Complete Guide: Puerto Escondido [2023]

Here´s the Complete Guide to Puerto Escondido! This city is a surfing paradise, and it’s also home to loads of other activities. Keep reading to know more about this amazing place.

Personally, Oaxaca is the state of Mexico that I like the most because of how varied it is, how friendly the people are and the amount of things that can be done, but the coastal area is definitely my favorite, since the vibe of The surrounding towns and beaches are unique. So you can’t miss this complete guide to Puerto Escondido.

How to get there

Depending on where you are traveling to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca determines the method of transportation you should take.

If you are already in Mexico, you can take the bus to Puerto from cities like Mexico City, Oaxaca City, San Cristóbal or Guadalajara, although it is generally recommended to fly, there are many very cheap airlines and at good prices.

Puerto’s airport is very small and as of 2023, it only has one terminal, so to get here by plane, the main cities you need to fly from are Mexico City and Guadalajara.

International travelers are advised to first fly into Mexico City before flying into Puerto.

For more connecting flight options (cheap flights here), you might consider flying to Oaxaca City and then taking a bus to Puerto Escondido, which will take about six and a half hours.

Climate

Puerto Escondido is a coastal city with a tropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 27 °C.

The rainy season is from May to October. Between November and April it practically does not rain in Puerto Escondido.

What to do in Puerto Escondido

Visit different beaches

There are so many beautiful beaches to visit, but these are my favorites: Puerto Angelito, Playa de Zicatela, Playa Carrizalillo, Mazunte, Zipolite, Playa Bacocho and of course Playa Principal.

Nor can you miss the Manialtepec Lagoon and the Chacahua Lagoons, they are beautiful places.

Go watch crocodiles in Los Naranjos Lagoon

One of the things I enjoyed the most was visiting the Laguna de Los Naranjos.

This little lagoon is a great place to go if you want to see some crocodiles and a wide variety of different species of birds and reptiles in the wild.

Located within “La Barra”, the Laguna de Los Naranjos has one of the best nature that Puerto Escondido has to offer, although we must exercise caution if you plan to visit here, since the lagoon is home to more than 300 crocodiles and they will be watching as long as you are watching them.

Climb Chingabal’e

Chingabal’e is a hidden gem that very few people know about and one of our favorite things to do in Puerto Escondido.

Located around the adjacency from the end of La Punta beach, this spot is amazing for sunset, especially if you climb to the top.

It is a little place, so you have the opportunity to enjoy a sunset almost exclusively.

To get to Chingabal’e, you can walk up a short cliff or walk along the edge of the rock at low tide.

Swim with dolphins and see whales

One of the best activities is to rent a boat tour and go in search of dolphins. It is almost a given that you will meet dolphins on the tour, however, if you expect to see a whale, the best time is between December and March, leaving in the morning. If you are lucky you will also see jumping turtles and manta rays.

 

 

It is one of my favorite activities.

Go surfing

Puerto Escondido is one of the highest rated surf destinations in the world. Regardless of your level of experience/how pro you are, there are beaches for every level.

You will find many places where you can rent boards and the cost is approximately 200 pesos per hour.

If you’ve never surfed before, it’s probably a good idea to take a surf lesson to learn as fast as possible.

Release of baby sea turtles

The dream of many is to release turtles, and Puerto Escondido is an excellent place to enjoy this experience, not only the ideal location but also the people who are in charge of doing this are trained people who have created protective enclosures and who explain to you in a very conscious way the importance of this event.

 

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They generally receive tourist support and very little government support, which is why it is a very positive activity for these associations.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding in Puerto Escondido is definitely one of our top recommendations and we suggest doing it at sunset for a magical experience.

There are several places where you can experience it, however, one of the favorite places is horseback riding in the Manialtepec Lagoon, this way you have a better experience in nature.

Located a bit further north from the crowds, it’s a great way to enjoy the sunset while exploring quiet, unspoiled beaches.

Go kayaking

Another of the experiences that you can do in the Manialtepec Lagoon is kayaking, not only is it a super quiet activity, it also gives you the opportunity to explore a series of mangrove labyrinths.

With the help of a guide, while on this tour, you may come across different species of birds and other wildlife.

Towns and Beaches

Mazunte

I must say, Mazunte is my favorite place. So I recommend starting a visit in this beautiful town. Mazunte is a former fishing village that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will see the remains of ancient temples and other structures, as well as beautiful cliffs and beaches. There are also some streets where you can find small shops and buy souvenirs.

If you like to ride a bike or scooter, you can get here like this, since it is approximately 60 kilometers away.

Alternatively, you can take a colectivo here which will cost approximately 80 pesos each way.

After spending some time at the beach, head to “Punta Cometa” to do some hiking. It’s a low-medium hike and takes about an hour, but it’s totally worth it! It is one of the places with the best view of the sunset, the coast and the mountains of Oaxaca from the top of this rocky outcrop.

Mazute is also a good place for surfers since it has areas with very high waves.

Puerto Angelito

This beach is super quiet, perfect to go swimming with the family. You can also snorkel.

Zicatela Beach

If you like to surf, Zicatela, which means “Place of Large Thorns” is the beach for you since it has more intense waves, it is the best beach for surfing in Mexico, and it is classified as one of the 3 best in the world, since one wave can reach up to 6 meters.

The cobblestone pathway

This area is the oldest in Puerto Escondido and is very close to the main bay. It was the first paved street, which now makes it perfect for buying handicrafts or going out to eat, since there are many stalls selling many things.

 

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Manialtepec Lagoon

This coastal lagoon has one of the most interesting ecosystems in the world, since 3 types of water come together, each coming from the river, the sea and the thermal waters of the springs. Manialtepec means “place where the water springs from the hill” in the Nahuatl language.

The most beautiful thing is that when there is no visible moon, a show called bioluminescence is generated, which is generated by the plankton that is located in its waters.

Chacahua Lagoons

Chacahua National Park is located approximately 50 kilometers west of Puerto Escondido and we recommend visiting it if you have time.

The most popular way to get here is by boat through lagoons that are connected with small canals that make for an incredible journey.

Although there are day trips to Chacahua, if you have enough time we recommend spending at least one night here as there is an amazing lighthouse hike you can do at sunset and Chacahua has many great accommodation options.

This is a protected area and is made up of several bodies of water with extensions to mangroves.

The main lagoons are Chacahua, La Pastoria and Las Salinas, and you can visit them by boat where the tourist guides take you through the mangroves and you can see crocodiles.

If you like to camp and are looking for a remote place with very few people, there are several pristine beaches.

Once you’ve had your fill of nature, head over to Lake Chacahua’s bioluminescence, a phenomenon that occurs when sunlight hits the water at dusk.

It’s magic!

Zipolite

And if you like absolute freedom, you can’t miss this nudist beach. Zipolite was the first nudist beach in Mexico and is very popular for all people who simply want to sunbathe without anything at all.

Zipolite means “place of the dead” since in the past it was an indigenous cemetery.

For some extra time:

Tour the viewpoint “A Possible Dream”.

Another thing to do in Puerto Escondido that many people haven’t heard of is the Playa Principal boardwalk.

To get to this site you have to cross, first, a small hill of about 60 meters. Immediately walk down a stair walker that leads to the beach and that’s it.

From the viewpoint, you will have the option of walking back up the hill or you can walk down and see Playa Manzanillo, another of the best beaches in Puerto.

Mezcal tasting

And as the saying goes: “Mezcal is for all evil and for all good, too”. Mezcal is a very popular Mexican drink, coming from several states, of course Oaxaca being one of them, so what better place to enjoy it than on a mezcal tasting tour here.

This activity can be done at a mezcal distillery, where you will have the opportunity to try a lot of different mezcals while learning about the history of the drink.

If you want to be an expert, don’t miss this post on “How to drink mezcal”.

Where to eat

Personally, the state of Oaxaca in general has the best cuisine in all of Mexico, and on the coast the main dishes include luxury fish and shellfish.

You can find a delicious fish a la talla, a seafood soup, or why not some oysters taken directly from the sea.

Of course, not everything is seafood, you can also find a rich black mole, enchilada cecina or some delicious tlayudas.

If you are a vegetarian like me, I am not going to lie to you, it is a little more complicated to find so much variety to eat, but not impossible, there are already restaurants that have dishes for vegetarians and vegans, and you can always choose all kinds of fruits with lemon and chile piquín, or drink a delicious coconut water.

Breakfast

For breakfast, Café Olé is my favorite, located in Brisas de Zicatela, it has a huge variety of dishes, from eggs to taste, crepes, juices, and coffees. Apart from that it is “pet-friendly”

Lunch

If you like Japanese food, Sushido in Mazunte is the most original and delicious. It has options with fresh fish of the day and several vegetarian options.

Dinner

Sativa is right in front of Zicatela beach and is a perfect place to watch the sunset at its lounge tables, or on the beach if you want to be more relaxed. You can’t miss their cocktails.

Local food

Personally, the state of Oaxaca in general has the best cuisine in all of Mexico, and on the coast the main dishes include luxury fish and shellfish.

You can find a delicious fish a la talla, a seafood soup, or why not some oysters taken directly from the sea.

Of course, not everything is seafood, you can also find a rich black mole, enchilada cecina or some delicious tlayudas.

If you are a vegetarian like me, I am not going to lie to you, it is a little more complicated to find so much variety to eat, but not impossible, there are already restaurants that have dishes for vegetarians and vegans, and you can always choose all kinds of fruits with lemon and chile piquín, or drink a delicious coconut water.

Where to Stay

There are endless hotels, cabins and hostels to choose from, all depending on your budget and what you are looking for, but some of the options that are very popular are the Hotelito Swiss Oasis in Zicatela, “La Posada del Arquitecto” in Mazunte or Quinta Lili in Playa Carrizalillo.