Acapulco Airport is the busiest and largest hub in on the southwestern coast of Mexico. It is officially called General Juan N. Alvarez International Airport. The Acapulco airport code is ACA. It is located sixteen miles southeast of Acapulco, although it may not take the full 30 minutes it generally requires to get downtown if you are staying in places like Icacos, Condesa, or Revolcadero Beach. If you are traveling to one of the beach hotels near the where the cruises dock or Old Acapulco in general, you can expect about a 30-minute ride that costs around $20 USD one-way. Be sure to negotiate and settle on a price before taking off. This is not so much a potential problem at the Acapulco Airport as it is downtown and around the city once you arrive. The cab service that operates at the airport is authorized and usually goes by a meter. But it’s always best to play it safely.

Juan N. Alvarez International Airport handles upward of nearly a million passengers every year. It has been an important hub for the thriving tourist industry in Acapulco for decades. Due to the popularity of the resort destination, it largely caters to tourists. Flights run daily from Mexico City International Airport and regular passenger flights run from places like Phoenix, Chicago, and Miami. The airport is divided into two terminals—one for passengers and one for general aviation. The general aviation facility is older, dating to the 1960s, while the passenger terminal is newly renovated and offers all manner of passenger services and facilities. It is one of the fifteen busiest airports in all of Mexico and the region’s busiest by far. As such, you will find restaurants, bars and lounges, VIP rooms, business center services, foreign currency exchange services, and much more. There are also duty free shops, souvenir and gift stores, ATMs, and international phones.

There are also a number of options for ground transportation from Juan N. Alvarez International Airport. As mentioned before, you can opt for the cab ride to your hotel, and there is also a minibus shuttle service that travels to the beach hotels along the bay upon request. If you plan to get a car rental on your trip, it is highly advisable that you reserve your car before you arrive at the airport. This will ensure you do not get gouged on rates and that you get the vehicle of your choice. Budget, Avis, Alamo, Hertz, and National all operate out of the Acapulco Airport. Some of the luxury hotels and resorts in Acapulco also offer complimentary transportation to and from the hotel, but this is not the norm.

Acapulco Map

Other facilities at Juan N. Alvarez International Airport include banks, a post office, a tourist information desk, and disabled facilities including bathrooms.

Once you have figured out the logistics of your trip, you can turn your attention to the fun aspect of planning what things to do. There are a lot of attractions, from the beaches where you can enjoy scuba and snorkeling, fishing, and swimming, to the nightclubs, restaurants, and shopping districts around town.