Though its identify interprets as “Hidden Port,” Mexico’s Puerto Escondido isn’t any secret and has lengthy been a favorite amongst surfers and backpackers. That being mentioned, this chilled out seaside city in Oaxaca State nonetheless manages to fly below the radar of most travellers.
Maybe that’s as a result of 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 tremendously with gorgeous seashores, pleasant locals, and mouth-watering delicacies.
The Final Journey Information for Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is certainly one of many finest locations to go to in Mexico, and I’ve spent loads of time there on a number of completely different visits throughout my greater than 5 years dwelling in Mexico.
I explored the market in search of one of the best meals, kicked again on a number of seashores, and even tried browsing! All of those Puerto Escondido actions are loads 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 concerning the high issues to do, the place to remain, and among the finest locations to eat and drink. Vamos, amigos!
An Introduction to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
Puerto Escondido is positioned on Mexico’s Pacific coast within the state of Oaxaca. Chances are you’ll be questioning the place the identify comes from. Properly, there’s an attention-grabbing 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 turned often known as 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 as a result of an absence of potable water, which got here within the Nineteen Thirties, and with it the muse of a brand new city. Within the ensuing many years, an airport and the coastal Freeway 200 helped join Puerto Escondido to the remainder of Mexico.
Ultimately, vacationers started to find the gorgeous seashores of Puerto Escondido. Easy resorts sprang up, as did eating places housed in palapas the place native fishermen ready the day’s catch.
The event of tourism right here elevated tremendously when surfers found the epic waves of Zicatela Seashore (Playa Zicatela). As of late, Puerto Escondido attracts a mixture of surfers, backpackers, Mexican households, and even some digital nomads because the infrastructure develops.
One attention-grabbing factor about Puerto Escondido is that it’s truly cut up between two municipalities – Santa María Colotepec and San Pedro Mixtepec.
The border stays a contentious problem, inflicting some enterprise homeowners right here to really pay taxes to each of them. Tensions flare up regularly, together with one incident final 12 months the place a mayor was truly taken prisoner. Let’s hope they resolve it quickly!
High Issues to Do in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Now that you realize a bit extra concerning the city, let’s dive in and try one of the best 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 spite of everything, 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 go online all is determined by your talent stage. Zicatela is world-famous for its huge seaside break, which is known as the “Mexican Pipeline” within the browsing neighborhood. These waves are higher left to superior surfers, as they are often fairly unforgiving.
Even if you happen to can’t deal with the waves at Zicatela, it’s value it to go there to seize some lunch and perhaps a chilly one on the seaside as you watch from a snug distance. They even host large browsing competitions right here on occasion, so make sure you examine 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 that are perfect for studying find out how to surf. There are many instructors round and boards for rent. You’ll be able to anticipate to pay round 500 pesos ($25) per hour, together with board rental.
Hit the Seashore
In the event you’re like me and fail in any respect boards (skate, snow, surf, ironing), by no means worry – there are many seashores in Puerto Escondido which might be simply high quality for chilling out. The aforementioned Playa Carrizalillo is a high quality seaside to go to even and not using a surfboard. You’ll must stroll down 167 steps to entry the seaside (after which again up once more), however this gorgeous cove is value 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 sights are good for enjoyable and swimming, and are very fashionable with locals and home vacationers on the weekends. Yow will discover a number of eating places right here, a lot of which have seaside loungers you need to use as long as you’re ordering one thing.
In the event you’ve received your personal wheels or don’t thoughts springing for a taxi, you’ll be able to proceed south alongside the coast in the direction of the resort city of Huatulco. There are many beautiful seashores alongside the best way, so go forward and make a day of it. In the event you’d favor to benefit from the seaside in your birthday swimsuit, you’ll be able to hit Playa del Amor (the Seashore of Love), which is clothes non-obligatory.
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. Some of the common actions right here is taking a ship journey searching for 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 perhaps even some fishing. A half-day boat journey normally goes for round 450 pesos ($23) per particular person.
*Word: occurring a whale watching tour is among 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 residence to plankton that lights up at evening. The darker it’s, the extra you’ll see. As such, one of the best 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 price between 250-350 pesos ($13-18) per particular person. This contains round-trip transportation from city in addition to the boat journey to see the glowing plankton. This expertise is certainly top-of-the-line issues to do in all of Mexico.
Expertise a Child Turtle Launch
One other common exercise in Puerto Escondido is releasing child sea turtles again into the water. If there was a hatching that morning, you’ll be able to go and launch among the cute child turtles within the night.
The ocean turtles solely lay eggs between late October and Could. Many resorts in Puerto Escondido manage their very own child turtle releases, so ask round whenever you get to city. Alternatively, you’ll be able to simply go to the child turtle launch centre on Bacocho Seashore.
Chill Out at a Seashore Membership
Talking of Bacocho Seashore, that’s the place you’ll discover the superior Membership de Playa Villasol. This seaside membership has two swimming pools, a swim-up bar, and an amazing restaurant. It’s the proper place to take pleasure in a soothing day in Puerto Escondido.
You don’t should be staying on the lodge 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 youngsters 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 Aircraft
Adrenaline junkies will probably be glad to listen to that skydiving is among the common 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 come back!
Skydiving solely goes on in Puerto Escondido within the excessive season, normally round Christmas-New Yr’s Eve or Easter. Make sure to examine the web site of Skydive Puerto Escondido to see after they’re working. A tandem bounce 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 event, browsing competitions, magnificence pageants, live shows, a meals competition and a lot extra.
Travelling to Puerto Escondido in November is the proper strategy to keep away from the bigger crowds (and better costs) that begin arriving the following month. The festivities go on all month, so that you’ll by no means be bored if you happen to journey there in November.
Examine Out the Road Artwork
Whereas it’s not fairly as widespread as it’s in larger cities like Mexico Metropolis 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 images of the cool murals you bump into.
Easy methods to Get to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
One factor that helps hold this place the “Hidden Port” is the dearth 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 might be discovered for as little as $40. If it’s a must to join there anyhow, I like to recommend spending at the very least a few days to reap the benefits of all of the superior issues to do in Mexico Metropolis.
There are additionally flights from Oaxaca Metropolis, however you’ll must ebook immediately with the one airline that runs them. Examine AeroTucan’s web site for instances and costs. It appears as if 2,550 ($133) pesos is the going fee for a one-way flight. Different travellers have really useful calling the airline, as their web site typically has points with bookings.
These AeroTucan flights are inclined to promote out nicely prematurely. Another choice is flying AeroVega. Captain Don Vega recurrently flies the route in his 6-seat Cessna and comes extremely really useful by different travellers. You’ll be able to contact him at aerovegapto@gmail.com or +1 044 954 588 0062 to order a spot on one in every of his flights.
In the event you’d favor to economize relatively than time, you’ll be able to catch a bus from Oaxaca alongside the windy mountain roads to Puerto Escondido. The larger, extra comfy buses price round 250-350 pesos ($13 – $18) and take 10 hours or so. Many backpackers select to take the in a single day bus to economize on lodging, though sleeping won’t be that simple on this journey.
You may as well hitch a experience in a mini-bus, which may be a bit of 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 folks select to simply lease a automobile in Oaxaca Metropolis and drive themselves to Puerto Escondido. Simply be certain that the rental insurance coverage settlement is evident in order to keep away from any shock fees. It’s additionally finest to sort out this drive in the course of the day as a few of these hairpin turns can sneak up on you.
Easy methods 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 price round 40-50 pesos ($2-2.50), or about 70 ($3.50) if headed to Punta Zicatela. Taxi rides inside city solely price 30-35 pesos ($1.50-2).
For public transportation in Puerto Escondido, you’ll be able to 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 price 8 pesos (lower than $0.50) every.
To go to factors additional exterior of city, you’ll be able to attempt to rent a driver for the day or simply lease a automobile.
The place to Eat and Drink in Puerto Escondido
Regardless of being a small city, Puerto Escondido is residence 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 laborious discovering a great cup of espresso right here. Listed here are a couple of of one of the best locations to eat and drink on the town:
- Cafecito (Boulevard Benito Juárez 1, Seccion C, Native 11, Rinconada): This Puerto Escondido staple has two areas – one on the town and one on Zicatela. It’s a very fashionable place to go for breakfast, so don’t be shocked to discover a line if you happen to arrive within the morning.
- Benito Juarez Market: The native market is one of the best place to go store for recent fruit and veggies. You may as well sit right down to an affordable lunch at one of many many distributors there.
- Brad’s Break up Coconut (Av. Del Morro, Playa Zicatela): Set proper on the seaside amongst palm timber, this can be a enjoyable spot to go for dinner and drinks. They’re at all times cooking up some scrumptious BBQ right here, and the place is normally rocking with some stay 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 received a wonderful choice of mezcal right here.
- Almoraduz (Benito Juárez 12, Rinconada): For high quality eating Puerto Escondido type, head to this superb restaurant. The cooks right here whip up conventional Oaxacan delicacies with a twist. In addition they make some killer drinks, like a hibiscus margarita with mezcal.
- Congo Bar (Alfonso Pérez Gasga 605): Reside 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 method round Puerto Escondido is certainly a spotlight of visiting this chilled out seaside city. You probably have every other suggestions for nice locations to seize a chunk or a drink, please go away them within the feedback beneath!
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 targeted on browsing will most likely wish to ebook a room on Playa Zicatela to have easy accessibility to one of the best waves in Puerto Escondido. In the event you head a bit of additional south on the seaside to the world often known as La Punta, it’s a bit of bit extra laid-back and fewer targeted on browsing.
Households and {couples} trying to keep away from the social gathering may wish to hunt down lodging up at Playa Bacocho, the place there are many choices.
When searching for out lodging in Puerto Escondido, it’s essential to contemplate the time of 12 months you’ll be travelling there. Locations replenish quick over Christmas, New Yr’s, and Semana Santa (Holy Week). To keep away from disappointment, you’ll wish to ebook nicely prematurely if travelling there throughout these busy instances.
Examine for distinctive lodging and inexpensive locations to remain on web sites like Reserving.com.
Puerto Escondido Security
For probably the most half, Puerto Escondido is a very protected place to journey. That being mentioned, incidents do happen right here, particularly robberies. It’s finest to keep away from strolling on the seaside at evening. Wherever you’re, it’s suggested to remain in a bunch. 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 make sure you take these crimson flag warnings severely and keep out of the water when suggested to take action.
When travelling to or from Puerto Escondido, it’s really useful to skip out on the in a single day buses to Mexico Metropolis. These move via the state of Guerrero, which is among the most harmful areas in Mexico. There are a lot of reviews 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 well-liked vacationer seaside city in Mexico, it ought to come as no shock that medicine should not laborious to search 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 evening for random inspections to see if they will discover something.
Spending a while in a Mexican jail and/or doling out an enormous bribe are surefire methods to damage your journey.
FAQs for Puerto Escondido
Listed here are solutions to some regularly requested questions on Puerto Escondido actions and sights.
It’s completely value it to go to Puerto Escondido. It’s often known as the browsing capital of Mexico, however there are various 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 among the nicest cities on the gorgeous Pacific Coast of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It has a number of massive, sandy seashores with nice browsing. There are many resorts for all budgets and excellent eating places.
Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca on the whole are a lot safer than many different elements of Mexico, however it’s a good suggestion to take primary precautions, reminiscent of not strolling alone at evening and never leaving your possessions unguarded on the seaside whilst you swim.
Sure, Puerto Escondido is swimmable, however due to robust undercurrents, don’t go too removed from shore. Additionally, make sure you examine 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, nonetheless, as a result of that’s excessive season for journey in Mexico, and like all over the place else within the nation, Puerto Escondido can get crowded.
Pack Your Baggage for Puerto Escondido!
Properly there you have got it, amigos. As I’m certain you’ll be able to see by now, Puerto Escondido has quite a bit 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 one in every of my favourite spots in one in every 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 among the most epic waves on the planet, to free-falling above the ocean and mountains on a skydiving journey, to eating on recent seafood with sundown views, this can be a improbable selection in your subsequent trip.
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