Puerto Escondido [Oaxaca, Mexico]

We spent a month on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, taking in the sandy beaches and famous surf spots of Oaxaca's Puerto Escondito. While its name translates to “Hidden Port”, Puerto Escondido is quickly becoming a hotspot for backpackers and surfers alike. 

Despite it's growing popularity, This vibrant yet chill beach town still manages to remain off the beaten path as there are no direct international flights and limited resort development, unlike like other popular tourist spots in Mexico. For putting up with a layover Mexico City, you’ll be rewarded with amazing food, a vibrant community and friendly locals.

Having explored most of Mexico's including Cancun, Tulum, Cabo, Holbox, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, and Sayulita, Puerto Escondido is easily our favorite.

Sunset at Zicatela beach

The Vibe

Puerto Escondido is an optimal destination for digital nomads, surfers, and anyone who can take at least a week to enjoy it's full spectrum of offerings. If you're just looking to get wasted for 3 days straight at bougie jungle clubs, Tulum might be a better fit for you. Thats not to say Puerto doesn't party - It's nightlife is vibrant and enduring, with many places bumping till sunrise. That said, Puerto Escondido still embodies the surf town vibe - board shorts and a tee are standard club wear, as opposed to the boho-chic influencer attire necessitated in Tulum.

Working remotely in Puerto, its easy to settle into a routine: 25 cent tacos for lunch, beach for Sunset, tasty dinner, and a casual 4 to 10 beers before calling it a night. We worked remotely during our month in Puerto Escondido and didn't feel like having to remain connected had any bit of negative impact on our trip or experience. If you're incorporating it into larger Oaxaca itinerary, you can get a good sense of Puerto Escondido in 3-4 days.

Lay Of The Land

Puerto Escondido is split up into 4 distinct main neighborhoods each with unique characteristics: La Punta, Zincatela, Centro and Riconada.

All are walkable but you’ll generally need some type of transportation to travel in-between. See Getting Around for more details.

Streets of La Punta, lined with cafes, restaurants and bars

La Punta

At the southern end of Zicatela Beach, La Punta is the current trendy hotspot for young travelers and backpackers. It's full of backpackers and travelers from all over the world who are only supposed to visit a few days, but seem to have extended their stay again every time you talk to them. Taking inspiration from 2015 Tulum but with a more authentic Mexican feel and prices ($3 margaritas versus $16 in Tulum). 

Stay if you want beach, mellow surf, fun crowds and the best food in Puerto Escondido. The area is very walkable and you'll only need transportation of going to one of the other areas of Puerto Escondido. It's also the best place to catch the sunset in town - Head down 1 hour before to drink some cervezas and make some new friends.

Centro

The Centro neighborhoud is the northern boundary and is full of authentic, local Oaxaca culture. Instead of trendy restaurants and barefoot yogis, you'll find street markets, best tacos and an excuse to put those spanish lessons to the test.

There are a few beaches that surround Centro but they are more commercial with lots of boat traffic, and less scenic than the other areas. We'd recommend taking an afternoon to exploring this area though, as you’ll find the cheapest food and most authentic experience.

Enjoying an ice cold cerveza at golden hour in Zicatela

Zicatela

Somewhere between the trendiness of La Punta and the authenticity of Centro. is Zicatela - It was the original tourist zone before the development of La Punta and is the heart of Puerto Escondido nightlife. You’ll find sprawling beachfront restaurant-clubs with some newer restaurants popping up just off the main strip.

Zicatela is also considered the main surf spot. However, due to the extreme undertow, its recommend for experts only. It's known as the Mexican Pipeline during peak season with waves topping 15 feet.

Although there's nothing wrong with finding an acommodation in Zicatela, we'd probably recommend La Punta for it's walkability. That said, walking across the street after a late night of clubbing is very convenient.

Rinconada

Rinconada is the most laid-back area and sits on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Playa Carrizalillo beach. The area is mostly residential and has one main strip of businesses where you’ll find a few restaurants, cafes and mini markets. It's quiet here after 11pm. 

If you're looking for a super chill experience as a digital nomad this could be the spot for you but as a tourist we’d recommend La Punta or Zicatela to get a bit more action and social interaction. Rinconada is a great place to come for lunch or dinner following a trip to Playa Carrizalillo and is definitely worth checking out regardless of where you stay.

Activities

Playa Carrizalillo in all it's glory

Surfing & Beaches

Playa Carrizalillo (Beginner Surf): This beach is out of movie. Walk down 167 stairs to find a beautiful sheltered cove with Turquoise blue water and soft breaking waves. Great for swimming and beginner surfing, it's protected by the beach cliff sides on either end. If you go to one beach in Puerto this should be it. It can get crowded though so, consider going before noon.

Playa Zicatela (Expert Surf): This white sand beach is absolutely massive, stretching from Centro to La Punta. If you're a surfer, the break gets more mellow the farther south you go.

Playa Bacocho: This is a large beach comparable to Zincatela to the north just past the sprawl of development. It's a quiet beach with fewer tourists, and is also home to turtle hatching sanctuary.  Every afternoon you can pay 200 pesos ($10) to release one into the ocean and help support a good cause.

Playa Coral: Located just south of Playa Bacocho and with far fewer people, you can walk across a few rocks on the point to access.

Escaping the crowd at Playa Bacocho

Sunsets

While it’s nearly impossible to find a bad spot to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido, here are our favorite spots:

Punta Zicatela: The name is a bit confusing but Playa Zicatela is actually past the southern end of La Punta. Its about a 20 minute trek across the beach and a few cliff trails to get here but well worth it as you’ll be rewarded with some seriously spectacular views. To access, walk to the very southern end of La Punta beach, you’ll see a path just to the side of the cliff. If the tide is out you can simply continue along the beach around the rocks.

La Punta: The sunset here is an absolute vibe and a bit of a party. It feels as if 1,000 people are on the beach casually sipping beers. There are also vendors selling “brownies” although our editors asked us not to recommend them for legal reasons ;)

Local fisherman on Punta Zicatela at sunset

Adventures

Bioluminescent Plankton at Laguna Manialtepec: We had heard mixed reviews about this tour but in our experience it was amazing to see the water flowing under a full moon. Timing can play a factor in the brightness but you might as well take a shot.

Skydiving: You'll see the sky divers coming down around sunset every night and landing on the beach at sunset. Give it a go at your own risk.

Nightlife 

If you’re looking to party until the sun comes up, Puerto Escondido has you covered. It took us a bit to figure out, but regardless of the venue or type of music, most places don’t get going until after midnight, with  peak hours being 1 to  4 AM. If you arrive at a location before then, don’t be diappointed if it’s completely empty. Instead, take your time, start the pregame later, or even take a siesta after dinner before you kick off the night. The venues typically trade off nights, which we've highlighted below. That said, we recommend following the venues on Instagram during your stay as they post flyers for their latest events. 

Bonita Escondida: We’re starting off the list with Puerto's biggest party hostel, and for reason. Even if you're not staying there, this is easily the best place to pre-game and meet fellow travelers on any given night. Trivia Tuesday is an absolute must - Its about as far as you can get from a stuffy trivia pub night. Trust us, will not want to miss this “interactive” event.

Mar & Wana (pronouced mar-y-wana): This is our favorite club. Located in a lot that feels like a jungle just off Zincatela’s beachfront, this is the spot to be on Fridays for the Mystic Jungle Techno parties. If a slightly more casual night is in order, they have great dinner and cocktails as well.

Cactus Club: Located on Playa Zicatela you can dance the night away on the sand. Typically, tech house is the genre of choice and Mondays are the go-to night but weekends can be fun as well.

Hucanii: If you're in La Punta on a Saturday, you need to check out Hucanii. This was our favorite party of the trip and one of the few late night options outside of Zicatela. Aside from the giant disco ball, this is an outdoor party in  a mostly empty lot with decent bar and facilities. Music was mostly house and nu-disco and probably the best dance party we went to.

Chula: Techno is king on Tuesday’s at Chula right on Zicatela Beach. This is best experienced after trivia night at Bonita Escondido and rolling down with a big crew.

Xcaanda: As one of the longer-standing beach clubs, you’ll find top 40, reggaeton or EDM on any given night. They are known for their full moon parties so keep an eye out for those on Instagram.

Jungle Parties: Every so often you’ll hear about “secret” jungle parties located 20 - 30 minutes outside of town and they are an awesome experience. We heard of multiple organizers but only attended one which we linked here. Be advised that these usually happen during the dry season only.

The [nusa] staff writers laying down a set at Bonita Escondido

Food

Cafe Ole: They've been located in La Punta for over 12 years and have developed into a go-to spot located right off the surf break. We prefer breakfast with bountiful healthy options and top-notch coffee.

Chicama: One of our favorite dinner spots. They serve Peruvian food, the aesthtic is top-notch and typically have groovy house music playing in the background.

Cafe Ole: They've been located in La Punta for over 12 years and have developed into a go-to spot located right off the surf break. We prefer breakfast with bountiful healthy options and top-notch coffee.

Alaburger: When you're an American and you've been posted in a foreign country for a month sometimes you just want a taste of home... this is the best burger in Puerto. They're pizza is decent too.

La Chula: This is a westernized taco spot. Taco are good and the vibe feels more like LA than Mexico. It's a good entry before trying the local spots.

Food Market La Punta: This is the spot on Thursday nights. Tons of options, live music and great place to make friends.

Almoraduz: Top end restaurant with a rotating menu based of the season and local organically produced ingredients. If you're looking for a nicer dinner - this is the spot.

Sabor Oaxaca: Our favorite local taco spot. We hope you decided to brush up on your spanish skills. 

25 cent tacos at Sabor Oaxaca have our mouths watering

Getting Around

Scooter: Scooters are always our top choice when available. They're a convenient and inexpensive way to explore a new place. We rented scooters for about $250 USD per month through our AirBnb. Hopping between neighbourhoods was safe and convenient. Reminder to always wear a helmet, even if the other lads and ladies are too cool for it.

Taxi: A taxi will get you wherever you need to go in town for $2 to $5. This is also the best way to get to and from the airport which will cost about $25 USD.

Collectivio: These are essentially pickup trucks turned into public transportation. Cost is around $2 per trip with stops along all the main routes in town. They're easy to flag down and run frequently at all hours.

Hiking along the cliffs near Punta Zicatela 

When to Visit

Like many tropical destinations, Puerto Escondido has a dry season and rainy season. Dry season is December through April, and is general the best time to visit. From our arrival in mid-February to our departure in mid-March, we didnt have a single drop of rain, and maybe one overcast day. The waves are smaller and more beginner friendly during this time as well. Wet season runs from May through November during which, you’ll find fewer tourists.

If you’re looking for big waves, plan to visit between May and August.

WIFI and Digital Nomads

WIFI can be spotty across Puerto Escondido so ensure you do your research when booking place by looking at reviews and what others have experienced. If you're in need of good WIFI there are a coworking options available:

Selina: Cowork and living space in Puerto Escondido. They have coworking space available for use or you can even rent a private room at monthly rates.

Coworking TMX: Basic coworking space with fast WIFI and private meeting rooms available.