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    Puerto Escondido

    Mexico

    Puerto Escondido

    CityBeachNature

    Puerto Escondido, on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, grew from a fishing village into a small town and one of Mexico's most famous surf destinations.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Oaxaca
    9. Puerto Escondido
    Puerto Escondido, on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, grew from a fishing village into a small town and one of Mexico's most famous surf destinations. Besides Playa Zicatela's heavy waves, there are calm swimming coves, mangrove lagoons, and a relaxed scene of cafés, beach restaurants, and bars.

    Sights in Puerto Escondido

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Carrizalillo Beach

    1Carrizalillo Beach

    You reach the small, sheltered bay in the west of the city via a steep staircase with 167 steps. The waves here are consistent and rather gentle, which is why many beginners' surf lessons take place at Carrizalillo. Sun loungers and simple palapa restaurants are available on the beach.
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    Benito Juárez Market

    2Benito Juárez Market

    The large market on Calle 8a Norte in the city center, away from the beaches, is divided into sections: Food Stalls, Arts and Crafts and Souvenirs, Fruits and Vegetables, and Fish and Meat. You can try Quesillo, chocolate, or Chapulines; on weekends, vendors from the highlands also bring baskets and ceramics. Open daily approximately 7 AM to 6 PM; from Zicatela, you can get there by bus or taxi in a few minutes.
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    Laguna de Manialtepec

    3Laguna de Manialtepec

    The mangrove-lined lagoon lies approximately 16 kilometers west of the city on Highway 200. Mornings offer worthwhile boat tours for birdwatching. At night, the water glows with movement from bioluminescent plankton. The glow is strongest on moonless nights, particularly during the rainy season from July to September.
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    Playa Zicatela

    4Playa Zicatela

    The approximately four-kilometer-long beach in the southeast is known for its powerful beach break waves, internationally famous as the Mexican Pipeline; surfing competitions are held here every November. For surfing, it's primarily for experienced surfers; for swimming, the current is usually too strong. Along the waterfront road, hotels, cafés, and bars line up, and at the southern end lies the La Punta neighborhood with more moderate waves.
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    Playa Puerto Angelito
    Attraction

    5Playa Puerto Angelito

    Two small, quiet bays west of the main bay with clear water, suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Due to its shallow entry, the beach is popular with families; it gets crowded on weekends.
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    Attraction

    6Mirador Punta Celeste

    Viewpoint on a rocky peak in the west of the city, west of Carrizalillo Bay in the Bacocho district. From here you look far over the Pacific and the coast.
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    Restaurants & Cafés

    Almoraduz

    Restaurant in Rinconada district with contemporary cuisine using Oaxaca ingredients. Upscale pricing, evening reservations recommended.
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    Espadin

    Restaurant in Rinconada on a terrace above Playa Carrizalillo overlooking the sea. The menu features fish, seafood, and Mexican dishes, plus sunset cocktails. A ten percent tip is included in the bill.
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    Cafecito

    Cafe with bakery at Zicatela, with a second branch in Rinconada; popular for breakfast, pastries and simple Mexican dishes.
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    Fish Shack La Punta

    Simple spot in La Punta with fish tacos and seafood, sand under the tables, and a relaxed atmosphere.
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    Eating & Drinking

    You'll find primarily fish and seafood, complemented by Oaxacan cuisine and a wide selection of international cafés in La Punta and Rinconada.

    Pescado a la talla

    Grilled fish, butterflied and slathered with chili paste, typical of beach restaurants.

    Ceviche and Aguachile

    Raw fish or shrimp in lime juice, with onions, cilantro and chili.

    Tlayudas and Mole

    Highland classics are also found here, especially in the evenings at grill stands in the center.

    Mezcal

    Mezcal bars in La Punta and Zicatela offer mezcals from various regions of Oaxaca.

    Culture & Spirit

    Culture & CharacterFor a long time, Puerto Escondido served only temporarily as a coffee loading port and was only permanently settled in the 1930s. After the construction of the coastal road in the 1960s, surfers discovered the beaches, and tourism began; today, Zicatela hosts international surfing competitions.The town is a blend of a Mexican small town, complete with market, church, and fishermen in the center, and an international scene in La Punta and Rinconada. In the beach neighborhoods, you'll manage with English, but in the center, Spanish is more useful.

    Nightlife

    The nightlife in Puerto Escondido is characterized by a relaxed atmosphere, stretching from the beach bars in Zicatela to the nightclubs in Bacocho. Here you'll find a mix of casual meeting spots like the Palapita Bar and places where people dance late into the night, such as the Zafiro NightClub.
    1

    Bacocho Discotheque

    Nightclub in the Bacocho district in the west of the city, at the corner of Guelatao and Tehuantepec.
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    2

    Palapita Bar

    Beach bar with restaurant at the north end of Playa Zicatela on Avenida del Morro, featuring lounge seating, ocean views, and swings at the bar. Famous for its Piña Colada served in a pineapple, Happy Hour offers affordable drinks, and the kitchen serves seafood, tacos, and breakfast.
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    3

    Prana Cocktail Bar

    Cocktail bar on Avenida del Morro, the waterfront road of Playa Zicatela.
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    4

    Slurpies

    Bar with kitchen in La Punta at the south end of Playa Zicatela, on the main street Alejandro Cárdenas Peralta.
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    On site exploring

    Getting around locallyThe neighborhoods are several kilometers apart. Taxis are cheap and unmetered; agree on the fare before the ride. Colectivos run along the main road. Between Zicatela and La Punta, and within Rinconada, you can easily get around on foot; at night, take a taxi for longer distances.The airport is located northwest of the city, with flights to Mexico City.To Oaxaca de Juárez, it's about a three-hour drive via the new highway; to Mazunte and Zipolite, it's a good hour.

    Accommodations in Puerto Escondido

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    Nearby

    Mazunte

    Mazunte is a small village located on a bay of Oaxaca's Pacific coast, a good hour east of Puerto Escondido. Until the 1990 ban, the village thrived on sea turtle fishing; today, turtle conservation, small guesthouses, yoga offerings, and a tranquil beach define its character. Since 2015, Mazunte has held the title of Pueblo Mágico.

    San José del Pacífico

    San José del Pacífico is located at almost 2,400 meters on Federal Highway 175, between Oaxaca de Juárez and the Pacific coast near Pochutla. The small village is surrounded by pine and cloud forests; in the mornings, clouds often drift through the valleys. Travelers stop here to break up the long journey, stay overnight in wooden cabins with fireplaces, and hike in the surroundings.
    Oaxaca

    Oaxaca

    The state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico stretches from the highlands of the Sierra Madre del Sur to the Pacific coast. With 16 officially recognized indigenous peoples, including Zapotec and Mixtec, it is culturally one of the most diverse regions of the country.At its heart lies the capital, Oaxaca de Juárez, with Monte Albán and the artisan villages of the Oaxaca Valley. Over the mountains, for instance through San José del Pacífico, roads lead to the coast, home to Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, and Zipolite.
    Oaxaca de Juárez

    Oaxaca de Juárez

    Oaxaca de Juárez is the capital of the eponymous state in southern Mexico, located at an altitude of around 1,550 meters in the Oaxaca Valley at the foot of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Visitors are drawn by its colonial center built from green Cantera stone, which, along with the Zapotec site Monte Albán, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, and by one of the country's most distinctive cuisines.The city also offers large markets, numerous museums and galleries, and handicrafts from the surrounding villages. It also serves as a starting point for tours to Mezcal distilleries, markets, and archaeological sites in the Valley of Oaxaca.
    Xochimilco

    Xochimilco

    The Barrio Xochimilco is located north of the old town and is considered one of Oaxaca's oldest neighborhoods: According to tradition, it was founded around 1486 by warriors from Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico. Characteristic features are the arches of the 18th-century San Felipe Aqueduct, cobblestone streets, and the parish church of Santo Tomás. From Santo Domingo, you can reach the neighborhood on foot in about ten minutes.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI