Mexico for MXN$598 pesos monthly and then the cost of the airport tariff and the Federal TUA tax. Last roundtrip airfare from Tijuana to Veracruz in November was a total of MXN$1,638 pesos. Last roundtrip airfare to Zihuatanejo was MXN$1,558 in September.

Send me a PM if you want to know about some great cheap lodging in Zihua. Sorry, it ain't gonna' be like Casa Amarillo!

Padrino, I concur that Volaris straight out of the 664 is a bargain under the "right conditions". Otherwise it becomes a deduce of opportunity cost. I can save $276 r/t to Z, but factor the drive to/from and the costs of parking. Or, pay $187 r/t in a van ride to Xolandria.

You are clearly on the right path for those who can fly cheap into San Diego "and" find effective and economical transfers to TIJ.

I can save $276 r/t to Z, but factor the drive to/from and the costs of parking. Or, pay $187 r/t in a van ride to Xolandria.

You are coming from Los Angeles, yes? How about a bus or train to downtown San Diego, trolley to San Ysidro border crossing, Tijuana bus or taxi to the airport. Of course, the wait to get back into San Diego at the San Ysidro crossing can be murder if you don't have a SENTRI or Global Entry pass. The CBX (Cross Border eXpress) in Otay is fast but expensive. There is a bus from the Iris Avenue trolley stop that will take you to the CBX.

Doesn’t the flight to Zihuatanejo leave around 2 AM?

Doesn’t the flight to Zihuatanejo leave around 2 AM?

Yes, currently the direct flight from Tijuana to Zihuatanejo leaves around 2:30 am. You arrive in Zihua in the morning, ready to sack out in a hammock under a palapa on the beach for the day.

Get yourself to Centro de Tijuana in the evening and choose one of the awesome restaurants or other night life venues. Then a taxi or Uber to the airport later in the evening. (The buses stop running before 10 pm.)

I recommend TT for people who are coming to Troncones. For most people, after a long day of travel, it makes sense to pay a bit more to get a vehicle that is in good repair, and a driver who speaks English and is likely to know the Troncones area. Yes, a city taxi driver might have those characteristics, but there is a chance that they will not. Having said that, I usually rent a car for my first week upon arrival so it is many years since I have used TT.

I wonder whether the rates chart is current. I see that it refers to a taxi to Troncones being M$1200. The last time I took a taxi from Troncones to the airport was a couple of years ago. I believe the fare was M$1200-M$1400 then.

I recommend TT for people who are coming to Troncones. For most people, after a long day of travel, it makes sense to pay a bit more to get a vehicle that is in good repair, and a driver who speaks English and is likely to know the Troncones area. Yes, a city taxi driver might have those characteristics, but there is a chance that they will not. Having said that, I usually rent a car for my first week upon arrival so it is many years since I have used TT.

I wonder whether the rates chart is current. I see that it refers to a taxi to Troncones being M$1200. The last time I took a taxi from Troncones to the airport was a couple of years ago. I believe the fare was M$1200-M$1400 then.

I'm also the webmaster for ETASA, and they are the Transporte Terrestre service. It would be very odd if they're charging something different than what they post on their own website.

If the flight times were more reasonable I might consider it, but can’t picture flying at 2 AM.

If the flight times were more reasonable I might consider it, but can’t picture flying at 2 AM.

Personally, I have come to prefer the overnights. Volaris has several late night and middle of the night flights to various desirable Mexican destinations including Huatulco and Veracruz as well as Zihua. Getting to the Tijuana airport in the evening is very easy. During the day, however, you can sometimes walk to the airport faster than taking a car or bus. There are two main roads that lead to the airport and they can literally become parking lots. Of course, this is not an issue if you use the Cross Border eXpress (CBX) and just walk across the border directly into the airport.

Another benefit is that you don't lose a day to travel. Unless there happens to be a crying baby or a very bumpy flight, everyone falls sleep.

Last, you can find plenty to do in the evening in Tijuana and environs before making your way to the airport.

As the old saying goes, don't knock it 'til you've tried it!

Respectfully submitted,

Padrino

I don't sleep well on planes unless it's a lie flat seat. Although it's not a long flight the seat pitch is crowded. finally, and I think most importantly, having worked graveyard shifts for my 40 year career as an ER doc, should something happen that requires an urgent response, everybody both in the ground and in the air reacts a bit more slowly.
Our standard trip involves flying to LAX the late afternoon before, staying usually at an Embassy Suites at LAX, once in a while depending on what is available, going to theater there and then taking the AM flight out of LAX.
As they say, different strokes.

I don't sleep well on planes unless it's a lie flat seat.

Oh, you would just *love* Volaris! They are experimenting with a standing lie flat seat that leans you up against the side of the plane. It really comfortable, especially if you have a curved spine.

I'm a big fan. In the wee hours of the morning the airport is next to empty, customs and immigration agents aren't interested in much else than getting you through the line so they can get back to dozing.
Get a seat on left side and you'll be treated to one of the most spectacular sunrises you'll ever see. And if you do carry-on, get a seat near the front, you are out of the airport before most people are off the plane!

I've also noticed that--in my unprofessional assessment--Mexican pilots tend to wring a bit more performance from their aircraft than their USA counterparts.
Every Volaris flight I've been on has arrived early...even the one that left 20 minutes late.

I've also noticed that--in my unprofessional assessment--Mexican pilots tend to wring a bit more performance from their aircraft than their USA counterparts.
Every Volaris flight I've been on has arrived early...even the one that left 20 minutes late.

It's hard to imagine that a professional pilot would exceed the engine manufacturer's recommended power settings.

Herb Alpert wrote about this...

Picture post cards 'n' hot tequila
French perfume, man, from Venezuela
When you're on a Tijuana Taxi ride!
Give those bulls a great big hand,
Love that mariachi band,
But the best thing in the land
Is that hand-me-down Tijuana Taxicab

I'm all in favor of Collectivos but don't you have to wait for them to get enough passengers to fill up the one to your destination?

I'm not the cheap type, but I've been coming for years and I'm looking for an option to a taxi for a couple or one person charging outrageous rates! I'm traveling solo these days so I can choose my mode of travel.

I’ve always found the rates to be pretty comparable to a bit less than those I’d pay at any other airport. The round trip to and from the airport is in the range of 1000 pesos around $50. To compare, Uber round trip from my home to the airport is around $160. The amount I spend on airport transportation is a tiny fraction of what I spend for airfare and hotel.

I'm all in favor of Collectivos but don't you have to wait for them to get enough passengers to fill up the one to your destination?

They try to scare people into thinking it's going to be an excruciatingly long wait, but it never is. And while you're going through the luggage routine you can often find others who will share the Colectivo with you. Just ask out loud. But if the Transporte Colectivo folks insist on playing games, then yeah, just tell them no thanks and walk out the gate. The difference in cost isn't that great between a Colectivo or a taxi outside the gate. It's just a hassle to haul luggage that far in the sun and heat.

Sorry to see folks give you such a hard time over an honest question. You know they're mostly just having a little sport. Nothing wrong with being frugal.

Un saludo.

As you know, Rob this is not my first rodeo! I gave up giving a shit about what people think of me a long time ago. As the saying goes, "your opinion of me is none of my business." I'll try and drop in to say Hi to you and Lupita! Saludo!

With all due respect, Tim, comparing taxi rates between the US and Mexico is Apples and Oranges. A better comparison would be between what you pay to get to your hotel and what you pay to get back to the airport. I know why the difference is so great, I just don't agree with it! Saludo!

Also, I'm traveling alone these days with Carry On, so I don't have that much luggage. If I was still with my former partner, I wouldn't even consider it!

I gave up giving a shit about what people think of me a long time ago.

https://youtu.be/KbhC9y_ny1Y

I guess my main point is that compared to everything else, the taxi fare is a very small percentage of what we will be spending. Probably around $5.5K for hotel and airfare, so around $100 for round trip taxi just doesn’t matter that much. We like the convenience of walking out the door, hopping in a cab and heading for Catalina.

I guess my main point is that compared to everything else, the taxi fare is a very small percentage of what we will be spending. Probably around $5.5K for hotel and airfare, so around $100 for round trip taxi just doesn’t matter that much. We like the convenience of walking out the door, hopping in a cab and heading for Catalina.

That's why there is chocolate and vanilla ... and some people like strawberry.

I gave up giving a shit about what people think of me a long time ago.

https://youtu.be/KbhC9y_ny1Y

I NEVER gave a shit! And this could've been my theme song since I was one of Louisville's youngest (if not THE youngest) ni**er-lovin' hippie freaks stompin' the streets with my pals wearing my moccasin boots, beaded headband, bow and arrows (yes, you read that right), stash bag (for my harp), upside-down flag on my hip-hugger bellbottoms singin' this little ditty:

https://youtu.be/eRl6-bHlz-4

I have a lady friend who was a groupie with Country Joe and the fish! LOL long time ago.