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 stated, this chilled out seashore 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. If you happen to’re prepared to place within the legwork to get right here, you’ll be rewarded enormously with beautiful seashores, pleasant locals, and mouth-watering delicacies.
The Final Journey Information for Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is certainly one of many greatest locations to go to in Mexico, and I’ve spent numerous time there on a number of completely different visits throughout my greater than 5 years residing in Mexico.
I explored the market searching for the most effective meals, kicked again on a number of seashores, and even tried browsing! All of those Puerto Escondido actions are numerous enjoyable and made me need to return for extra.
Plan your journey to this superior Mexican seashore 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 positioned on Mexico’s Pacific coast within the state of Oaxaca. You could 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 had been docked within the bay, the lady 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 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 because of an absence of potable water, which got here within the Nineteen Thirties, and with it the inspiration 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 enormously when surfers found the epic waves of Zicatela Seaside (Playa Zicatela). Lately, 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 really 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 really pay taxes to each of them. Tensions flare up frequently, 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 realize 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 resolve to go online all is dependent upon your talent degree. Zicatela is world-famous for its huge seashore 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 should you can’t deal with the waves at Zicatela, it’s value it to move there to seize some lunch and possibly a chilly one on the seashore as you watch from a cushty distance. They even host large browsing competitions right here infrequently, so make sure you test and see if one is happening.
Newbies 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 tips on how to surf. There are many instructors round and boards for rent. You may anticipate to pay round 500 pesos ($25) per hour, together with board rental.
Hit the Seaside
If you happen to’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 nice for chilling out. The aforementioned Playa Carrizalillo is a nice seashore to go to even with out a surfboard. You’ll need to stroll down 167 steps to entry the seashore (after which again up once more), however this beautiful 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 stress-free and swimming, and are extremely popular with locals and home vacationers on the weekends. You could find a number of eating places right here, lots of which have seashore loungers you should utilize as long as you’re ordering one thing.
If you happen to’ve obtained 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 attractive seashores alongside the way in which, so go forward and make a day of it. If you happen to’d favor to benefit from the seashore in your birthday swimsuit, you may hit Playa del Amor (the Seaside of Love), which is clothes non-compulsory.
Take a Boat Journey
If you happen to can carry your self away out of your seashore chair, there’s a lot extra to do within the waters round Puerto Escondido. Some of the standard actions right here is taking a ship journey in the hunt 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 possibly even some fishing. A half-day boat journey often goes for round 450 pesos ($23) per individual.
*Word: occurring a whale watching tour is likely 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 evening. 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 contains round-trip transportation from city in addition to the boat journey to see the glowing plankton. This expertise is certainly among the finest issues to do in all of Mexico.
Expertise a Child Turtle Launch
One other standard 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 ocean turtles solely lay eggs between late October and Could. Many resorts in Puerto Escondido set up their very own child turtle releases, so ask round if you get to city. Alternatively, you may simply go to the infant 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 Membership de Playa Villasol. This seashore membership has two swimming pools, a swim-up bar, and an ideal restaurant. It’s the proper place to get pleasure from a calming day in Puerto Escondido.
You don’t should be staying on the resort to get pleasure from their seashore 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 films on Wednesday nights – a cinema proper on the seashore!
Soar Out of a Airplane
Adrenaline junkies shall be joyful to listen to that skydiving is likely one of the standard 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 positive to be speaking about for years to come back!
Skydiving solely goes on in Puerto Escondido within the excessive season, often round Christmas-New 12 months’s Eve or Easter. Be sure you test the web site of Skydive Puerto Escondido to see once they’re working. A tandem soar prices 2,900 pesos (about $150).
Take Half in a Native Competition
Initially attracting guests through 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 following month. The festivities go on all month, so that you’ll by no means be bored should you journey there in November.
Examine Out the Avenue 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 together with your digital camera to snap some images of the cool murals you encounter.
Find out how 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 may be discovered for as little as $40. If you must join there anyhow, I like to recommend spending at the 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 guide 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 price for a one-way flight. Different travellers have beneficial calling the airline, as their web site typically has points with bookings.
These AeroTucan flights are inclined to promote out effectively 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 may contact him at aerovegapto@gmail.com or +1 044 954 588 0062 to order a spot on one among his flights.
If you happen to’d favor to save cash quite than time, you may 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 save cash on lodging, though sleeping may not be that straightforward on this journey.
You too can hitch a experience in a mini-bus, which could be a little bit 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 experience!
Lastly, some folks select to only lease a automotive in Oaxaca Metropolis and drive themselves to Puerto Escondido. Simply be sure that the rental insurance coverage settlement is obvious in order to keep away from any shock costs. It’s additionally greatest to deal with this drive through the day as a few of these hairpin turns can sneak up on you.
Find out how to Get Round Puerto Escondido
To get round Puerto Escondido, you’ll probably 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 may 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 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 lots 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 wonderful espresso beans, so it’s not arduous discovering an excellent cup of espresso right here. Listed below 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 areas – one on the town and one on Zicatela. It’s a extremely popular place to go for breakfast, so don’t be shocked to discover a line should you arrive within the morning.
- Benito Juarez Market: The native market is the most effective place to go store for recent fruit and veggies. You too can sit all the way 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 seashore 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 often rocking with some stay 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 traditional Oaxacan dishes in distinctive methods. They’ve additionally obtained a superb choice of mezcal right here.
- Almoraduz (Benito Juárez 12, Rinconada): For nice eating Puerto Escondido fashion, head to this wonderful 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 celebration are what you’ll discover right here.
- Bar Fly (Av. Del Morro, Playa Zicatela): If you happen to’re trying to dance into the wee hours of the morning, that is the place to do it.
Consuming and ingesting your means round Puerto Escondido is certainly a spotlight of visiting this chilled out seashore city. In case you have another suggestions for excellent locations to seize a chew or a drink, please depart 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 in all probability need to guide a room on Playa Zicatela to have easy accessibility to the most effective waves in Puerto Escondido. If you happen to head a little bit additional south on the seashore to the world often known as La Punta, it’s a little bit bit extra laid-back and fewer targeted on browsing.
Households and {couples} trying to avoid the celebration may need to search out lodging up at Playa Bacocho, the place there are many choices.
When searching for out lodging in Puerto Escondido, it’s necessary to contemplate the time of 12 months 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 need to guide effectively upfront 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 essentially the most half, Puerto Escondido is a very protected place to journey. That being stated, incidents do happen right here, particularly robberies. It’s greatest to keep away from strolling on the seashore at evening. 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 largest hazard in Puerto Escondido is the water. Life guards right here rescue lots of of individuals yearly, so make sure you take these pink flag warnings critically 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 means of the state of Guerrero, which is likely one of the most harmful areas in Mexico. There are lots of stories 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 well-liked vacationer seashore city in Mexico, it ought to come as no shock that medication usually are not arduous to search out. I’m not going to let you know what to do or to not do in your trip, however simply remember 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 wreck your journey.
FAQs for Puerto Escondido
Listed below are solutions to some incessantly 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 numerous extra Puerto Escondido actions to get pleasure from, like lounging on the seashore, consuming native meals within the public market, and visiting close by locations like lagoons.
Puerto Escondido is likely one of 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 basically are a lot safer than many different components of Mexico, but it surely’s a good suggestion to take primary precautions, reminiscent of not strolling alone at evening and never leaving your possessions unguarded on the seashore whilst you swim.
Sure, Puerto Escondido is swimmable, however due to sturdy undercurrents, don’t go too removed from shore. Additionally, make sure you test all warnings on the seashore about which locations are protected to swim or not.
The dry season takes place through 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’ve gotten it, amigos. As I’m positive you may see by now, Puerto Escondido has lots 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 among my favourite spots in one among my favourite areas in Mexico. If you happen to make it all the way down to the southern Pacific Coast, I’m positive you’ll agree.
From browsing a number of the most epic waves on this 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 to your subsequent trip.
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