The Ultimate Puerto Escondido Travel Guide

You may have heard about Tulum and Cancun, but how about Puerto Escondido? This stunning little beach city in the state of Oaxaca is the perfect spot for a relaxing escape during your time in Mexico.

I spent a few days there during a longer trip throughout Mexico, and it remains to this day, one of my favorite beach destinations. (The photo on this blog’s home page, as well as my phone screensaver, are both photos from Puerto Escondido, if that tells you anything!)

Puerto Escondido, Mexico is the ultimate beach getaway — and whether it’s your sole destination, or an addition to some time in Oaxaca (which I highly recommend!), you’re definitely in for plenty of gorgeous views.

This Puerto Escondido travel guide is packed with everything you need to know to prepare for your trip, from important info about the destination itself, to what to do, where to eat, and where to stay once you’re there. 

What to Know Before Visiting Puerto Escondido

Is Puerto Escondido worth visiting?

Yes!!! Not only is it convenient to visit from Mexico City or Oaxaca, but the beaches here are outrageously beautiful.

As far as beach towns in Mexico, although it has its fair share of tourists, this one isn’t overrun yet like some other places (*cough* Tulum *cough*). 

Just know that overall, this isn’t a luxurious destination.

While yes, it’s considered to be a pretty affordable place, which is great, there are some caveats to that. 

First of all, you’ll want to make sure to have cash with you, as not everywhere will accept credit cards. Uber also doesn’t operate in Puerto Escondido, so either expect to walk a lot, bike, take the bus, or a taxi if need be.

The hostel I stayed in just had a tiny fan with no air conditioning, and considering how hot and humid it was, let’s just say it was not comfortable.

The shower barely had hot water, and I also had some freelance work I had to do, and I vividly remember trying not to freak out because of the weak WiFi.

From what I’ve gathered, I’m far from alone in my experience. 

But with that said, if you’re ready to unplug for a bit, and soak in some high quality beach time, then Puerto Escondido is the perfect destination for you. I would return in a heartbeat!

How many days are needed for Puerto Escondido?

If you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation, I’d spend at least a few days here so you’re not rushing!

Five nights and six days is a perfect amount of time, and this is how long I spent there.

Of course, you could easily condense it or spend longer here to suit your needs and overall itinerary. I’d say at minimum, aim to spend three days here.

Is it safe to travel to Puerto Escondido right now?

Yes, Puerto Escondido is a relatively safe area.

There are some U.S. State Department warnings about a few regions in Mexico, but that does not include Puerto Escondido.

Of course, just like anywhere, you’ll want to follow common sense safety advice, like not carrying all your money with you, etc.

What is the best month to go to Puerto Escondido?

Weatherwise, Mexico has a rainy and dry season, with the dry season from November to March.

Puerto Escondido, however, is a tropical climate.

This means you’ll get warm weather year round, with temperatures ranging from low to high 80s throughout the year. I visited in late May and it was in fact super hot and humid, but that generally doesn’t bother me.

My husband and I lucked out when it came to rain. Although, we did leave Puerto Escondido just before a hurricane hit the region — which was unusually early in the year.

Generally, summer and the holiday season in the U.S. is the busiest travel season in Mexico.

So, going around shoulder season (spring and fall) would be the best time to avoid the crowds. 

How to get to Puerto Escondido

From Mexico City, it’s a super quick and easy flight. This is what I did on my trip!

You should be able to find a nonstop flight for under $100 (maybe even in the ~$30-50 range if you’re lucky). This will get you to Puerto Escondido in just over an hour. Check out options on Skyscanner here.

There are also buses you can take, but I wouldn’t suggest that as it would take 16ish+ hours and not save you much money. (You can check out options here if that hasn’t deterred you.)

From Oaxaca City, you could also fly. It typically costs $100 to $200, but can be more during busier times of year and will have at least one stop.

Flying didn’t seem like a great option to me, so alternatively, you can book a shuttle, which is what I did to get to Oaxaca City from Puerto Escondido. The road was pretty windy, which was not great as far as car sickness goes.

There are also buses, which can take six or so hours. I took my trip overnight to both save time and money on a hostel for the night — it was rough, not going to lie, but ultimately worth it for me!

Playa Manzanillo (left) and Playa Carrizalillo

What to Do in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

First and foremost, as you can probably guess, Puerto Escondido is all about the beaches.

These are the best beaches in Puerto Escondido that you won’t want to miss:

• While all of these beaches are stunning and worth a stop in my opinion, in case you’re super short on time and can only make it to one, pick Playa Carrizalillo. Although it’s a tough call, this one is probably the most beautiful — just know that you’ll have to go down a bunch of steps to get to the beach. This is a great place for anything from surfing, to snorkeling, swimming, or just relaxing. There are spots to buy a drink or ice cream along the beach, with some actual restaurants very nearby too.
• Playa Manzanillo & Puerto Angelito share a bay, so you can easily visit them both together. Both are calm beaches, and you’ll see lots of boats in the water, and a number of restaurant and bar options in the area. 
• Playa Principal, as the name suggests, is the “main” beach in Puerto Escondido. It’s super accessible from downtown, meaning lots of food and shopping options just steps away from the beach.
• Playa Zicatela is the surfing destination. The waves are known for being pretty rough here so it’s not great for swimming, but this beach is still great for sunset views if you’re not up for surfing. Plus, there are lots of restaurant options nearby.
• Playa Coral is a gorgeous beach with turquoise water, and is great for relaxing. This beach is privatized, so unfortunately you have to pay a fee (50 to 100 pesos, or $3-6ish USD) to the Villa Mexicana hotel for direct access. Or, you can first go to Playa Bacocho, and walk a few minutes to get to Playa Coral. Also, it’s worth noting that Playa Coral is technically a nude beach. But, I don’t recall seeing anyone like this haha (it was practically empty when I visited, actually), so I didn’t even know that until writing this post.
• Playa Bacocho is another beautiful beach. To access Playa Bacocho, you’ll have to get to Rinconada, a residential neighborhood, then walk 15 minutes or so.

And speaking of Playa Bacocho, you’ll want to make a special visit here one evening to release baby sea turtles into the ocean!! This is really such a special experience that I’d 100% recommend. 

You’ll want to show up around 5 p.m. and the experience costs 100 pesos, which is less than $6 USD.

But not to worry — that payment supports conservation efforts, like housing sea turtle egg hatcheries, which protect the eggs from threats like poachers along with rising temperatures.

For some reason, the higher temperature causes more females to be born, which then becomes a problem for the species’ survival overall. But I’ll leave it to the experts to explain that all much better than I can — find out more about the organization running the program here.

A great place to watch the sunset is at Mirador Las Tortugas — it’s right between Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Coral, and you’ll have to take a short walk along some rocks to get there.

For the more adventure-minded traveler, there are tons of ocean activities you can do in Puerto Escondido, like surfing, snorkeling, or even swimming with bioluminescent plankton (the best place to do that is Manialtepec Lagoon, about 20 minutes from town). 

As much as I loove going to the beach, I’m not a great swimmer so I tend to skip things like that. But if you’re interested, here are some tour options!.

Where to Eat in Puerto Escondido

As a beach destination in the state of Oaxaca, seafood and Oaxacan traditional foods are where Puerto Escondido really shines.

Here are some spots I tried and enjoyed:

Restaurante Doña Claudia is a popular spot, particularly for a traditional Oaxacan breakfast. (Palmeras, Sta Maria, 70934 Brisas de Zicatela)

Fish tacos are a must while in Puerto Escondido, and Smoked Fish Tacos El Viejo is the place for it! (Cam. a Puerto Angelito s/n, Hidalgo, 71983 Puerto Escondido)

Oaxaca Grill Rinconada  is open at night and serves delicious burgers from an outdoor grill. (Av. Del Morro, Zicatela, 70934, Puerto Escondido)

Restaurante el Mayordomo is great for breakfast or lunch, as it closes at 6 p.m. every day. (Carlos Salinas de Gortari 106, Granjas del Pescador, 71984 Puerto Escondido) 

Hermanitos Tacos Árabes is a delicious spot that offers a Middle Eastern spin on Mexican foods like tacos and tortas. It’s just open for dinner! (México 200, Bacocho, 71984 Puerto Escondido)

Familia Time has breakfast options, burgers, pizzas, pastas, etc. (Carretera Costera 200 71980 Puerto Escondido)

El Sultan is a popular spot for Middle Eastern-style food. I wasn’t mind blown, but it was solid, especially if you’re in the mood for something healthier. (Boulevard Benito Juarez S/N Col. Fracc. Rinconada, Puerto Escondido)

There are also plenty of super hole-in-the-wall spots throughout Puerto Escondido, where the food will probably be great but you can also expect a pretty ~rustic~ experience, if you catch my drift — there was one tiny spot we ate at that unfortunately I can’t track down the name to, where we were absolutely surrounded by squawking chickens the whole time.

I have a somewhat irrational fear of birds so it was a very stressful eating experience, despite the quesadillas being 10/10.

But it’s all part of the experience!

Playa Zicatela (left) and Playa Manzanilla

Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido

I stayed at Tower Bridge Hostel.

This budget spot has a pool, and has private rooms for a very affordable price.

It was also a short walk to a number of food options as well as a number of beaches.

The downsides were that there was no air conditioning, and the WiFi was extremely spotty, which was a bit rough since I was working. However, it was a really social spot, making it a great choice for solo travelers or anyone on a stricter budget.

If I could do things over, I would have prioritized a place with air conditioning, but if you’re on a low budget, looking for a really social vibe, or just don’t care about the lack of A/C, you can check it out here.

Here are some more highly rated options:

Casa Terranova is another great (air-conditioned) option. It has a pool, plus an onsite restaurant. And, it’s within walking distance of Playa Zicatela and other food options and excursions. Book it here.

For more of a boutique option, check out Casa de Olas Boutique Hotel. It’s practically steps from Playa Zicatela, has air conditioning, and is all around beautiful. Learn more here.

Bungalows Zicatela is also beautiful, and is perfect if you’re looking for more amenities. Just to name a few, it has two onsite restaurants, a bar, swimming pools, room service, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Not to mention it’s also beachfront! Book it here.

Puerto Escondido is really such a hidden gem. With the help of this Puerto Escondido travel guide, I hope you have the most amazing time there!