Puerto Escondido, Mexico is a beach town on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca known for its laid-back vibe, surf and digital nomad hub. In this guide, you’ll discover the best things to do in Puerto Escondido, where to stay, and travel tips to plan your perfect trip. If you are into travel stories, though, read our diary at the end of this post.

Where is Puerto Escondido, Mexico?

Puerto Escondido is a major town on the pacific coast of Oaxaca in Mexico, with its own airport.

Why visit Puerto Escondido?

First we shall distinguish between Puerto Escondido and the place you will most probably stay, La Punta.Puerto Escondido is a town, much larger than Mazunte. The main attraction is its large, approx. 3 km beach, Playa Zicatela.

The city center is located in the middle and left part of Playa Zicatela as we look at the map. Playa Zicatela itself is known for the usually big waves attracting intermediate and advanced surfers but also for its beautiful sunsets.

Further on the left end of Playa Zicatela, there are some smaller and beautiful beaches, much better for swimming or spending the day, as we will mention further below.

La Punta is located at the southeast end of Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido. It is a newly established, trendy hotspot for digital nomads and aspiring surfers. The waves at the very end of the beach are smaller and appropriate for beginners. The beach in general is not the best for swimming, though. La Punta, officially known as Brisas de Zicatela is full of restaurants, brunch places, cafes, yoga and everything else, but still partly in a developing stage.

Best 6 Things to Do in Puerto Escondido

1. Surf at La Punta and Playa Zicatela

Puerto Escondido is one of Mexico’s most famous surfing destinations, and La Punta and Playa Zicatela are the main places to experience it. If you want to give surfing a try, you can rent a board for around 100–150 pesos per hour. Even if you don’t surf yourself, watching the experienced surfers in the waves is worth it.

2. Take a Long Walk Along Playa Zicatela

Playa Zicatela is an almost endless beach, making it perfect for a long walk, especially in the morning or later in the afternoon. The beach can get very hot during the day, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun, bring water and enjoy the impressive stretch of coastline.

3. Watch the Sunset at Playa Zicatela

One of our favourite things to do in Puerto Escondido was watching the sunset at Playa Zicatela. The beach can feel relatively quiet during the day, but shortly before sunset, people start gathering along the sand. It almost feels like everyone has agreed on an unspoken ritual of sitting on the beach and watching the sun disappear into the Pacific. The atmosphere is amazing.

4. Take a Yoga Class

Puerto Escondido has a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to slow down, making it a great place to try a yoga class. There are several studios and outdoor classes around town, with prices of around 200 pesos per session at the time of our visit.

5. Explore the Beaches Around Puerto Escondido

If you want to escape Playa Zicatela for a while, there are several beautiful beaches around the northern side of Puerto Escondido. Some worth visiting include Playa Manzanillo, Playa Carrizalillo, Playa Punta Colorada and Playa Bacocho.

For us, Playa Carrizalillo was the most beautiful. Keep in mind that reaching the beach requires walking down a number of steps, which means you will have to walk them back up again when leaving. The effort is worth it, though, especially if you are looking for a smaller and more sheltered beach.

6. Spend a Day at Beach Club Bacocho

For a more relaxed and luxurious beach day, head to Beach Club Bacocho. It is a great option if you want to spend the day by the ocean without having to organize everything yourself. Enjoy the beach, relax with a drink and make the most of Puerto Escondido’s laid-back coastal atmosphere.

Tours and Experiences

If you want to book tours, activities or unique experiences during your trip, GetYourGuide is worth checking. You can find everything from guided tours and day trips to boat trips, outdoor activities and cultural experiences.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido:

Depending on how you want to experience Puerto Escondido or La Punta, you have the following options.It was difficult to make a decision, but here are some facts.Note: Not all accommodation is on Booking or Airbnb. Definitely worth going around and ask, you might discover some hidden priceworthy gems.

Around La Punta:

Probably the standard option. Great if you want to be around other tourists or digital nomads, lots of food options and cafes. At the end of the beach the waves are smaller and you are still very close to the beach and can enjoy beautiful sunsets. Pricier and obviously less local vibes.

Along Playa Zicatela:

Here you can probably find cheaper accomodation, a mix of tourists, digital nomads and locals. Generally more local vibes and closer to the citiy center. From here you have access to bigger waves for surfing and an endless beach.

In the center of Puerto Escondido:

Probably the cheapest option, feels like being in a typical mexican town while you are still close to the beach. This is a better option for longer stays on a budget. Might feel less safe at night compared to the more touristic areas.

Close to the northern beaches:

We had the impression that less tourists stay here, but we liked the location. Closer to the center compared to La Punta, with local vibes and restaurants and very close to the gorgeous beaches and bays on the northern side of Puerto Escondido.

Accommodation Prices in Puerto Escondido:

For accommodation, we usually check Booking.com and Airbnb to compare different options in the destination.

On a budget:

Dorms are available for 10-20 dollars per person.

Mid range:

Simple but central Airbnbs for 50. La Punta is not very cheap but as you move towards Centro you can find much cheaper options. We found it very convenient, though, to live close to where the action is, if you do not have a motorbike to get back home at night.

Luxury:

This blog has a good overview for luxury options. Prices can be well above 200 dollars per night.

Eat and drink in Puerto Escondido, La Punta:

We tried and liked the following places so far:

Fish Shack – just great

Alaburger – for burgers, obviously

malaguacafe – nice place to get a coffee

Amoki

Monte Alpan – for breakfast and more

Very recommended are also:ChicamaJuice HouseNomada

Transportation and how to get to Puerto Escondido:

You can easily walk around La Punta, rent a motorbike with or without a rack for your surf board or use taxis or colectivos. Uber was not available in 2023.
Taxi from/ to Puerto Escondido Centro to La Punta shouldn’t cost more than 100-150 pesos. Colectivos drive among the main road Acapulco – Salina Cruz, so you have to walk or take a taxi from there. The ride costs 12 to 15 pesos per person. You can get on and get off wherever you want. Press the button for a stop and pay the driver when you get off.
Finally you fly to and from Puerto Escondido and avoid the an approx. 10 hour drive with the bus through the Oxacan mountains. For the best and cheapest flights we search in Kayak.

Money, Payments and Cards in Puerto Escondido

Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN). Cards are accepted, but it is still important to carry some cash, especially for smaller businesses. You might need to go to the center of Puerto Escondido to get some cash at the ATM, The one available in La Punta was not working (in 2023). Always select local currency for the conversion.

For travelling in Mexico, we recommend having a travel-friendly card such as Revolut or Wise, especially if you want to pay in pesos while keeping track of your spending.

Tipping is common in the more touristic, eastern side of Mexico. In Puerto Escondido you may tip or round up if you want, but at smaller places it is not expected.

Travel Safety & Essentials in Puerto Escondido

A little preparation can make travelling easier and give you some extra peace of mind. Here are some travel essentials worth considering before your trip.

Phone, Internet and SIM Card

The most convenient way to stay connected is through an e-sim. We typically use Airalo or Holafly, depending on our need for Data at a specific country or location. Alternatively you can also check out Saily or Ubigi. In case you do not want to use an e-sim, for Mexico we recommend Telcel.

Travel Insurance

Before travelling, it is worth checking your travel insurance options and making sure the policy covers the activities you plan to do. World Nomads offers travel insurance for travellers and different types of trips and activities. Always check the current policy wording, coverage limits and exclusions before purchasing.

Protect Your Belongings

For extra security when travelling, Pacsafe offers anti-theft backpacks, bags and travel accessories that can be useful when staying in hostels or travelling by bus and other public transport.

Choose a Good Backpack

For longer trips, a comfortable backpack can make a big difference. Osprey offers a wide range of travel and hiking backpacks, from smaller daypacks to larger packs designed for longer trips.

Protect Your Cards

If you carry several cards while travelling, an RFID-blocking wallet, like mywalit, can be a useful extra precaution. It also keeps your cards, cash and travel documents organized while you’re on the move.

Use a VPN and a Password Manager

A VPN can be useful when connecting to public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, cafés or other shared networks. NordVPN is one option to consider if you want an additional layer of privacy while travelling. They also offer a password manager that can help you securely store and manage your passwords while on the road.

Safety

We felt very safe in La Punta, also at night. Downtown Puerto Escondido was more like a typical Mexican town. We would recommend using standard precautions, keeping an eye on your belongings and being aware of your surroundings.

Travel tips for Puerto Escondido:

We did not like the beach at La Punta very much for swimming. It is ok, but more for surfing and still nice to hang around.

The place felt safe at night.

You might need to go downtown for ATM.

Be careful of the waves and the currents in the sea.

Final thoughts – Is Puerto Escondido Worth Visiting?

La Punta has a nice vibe, but due to the many short or long term tourists we find it pricier compared to other places. It is still developing, though, for example at the time we came we could find only one ATM and that one was not working.

Save this Puerto Escondido Travel Guide for later!

As one picture equals a thousand words, visit our instagram for more images from Puerto Escondido.

Our Diary:

Day 1 – Food, beach

We stayed at Arturo’s Airbnb, which we liked a lot as it was close to everything. The first day we had a brunch at malaguacafe and headed to the beach where we stayed until after sunset.

We had dinner at a very open space for pizzas and burgers with big shared tables where you can exchange experiences with other travellers.

Day 2 – More beach and food

The next day we had a similar program with breakfast at Sabina and dinner at Amoki. Huge, delicious burrito. We also tried a very tasty cake from Puntacakes on the beach.

Day 3 – The northern beaches

On our third day in Puerto we headed north to check out the other beaches.

Playa Manzanillo was nice, but crowded and busy with boats. Playa Carizalillo was even more beautiful with the vegetation almost reaching the crystal clear water. We sat at a local cantina, took a juice and enjoyed the beach.

In the evening we walked a bit around the small city center of Puerto Escondido and ate the best shrimp tacos at Fish Shack.

Day 4 – Another sunset on the beach

On our last day in Puerto we woke up late. We had a coffee at Amarisa cafe amarisacafe and headed for a long walk on the beach. We took a break at a nice cafe on the way back and enjoyed another sunset on the beach while planning our next destination. In the evening we ate at the same place we ate the first night and packed our backpacks.

Next stop… Isla Holbox