Though its identify interprets as “Hidden Port,” Mexico’s Puerto Escondido is not any secret and has lengthy been a favorite amongst surfers and backpackers. That being stated, this chilled out seaside city in Oaxaca State nonetheless manages to fly underneath the radar of most travellers.
Maybe that’s because of the lack of worldwide direct flights and cookie-cutter resorts that carry so many vacationers to locations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. In the event you’re prepared to place within the legwork to get right here, you’ll be rewarded enormously with gorgeous seashores, pleasant locals, and mouth-watering delicacies.
The Ultimate Travel Guide for Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is unquestionably one of many best places to visit in Mexico, and I’ve spent a variety of time there on a number of completely different visits throughout my greater than 5 years dwelling in Mexico.
I explored the market wanting for the most effective meals, kicked again on a number of seashores, and even tried browsing! All of those Puerto Escondido actions are a variety of enjoyable and made me wish to return for extra.
Plan your journey to this superior Mexican seaside city with the help of this complete information. I’ll go into element in regards to the high issues to do, the place to remain, and a number of the greatest locations to eat and drink. Vamos, amigos!
An Introduction to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
Puerto Escondido is situated on Mexico’s Pacific coast within the state of Oaxaca. You might be questioning the place the identify comes from. Properly, there’s an fascinating story behind it…
Because the legend goes, pirates as soon as kidnapped a younger lady right here. Whereas they have been docked within the bay, the girl managed to flee. They referred to her as “La Escondida” (The Hidden One) and appeared for her each time they returned, to no avail. The identify caught, and it will definitely grew to become often called Bahía de la Escondida (Bay of the Hidden One).
The port was established round 1900 to ship espresso. There was no settlement right here at the moment attributable to an absence of potable water, which got here within the Thirties, and with it the muse of a brand new city. Within the ensuing a long time, an airport and the coastal Freeway 200 helped join Puerto Escondido to the remainder of Mexico.
Finally, vacationers started to find the gorgeous seashores of Puerto Escondido. Easy lodges sprang up, as did eating places housed in palapas the place native fishermen ready the day’s catch.
The growth of tourism right here elevated enormously when surfers found the epic waves of Zicatela Seaside (Playa Zicatela). Today, Puerto Escondido attracts a mixture of surfers, backpackers, Mexican households, and even some digital nomads because the infrastructure develops.
One fascinating factor about Puerto Escondido is that it’s truly break up between two municipalities – Santa María Colotepec and San Pedro Mixtepec.
The border stays a contentious difficulty, inflicting some enterprise homeowners right here to truly pay taxes to each of them. Tensions flare up regularly, together with one incident final yr the place a mayor was actually taken prisoner. Let’s hope they resolve it quickly!
High Issues to Do in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Now that you already know a bit extra in regards to the city, let’s dive in and try the most effective issues to do in Puerto Escondido.
Go Browsing
Whether or not you’re a newbie or a professional, one of many high Puerto Escondido actions is to experience the waves. In any case, it was surfers who initially put this city on the vacationer map. Surfers from all around the world come right here to experience the legendary waves off the Mexican coast.
The place you determine to log on all is dependent upon your ability degree. Zicatela is world-famous for its huge seaside break, which is known as the “Mexican Pipeline” within the browsing group. These waves are higher left to superior surfers, as they are often fairly unforgiving.
Even for those who can’t deal with the waves at Zicatela, it’s price it to go there to seize some lunch and possibly a chilly one on the seaside as you watch from a snug distance. They even host large browsing competitions right here once in a while, so you’ll want to verify and see if one is happening.
Newbies can head as an alternative to La Punta or Carrizalillo. You’ll discover a lot smaller waves at each seashores which might be splendid for studying methods to surf. There are many instructors round and boards for rent. You may count on to pay round 500 pesos ($25) per hour, together with board rental.
Hit the Seaside
In the event you’re like me and fail in any respect boards (skate, snow, surf, ironing), by no means concern – there are many seashores in Puerto Escondido which might be simply fantastic for chilling out. The aforementioned Playa Carrizalillo is a fantastic seaside to go to even with no surfboard. You’ll must stroll down 167 steps to entry the seaside (after which again up once more), however this gorgeous cove is price it.
Heading down the coast, you’ll discover two bays sitting proper subsequent to one another – Puerto Angelito and Playa Manzanillo. Each of those Puerto Escondido points of interest are good for enjoyable and swimming, and are very talked-about with locals and home vacationers on the weekends. You’ll find a number of eating places right here, lots of which have seaside loungers you should use as long as you’re ordering one thing.
In the event you’ve bought your individual wheels or don’t thoughts springing for a taxi, you may proceed south alongside the coast in direction of the resort city of Huatulco. There are many beautiful seashores alongside the way in which, so go forward and make a day of it. In the event you’d choose to benefit from the seaside in your birthday swimsuit, you may hit Playa del Amor (the Seaside of Love), which is clothes optionally available.
Take a Boat Journey
In the event you can carry your self away out of your seaside chair, there’s lots extra to do within the waters round Puerto Escondido. One of the fashionable actions right here is taking a ship journey in quest of sea turtles, dolphins, or whales relying on the season.
Each tour operator on the town can set you up for a day of wildlife recognizing, snorkeling, and possibly even some fishing. A half-day boat journey normally goes for round 450 pesos ($23) per individual.
*Observe: occurring a whale watching tour is without doubt one of the high things to do in Cabo San Lucas. If you end up in that a part of Mexico, don’t miss it!
See the Bioluminescent Lagoon
One of many coolest issues to do in Puerto Escondido is swimming within the glowing bioluminescence of the Manialtepec Lagoon. This lagoon is house to plankton that lights up at night time. The darker it’s, the extra you’ll see. As such, the most effective time to go to is across the new moon.
Most journey brokers on the town can set you up on a visit out to the lagoon. Excursions sometimes value between 250-350 pesos ($13-18) per individual. This consists of round-trip transportation from city in addition to the boat journey to see the glowing plankton. This expertise is unquestionably probably the greatest things to do in all of Mexico.
Expertise a Child Turtle Launch
One other fashionable exercise in Puerto Escondido is releasing child sea turtles again into the water. If there was a hatching that morning, you may go and launch a number of the lovely child turtles within the night.
The sea turtles solely lay eggs between late October and Might. Many lodges in Puerto Escondido set up their very own child turtle releases, so ask round once you get to city. Alternatively, you may simply go to the newborn turtle launch centre on Bacocho Seaside.
Chill Out at a Seaside Membership
Talking of Bacocho Seaside, that’s the place you’ll discover the superior Club de Playa Villasol. This seaside membership has two swimming pools, a swim-up bar, and an ideal restaurant. It’s the proper place to take pleasure in a calming day in Puerto Escondido.
You don’t have to be staying on the resort to take pleasure in their seaside membership. Simply spend a minimal of 200 pesos ($10.50) on foods and drinks for adults or 100 for kids and also you’re good to go. They even present motion pictures on Wednesday nights – a cinema proper on the seaside!
Leap Out of a Airplane
Adrenaline junkies shall be joyful to listen to that skydiving is without doubt one of the fashionable Puerto Escondido actions. I had a good time flying above the breathtaking Mexican coast after leaping from practically 4,000 meters. It’s an exhilarating expertise that you simply’re certain to be speaking about for years to return!
Skydiving solely goes on in Puerto Escondido within the excessive season, normally round Christmas-New 12 months’s Eve or Easter. You should definitely verify the web site of Skydive Puerto Escondido to see once they’re working. A tandem leap prices 2,900 pesos (about $150).
Take Half in a Native Pageant
Initially attracting guests in the course of the off-season, the Fiestas de Noviembre has grown right into a month-long celebration with tons of various occasions. There’s a fishing match, browsing competitions, magnificence pageants, live shows, a meals pageant and a lot extra.
Travelling to Puerto Escondido in November is the proper approach to keep away from the bigger crowds (and better costs) that begin arriving the subsequent month. The festivities go on all month, so that you’ll by no means be bored for those who journey there in November.
Examine Out the Avenue Artwork
Whereas it’s not fairly as widespread as it’s in greater cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara, there may be an rising avenue artwork scene in Puerto Escondido. Learn our informative information to avenue artwork in Mexico earlier than you go, after which hit the streets along with your digicam to snap some photographs of the cool murals you encounter.
Learn how to Get to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
One factor that helps maintain this place the “Hidden Port” is the shortage of direct flights from the Puerto Escondido airport to the US or Canada.
Whereas there are direct flights from Mexico’s North American neighbors to the close by resort city of Huatulco, that’s nonetheless a 90-minute drive away. To get from there to Puerto Escondido, your choices vary from a $3 bus as much as a $90 pre-arranged taxi.
Many individuals select to reach in Puerto Escondido by connecting in Mexico Metropolis. Flights from the capital take about 70 minutes and will be discovered for as little as $40. If it’s important to join there anyhow, I like to recommend spending no less than a few days to make the most of all of the superior things to do in Mexico City.
There are additionally flights from Oaxaca Metropolis, however you’ll have to e-book instantly with the one airline that runs them. Examine AeroTucan’s website for instances and costs. It appears as if 2,550 ($133) pesos is the going charge for a one-way flight. Different travellers have really helpful calling the airline, as their web site usually has points with bookings.
These AeroTucan flights are likely to promote out nicely upfront. Another choice is flying AeroVega. Captain Don Vega frequently flies the route in his 6-seat Cessna and comes extremely really helpful by different travellers. You may contact him at aerovegapto@gmail.com or +1 044 954 588 0062 to order a spot on considered one of his flights.
In the event you’d choose to save cash moderately than time, you may catch a bus from Oaxaca alongside the windy mountain roads to Puerto Escondido. The greater, extra snug buses value round 250-350 pesos ($13 – $18) and take 10 hours or so. Many backpackers select to take the in a single day bus to save cash on lodging, though sleeping won’t be that straightforward on this journey.
You may as well hitch a experience in a mini-bus, which could be somewhat cramped however solely takes 6-7 hours for a value of round 200 pesos ($10.5). Simply be ready for movement illness because it’s fairly the bumpy experience!
Lastly, some individuals select to simply lease a automotive in Oaxaca Metropolis and drive themselves to Puerto Escondido. Simply ensure that the rental insurance coverage settlement is obvious in order to keep away from any shock costs. It’s additionally greatest to sort out this drive in the course of the day as a few of these hairpin turns can sneak up on you.
Learn how to Get Round Puerto Escondido
To get round Puerto Escondido, you’ll doubtless use a mixture of taxis and native public transportation. Getting a taxi from the airport to city ought to value round 40-50 pesos ($2-2.50), or about 70 ($3.50) if headed to Punta Zicatela. Taxi rides inside city solely value 30-35 pesos ($1.50-2).
For public transportation in Puerto Escondido, you may select between colectivos (shared taxi vans), native buses, and camionetas (pick-up vehicles). These all run from dawn until round 8:30 PM and solely value 8 pesos (lower than $0.50) every.
To go to factors additional outdoors of city, you may attempt to rent a driver for the day or simply lease a automotive.
The place to Eat and Drink in Puerto Escondido
Regardless of being a small city, Puerto Escondido is house to tons of of locations to eat and drink. It being a fishing city, seafood is clearly the best choice right here. The state of Oaxaca additionally grows some fairly superb espresso beans, so it’s not exhausting discovering a very good cup of espresso right here. Listed here are just a few of the most effective locations to eat and drink on the town:
- Cafecito (Boulevard Benito Juárez 1, Seccion C, Native 11, Rinconada): This Puerto Escondido staple has two places – one on the town and one on Zicatela. It’s a very talked-about place to go for breakfast, so don’t be stunned to discover a line for those who arrive within the morning.
- Benito Juarez Market: The native market is the most effective place to go store for contemporary fruit and veggies. You may as well sit right down to an inexpensive lunch at one of many many distributors there.
- Brad’s Cut up Coconut (Av. Del Morro, Playa Zicatela): Set proper on the seaside amongst palm timber, it is a enjoyable spot to go for dinner and drinks. They’re all the time cooking up some scrumptious BBQ right here, and the place is normally rocking with some dwell music.
- El Espadin (Camino Carrizalillo No 125, Carrizalillo): Head to Playa Carrizalillo round sundown to take pleasure in a meal at this improbable restaurant. Order the catch of the day or no matter different seafood you fancy.
- Cayuco (Av. Del Morro 4, Playa Zicatela): One other beachfront restaurant, Cayuco cooks up basic Oaxacan dishes in distinctive methods. They’ve additionally bought a wonderful number of mezcal right here.
- Almoraduz (Benito Juárez 12, Rinconada): For fantastic eating Puerto Escondido fashion, head to this superb restaurant. The cooks right here whip up conventional Oaxacan delicacies with a twist. Additionally they make some killer drinks, like a hibiscus margarita with mezcal.
- Congo Bar (Alfonso Pérez Gasga 605): Dwell music, low-cost drinks, and a raging social gathering are what you’ll discover right here.
- Bar Fly (Av. Del Morro, Playa Zicatela): In the event you’re trying to dance into the wee hours of the morning, that is the place to do it.
Consuming and ingesting your manner round Puerto Escondido is unquestionably a spotlight of visiting this chilled out seaside city. You probably have every other suggestions for nice locations to seize a chew or a drink, please go away them within the feedback under!
The place to Keep in Puerto Escondido
Lodging in Puerto Escondido ranges from easy backpacker-style hostels as much as luxurious beachfront resorts. As such, there’s one thing for all tastes and budgets right here.
These centered on browsing will in all probability wish to e-book a room on Playa Zicatela to have easy accessibility to the most effective waves in Puerto Escondido. In the event you head somewhat additional south on the seaside to the world often called La Punta, it’s somewhat bit extra laid-back and fewer centered on browsing.
Households and {couples} trying to avoid the social gathering may wish to search out lodging up at Playa Bacocho, the place there are many choices.
When looking for out lodging in Puerto Escondido, it’s vital to contemplate the time of yr you’ll be travelling there. Locations replenish quick over Christmas, New 12 months’s, and Semana Santa (Holy Week). To keep away from disappointment, you’ll wish to e-book nicely upfront if travelling there throughout these busy instances.
Examine for distinctive lodging and reasonably priced locations to remain on web sites like Booking.com.
Puerto Escondido Security
For probably the most half, Puerto Escondido is a very safe place to journey. That being stated, incidents do happen right here, particularly robberies. It’s greatest to keep away from strolling on the seaside at night time. Wherever you might be, it’s suggested to remain in a gaggle. Don’t carry an excessive amount of money or valuables on you in order to keep away from drawing consideration to your self.
Maybe the most important hazard in Puerto Escondido is the water. Life guards right here rescue tons of of individuals yearly, so you’ll want to take these purple flag warnings severely and keep out of the water when suggested to take action.
When travelling to or from Puerto Escondido, it’s really helpful to skip out on the in a single day buses to Mexico Metropolis. These cross via the state of Guerrero, which is without doubt one of the most harmful areas in Mexico. There are a lot of studies of armed robberies on these buses, so that you’re a lot better off springing for a flight with a funds airline as an alternative.
In a preferred vacationer seaside city in Mexico, it ought to come as no shock that medication are usually not exhausting to seek out. I’m not going to inform you what to do or to not do in your trip, however simply bear in mind that cops right here wish to cease gringos at night time for random inspections to see if they’ll discover something.
Spending a while in a Mexican jail and/or meting out an enormous bribe are surefire methods to smash your journey.
FAQs for Puerto Escondido
Listed here are solutions to some steadily requested questions on Puerto Escondido actions and points of interest.
It’s completely price it to go to Puerto Escondido. It’s often called the browsing capital of Mexico, however there are a lot of extra Puerto Escondido actions to take pleasure in, like lounging on the seaside, consuming native meals within the public market, and visiting close by locations like lagoons.
Puerto Escondido is without doubt one of the nicest cities on the gorgeous Pacific Coast of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It has a number of giant, sandy seashores with nice browsing. There are many lodges for all budgets and excellent eating places.
Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca usually are much safer than many different elements of Mexico, but it surely’s a good suggestion to take fundamental precautions, corresponding to not strolling alone at night time and never leaving your possessions unguarded on the seaside when you swim.
Sure, Puerto Escondido is swimmable, however due to robust undercurrents, don’t go too removed from shore. Additionally, you’ll want to verify all warnings on the seaside about which locations are protected to swim or not.
The dry season takes place in the course of the cooler months from November to March. Keep away from mid-December to mid-January, nevertheless, as a result of that’s excessive season for journey in Mexico, and like in all places else within the nation, Puerto Escondido can get crowded.
Pack Your Luggage for Puerto Escondido!
Properly there you’ve it, amigos. As I’m certain you may see by now, Puerto Escondido has rather a lot to supply travellers who put forth the hassle to make it to this little slice of paradise in Oaxaca.
I’ve gone a number of instances, and it’s considered one of my favourite spots in considered one of my favourite areas in Mexico. In the event you make it right down to the southern Pacific Coast, I’m certain you’ll agree.
From browsing a number of the most epic waves on the planet, to free-falling above the ocean and mountains on a skydiving journey, to eating on contemporary seafood with sundown views, it is a improbable alternative for your subsequent trip.
Like This Article? Pin It!
