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 beneath the radar of most travellers.
Maybe that’s as a result of lack of worldwide direct flights and cookie-cutter resorts that deliver so many vacationers to locations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. For those who’re keen to place within the legwork to get right here, you’ll be rewarded drastically with gorgeous seashores, pleasant locals, and mouth-watering delicacies.
The Final Journey Information for Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is unquestionably one of many finest locations to go to in Mexico, and I’ve spent lots of time there on a number of completely different visits throughout my greater than 5 years dwelling in Mexico.
I explored the market on the lookout for the very best meals, kicked again on a number of seashores, and even tried browsing! All of those Puerto Escondido actions are lots 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 prime issues to do, the place to remain, and a few of the finest 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. It’s possible you’ll be questioning the place the identify comes from. Nicely, there’s an attention-grabbing story behind it…
Because the legend goes, pirates as soon as kidnapped a younger girl 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 seemed for her each time they returned, to no avail. The identify caught, and it will definitely grew to become referred to 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 because 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 a long time, 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 drastically when surfers found the epic waves of Zicatela Seashore (Playa Zicatela). Today, 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 really 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 truly pay taxes to each of them. Tensions flare up regularly, together with one incident final 12 months the place a mayor was really taken prisoner. Let’s hope they resolve it quickly!
Prime Issues to Do in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Now that you already know a bit extra concerning the city, let’s dive in and check out the very best issues to do in Puerto Escondido.
Go Browsing
Whether or not you’re a newbie or a professional, one of many prime Puerto Escondido actions is to trip 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 trip the legendary waves off the Mexican coast.
The place you resolve to go online all relies on your ability degree. Zicatela is world-famous for its large 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 in the event you 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 cushty distance. They even host huge browsing competitions right here every so often, so you should definitely verify and see if one is happening.
Freshmen can head as a substitute to La Punta or Carrizalillo. You’ll discover a lot smaller waves at each seashores that are perfect for studying how you can surf. There are many instructors round and boards for rent. You possibly can count on to pay round 500 pesos ($25) per hour, together with board rental.
Hit the Seashore
For those who’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 are simply fantastic for chilling out. The aforementioned Playa Carrizalillo is a fantastic seaside to go to even and not using a surfboard. You’ll should 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 points of interest are good for enjoyable and swimming, and are very fashionable with locals and home vacationers on the weekends. You will discover a number of eating places right here, lots of which have seaside loungers you should use as long as you’re ordering one thing.
For those who’ve obtained your personal wheels or don’t thoughts springing for a taxi, you’ll be able to proceed south alongside the coast in direction of the resort city of Huatulco. There are many attractive seashores alongside the best way, so go forward and make a day of it. For those who’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 elective.
Take a Boat Journey
For those who can deliver your self away out of your seaside chair, there’s a lot extra to do within the waters round Puerto Escondido. One of the crucial well-liked actions right here is taking a ship journey looking 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.
*Notice: occurring a whale watching tour is among the prime 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 very 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 value between 250-350 pesos ($13-18) per particular person. This consists of round-trip transportation from city in addition to the boat journey to see the glowing plankton. This expertise is unquestionably top-of-the-line issues to do in all of Mexico.
Expertise a Child Turtle Launch
One other well-liked 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 a few of the cute child turtles within the night.
The ocean turtles solely lay eggs between late October and Might. 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 newborn 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 awesome restaurant. It’s the proper place to get pleasure from a calming day in Puerto Escondido.
You don’t must be staying on the lodge to get pleasure from their seaside membership. Simply spend a minimal of 200 pesos ($10.50) on food 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 Airplane
Adrenaline junkies will likely be comfortable to listen to that skydiving is among the well-liked Puerto Escondido actions. I had a good time flying above the breathtaking Mexican coast after leaping from almost 4,000 meters. It’s an exhilarating expertise that you simply’re positive 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. You’ll want to verify 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 match, browsing competitions, magnificence pageants, live shows, a meals competition and a lot extra.
Travelling to Puerto Escondido in November is the proper method 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 in the event you journey there in November.
Verify Out the Road Artwork
Whereas it’s not fairly as widespread as it’s in greater cities like Mexico Metropolis or Guadalajara, there’s 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 digital camera to snap some photographs of the cool murals you bump into.
Tips on how to Get to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
One factor that helps maintain 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 could be discovered for as little as $40. If you must join there in any case, I like to recommend spending at the very least a few days to make the most of all of the superior issues to do in Mexico Metropolis.
There are additionally flights from Oaxaca Metropolis, however you’ll must e book instantly with the one airline that runs them. Verify AeroTucan’s web site for occasions and costs. It appears as if 2,550 ($133) pesos is the going price for a one-way flight. Different travellers have beneficial calling the airline, as their web site usually has points with bookings.
These AeroTucan flights are likely to promote out nicely upfront. An alternative choice is flying AeroVega. Captain Don Vega often flies the route in his 6-seat Cessna and comes extremely beneficial by different travellers. You possibly can contact him at aerovegapto@gmail.com or +1 044 954 588 0062 to order a spot on one in all his flights.
For those who’d favor to economize quite 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 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 economize on lodging, though sleeping won’t be that straightforward on this journey.
You can even hitch a trip in a mini-bus, which is perhaps somewhat cramped however solely takes 6-7 hours for a price of round 200 pesos ($10.5). Simply be ready for movement illness because it’s fairly the bumpy trip!
Lastly, some folks select to only lease a automobile in Oaxaca Metropolis and drive themselves to Puerto Escondido. Simply make certain the rental insurance coverage settlement is obvious in order to keep away from any shock expenses. It’s additionally finest to deal with this drive in the course of the day as a few of these hairpin turns can sneak up on you.
Tips on how to Get Round Puerto Escondido
To get round Puerto Escondido, you’ll possible use a mix 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’ll be able to select between colectivos (shared taxi vans), native buses, and camionetas (pick-up vans). 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 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 house to a whole lot 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 great cup of espresso right here. Listed here are a number of of the very 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 in the event you arrive within the morning.
- Benito Juarez Market: The native market is the very best place to go store for contemporary fruit and veggies. You can even sit right down to an affordable 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 reside music.
- El Espadin (Camino Carrizalillo No 125, Carrizalillo): Head to Playa Carrizalillo round sundown to get pleasure from 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 obtained a wonderful collection 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. 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 occasion are what you’ll discover right here.
- Bar Fly (Av. Del Morro, Playa Zicatela): For those who’re seeking to dance into the wee hours of the morning, that is the place to do it.
Consuming and consuming your manner round Puerto Escondido is unquestionably a spotlight of visiting this chilled out seaside city. When you’ve got every other suggestions for excellent locations to seize a chunk 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 most likely wish to e book a room on Playa Zicatela to have easy accessibility to the very best waves in Puerto Escondido. For those who head somewhat additional south on the seaside to the realm referred to as La Punta, it’s somewhat bit extra laid-back and fewer centered on browsing.
Households and {couples} seeking to keep away from the occasion would possibly wish to hunt down lodging up at Playa Bacocho, the place there are many choices.
When in search of out lodging in Puerto Escondido, it’s necessary to contemplate the time of 12 months you’ll be travelling there. Locations refill quick over Christmas, New Yr’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 occasions.
Verify for distinctive lodging and inexpensive locations to remain on web sites like Reserving.com.
Puerto Escondido Security
For essentially the most half, Puerto Escondido is a very secure 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 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 a whole lot of individuals yearly, so you should definitely take these crimson flag warnings significantly and keep out of the water when suggested to take action.
When travelling to or from Puerto Escondido, it’s beneficial to skip out on the in a single day buses to Mexico Metropolis. These cross by the state of Guerrero, which is among the most harmful areas in Mexico. There are various reviews of armed robberies on these buses, so that you’re significantly better off springing for a flight with a price range airline as a substitute.
In a preferred vacationer seaside city in Mexico, it ought to come as no shock that medication usually are 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 will discover something.
Spending a while in a Mexican jail and/or doling out an enormous bribe are surefire methods to wreck your journey.
FAQs for Puerto Escondido
Listed here are solutions to some regularly requested questions on Puerto Escondido actions and points of interest.
It’s completely value it to go to Puerto Escondido. It’s referred to as the browsing capital of Mexico, however there are lots of extra Puerto Escondido actions to get pleasure from, 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 generally are a lot safer than many different elements of Mexico, however it’s a good suggestion to take fundamental precautions, comparable to not strolling alone at night time and never leaving your possessions unguarded on the seaside whilst you swim.
Sure, Puerto Escondido is swimmable, however due to sturdy undercurrents, don’t go too removed from shore. Additionally, you should definitely verify all warnings on the seaside about which locations are secure 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 in all places else within the nation, Puerto Escondido can get crowded.
Pack Your Baggage for Puerto Escondido!
Nicely there you’ve gotten it, amigos. As I’m positive you’ll be able to see by now, Puerto Escondido has so much 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 occasions, and it’s one in all my favourite spots in one in all my favourite areas in Mexico. For those who make it right down to the southern Pacific Coast, I’m positive you’ll agree.
From browsing a few 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 selection in your subsequent trip.
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