By car
Driving to Puerto Escondido is only advisable if you have experience with windy, poorly-maintained mountain roads. That said, it is an exhilarating, scenic drive from any direction. The roads that connect Puerto Escondido to Acapulco and Oaxaca are both narrow, twisty 2-lane roads in poor condition, that traverse the sparsely populated Western Sierra Madre. Driving your own car will not save you much time over taking the bus.
By bus
TuriStar and Estrella Blanca from Mexico City are the most comfortable and most expensive way to get here $500-900, 12 hr, traveling via Acapulco. These buses only leave from the South Taxqueña bus terminal. Other first class buses leave from both the North and South terminals, traveling via Puebla and/or Oaxaca City, and taking several hours longer than the buses via Acapulco. The quickest 5-6 hr service, but least comfortable transport from Oaxaca is by van called suburban in Spanish. There are several companies $140. More comfortable but longer are the buses leaving from the 2nd class bus station. Do not take a 1st class bus because the trip is over 15 hr - it takes the longest route. 2nd class buses take around 7-8 hr. There are also many buses from Acapulco.