Puerto Escondido: Mexico’s Premier Beach Escape

The ideal destination to relax

 

Once you set foot in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, you will fall madly in love with the beauty of its eight beaches, each with its own distinct personality. In this corner of the Mexican Pacific, days are spent riding wild waves on surfboards, releasing turtles, admiring the sunset, or simply lying under the sun, naked as the day you were born.

 

Although it's one of the most popular destinations on the Oaxacan coast, Puerto Escondido retains its rustic and relaxed atmosphere, as evidenced by the lack of large resort chains. You will sleep in cabins, in family-run inns near the beach, or in eco-chic boutique hotels that incite romance. You can also bring a tent and camp on the shore.

 

What to do at Puerto Escondido?

 

One of a myriad things you can do in Puerto Escondido is walk along the Adoquín, Puerto Escondido's first paved street, called Perez Gasca. This street is filled with invigorating amateur musicians, handicraft and surf shops, small bars in which to drink a mojito, and restaurants offering seafood or wood-fired pizzas. At night, the street is pedestrianized, which allows visitors to take relaxing strolls.

 

Beach-hopping is also one of the most popular activities in Puerto Escondido. Boats depart from the main beach, in search of sea turtles and dolphins. In addition to being Puerto Escondido's surfing mecca, given the size of its waves, Zicatela is also the beach with the best ambience. Bachoco Beach is ideal for couples and for exploring the beach on horseback. Puerto Ángel, in turn, is a match made in heaven for backpackers and nature enthusiasts looking for hiking excursions in search waterfalls, as well as for those who prefer to snorkel in calm waters.

 

Last but not least, there are year-round turtle-protection camps in the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Mazunte and its sister beach, Zipolite. You most likely already know that the latter is the only nudist beach in Mexico.

 

The Laguna de Manialtepec (Manialtepec Lagoon) and the Lagunas de Chacahua (Chacahua Lagoons) are quite close to Puerto Escondido. The most popular tour takes place at night, in order to experience the phenomenon of bioluminescence.

 

Puerto Escondido is located 180 miles away from the city of Oaxaca. Without a doubt, the best seasons to visit this jewel of the Mexican Pacific is from January to May and October to December, in order to enjoy sunny weather. March, April, and May are the coldest months.