Arriving and the coastal road itself
Most travellers reach the coast by flying into Puerto Escondido (PXM) or Huatulco (HUX), or by overnight bus from Oaxaca de Juárez. The city-to-coast road via San José del Progreso and Pochutla takes roughly seven to eight hours by first-class bus, and the mountain section is slow and winding; a daytime departure is worth the lost hours for the views alone. From Oaxaca city, ADO and OCC run the route, with the cheaper second-class services stopping more often and taking noticeably longer. Book the overnight only if you sleep well on reclining seats.
Once on the coast, the Carretera Costera links Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel, Zipolite, Mazunte and Huatulco in one long ribbon. Distances look small on a map but the road twists inland around bays and river mouths. Puerto Escondido to Mazunte is about 70 kilometres and 90 minutes by car; Mazunte to Zipolite is 15 minutes; Zipolite to Huatulco's La Crucecita roughly two hours. In the dry months from November to April the road is reliable. September and October bring heavy rain and occasional washouts near Puerto Ángel, so build slack into any tight connection.
Buses, colectivos and taxis in practice
Second-class buses and vans (colectivos) are the backbone. From Puerto Escondido's terminal on Avenida Hidalgo, frequent vans run south to Pochutla and on to Mazunte and Zipolite through the morning and early afternoon; after about 5pm the service thins sharply. From Huatulco, vans leave from La Crucecita toward Pochutla and connect onward. Fares are low and paid in cash on board, so keep small notes. The trade-off is frequency: you may wait 30 to 60 minutes at Pochutla's crossroads, which is the main interchange and has little shade.
Within towns, taxis are fixed-rate by zone and worth agreeing on before you get in. In Puerto Escondido, a taxi between the Adoquín (the Zicatela-side strip) and Playa Principal is short and cheap; to Bacocho or Puerto Angelito it costs a little more. Zicatela is a long strip and walking between the north end near Punta Zicatela and the Adoquín takes 25 minutes in heat, so many people take a moto-taxi. Renting a scooter is common in Zipolite and Mazunte but the coast road has blind curves and unmarked topes; I would not recommend it for anyone uneasy on two wheels.
Boats, bays and the Huatulco alternative
Huatulco's nine bays are best seen by lancha from Santa Cruz or La Entrega. Shared boat trips run through the morning, with the classic circuit taking in Organo, Maguey, Cacaluta and Chachacual; expect a full half-day and bring cash for the small landing fees at each beach. Independent boatmen at Playa Santa Cruz will quote per person or per boat, so clarify which. From Bahías de Huatulco you can also arrange a panga to Puerto Ángel in calm weather, though this is a fair-weather option and not something to count on for a fixed departure.
Between Mazunte and Zipolite, most people simply walk the 25 minutes along the paved road or take a shared moto-taxi. For Ventanilla's lagoon and turtle release camps, a taxi from Mazunte is the practical choice. If your priority is a beach holiday with easy logistics, I would base in Huatulco or Puerto Escondido and day-trip; if you want the quieter swimming and the budget cabañas, base in Mazunte and accept that Zipolite's nightlife is a 20-minute walk or short taxi away.
Where to base and what to skip
For a first coastal trip, I would book Puerto Escondido for four or five nights: Zicatela for surf and sunsets, the Adoquín for restaurants, and Bacocho for calmer water. Add two nights in Mazunte or Zipolite for the smaller-scale feel, then finish in Huatulco if you want resorts, air conditioning and the airport at hand. Book coastal hotels well ahead for December, January, Easter week and the November Day of the Dead period, when Mexican visitors fill the coast; the last week of November is a sweet spot for weather and availability.
Skip the idea of seeing the whole coast in three days. The connections exist but the waiting adds up, and Pochutla's interchange eats a morning. Skip the night bus from Oaxaca if you have an early coastal arrival planned, and skip renting a car unless you are comfortable with mountain roads and topes. Booking a hotel near the Adoquín in Puerto Escondido puts you within walking distance of buses, boats and restaurants, which matters more than a sea view when you are moving every couple of days.