The Only Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Travel Guide You Need
Traveling to Puerto Escondido soon?
As someone who has lived in Mexico since 2018, and visited many Mexican beach towns — I assure you Puerto Escondido is a magical place, with a charm all its own.
Puerto Escondido Oaxaca is still somewhat off the main tourist radar, so it has maintained a small town charm despite increasing popularity.
However, there are still plenty of things to do, numerous beaches, amazing restaurants and nice hotels for visitors.
In this article, you’ll discover all those things, get answers to common Puerto Escondido FAQs, and so much more.
By the time you’re done reading this Ultimate Puerto Escondido Travel Guide, you’ll be ready to plan an epic trip.
Where is Puerto Escondido located?
Puerto Escondido is in Oaxaca state, in Southern Mexico. It is located south of Mexico City, and west of Chiapas state.
🗺️ Puerto Escondido Map
For many, a trip to Oaxaca means visiting Oaxaca City, in the center of the state.
However, the Oaxaca Mexico beaches, including Puerto Escondido, Huatulco and Mazunte, are further south on the Pacific Ocean.
If you’re headed to both the city and beaches, check out this Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido Guide to understand all your transport options.
It’s only about 121 miles (195 km) from the city to the beach, but not the easiest trip.
How to Get to Puerto Escondido Mexico
Is there an Airport in Puerto Escondido?
Yes — When traveling to Puerto Escondido, use Puerto Escondido International Airport (code: PXM).
Though the word international is in the name, this airport rarely (if ever) has international flights.
To fly into PXM, you’d have to connect through the Mexico City International Airport (code: MEX), Oaxaca International Airport (code: OAX, in Oaxaca de Juárez) or Guadalajara International Airport (code: GDL).
It’s a small airport, so there are no direct flights to Puerto Escondido from the United States, Canada or anywhere else in North America.
Mexico City to Puerto Escondido
✈️ flights from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido
Mexico City Airport is the largest airport in Mexico, and you can reach every other city from there.
To get to Puerto Escondido, you can fly AeroMexico, Volaris or VivaAerobus, three lower-cost Mexican airlines.
Of course, this same info also also applies for the reverse Puerto Escondido to Mexico City route.
🚌 Bus from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido
Besides flights, you can take a bus to Puerto Escondido from Mexico City.
It is a long ride at about 20 hours, so consider wisely, as the flight takes only about 1.5 hours, and usually doesn’t cost much more than the bus.
ADO is Mexico’s largest bus carrier, with a fleet of luxury class buses that have big comfy seats, AC and a bathroom on board.
There are second class buses as well, but for long journeys, definitely opt for first class.
⚠️ Note: The ADO bus website isn’t the easiest to use, and doesn’t take U.S. credit cards. For this reason, I recommend you book tickets through Bus Bud.
Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
You have a few options when traveling from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido, including a private shuttle, renting a car, the ADO bus and the flight.
There’s some info below so you know which one is best for you, or you can check out Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: 5 Best Transport Options for a deeper dive.
⭐️ Private Shuttle from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
The best way to get to Puerto Escondido from Oaxaca is the private shuttle service.
Hiring this Private driver to Puerto Escondido may not be the cheapest option, but it’s the most comfortable and safest way to get there.
🚗 Drive from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
The drive from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido Mexico is beautiful, but do consider a midsize rental car or SUV.
The roads in Puerto Escondido aren’t well maintained in many areas, and there are quite a few dirt roads that get especially nasty in the rainy season.
🚌 Bus from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
The ADO bus takes about 3-4 hours to get from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido, and the cost for a one way ticket is about $300-500 pesos ($17-30 USD).
⚠️ Note: The ADO bus website isn’t the easiest to use, and doesn’t always take U.S. credit cards.
For this reason, I recommend you book tickets through Bus Bud, both for your Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido bus ADO tickets, and all ADO tickets.
🚐 Colectivo from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
This is the cheapest way to get to Puerto Escondido from Oaxaca City, but also the least comfortable.
The colectivo or camioneta is a shared passenger van that seats between 10-12. A one-way ticket is about $150 pesos ($9 USD).
Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
⭐️ Private Shuttle from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
If you’re not getting a rental car, the best way to get to Puerto Escondido from Huatuclo is via this private shuttle service.
This is the safest way to make the journey, and most comfortable because you don’t have to do the driving.
🚗 Drive from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
If you’re renting a car in Oaxaca, this is a straightforward drive on a small highway.
The drive takes a little over two hours in normal traffic, and you can use this map for directions when driving to Puerto Escondido from Huatulco.
🚌 Bus from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
The ADO bus takes about 2.5 hours to get from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido.
⚠️ Note: The ADO bus website isn’t the easiest to use, and doesn’t take U.S. credit cards. For this reason, I recommend you book tickets through Bus Bud.
Top 5 Best Puerto Escondido Beaches
As a beach town, exploring the beaches is of course one of the top things to do in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
If you’re wondering, What are the best beaches in Puerto Escondido? — the list below will help you.
1. Playa Carrizalillo Beach
You’ll likely never see a list of Best Puerto Escondido Beaches that doesn’t have Playa Carrizalillo Beach as #1.
It’s quite simply the most beautiful beach in Puerto Escondido and best beaches in Oaxaca — but Playa Carrizalillo isn’t super easy to get to.
Carrizalillo has a bit of everything — gorgeous turquoise waters for swimming, manageable waves for surfing (perfect for beginners), healthy reefs just off-shore ideal for snorkeling, and a few small restaurants.
🏩 Where to stay near Playa Carrizalillo
- Top Pick: Villas Carrizalillo $$$ — Villas Carrazillio overlooks Playa Carrizalillo below. This amazing resort has million dollar views, but a reasonable price tag for what you get.
- Casa Kuhn Beach House $$$$
- Suites La Hacienda $$
- Cielito Lindo Suites $
2. Playa Zicatela Beach
Puerto Escondido is known as the surf capital of Mexico, and that’s largely thanks to this beach.
Playa Zicatela is especially popular for surfing, but the beach itself is very nice, and there are a lot of restaurants, bars with live music, and shops all along the sand.
Playa Zicatela Puerto Escondido is best known for the Mexican Pipeline — a wave that regularly reaches 10-feet in height (3 m).
Pipeline isn’t a wave for beginner surfers, but there are other places to go like Playa La Punta, Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Marinero.
Aside from simply enjoying the beautiful beaches, surfing is one of the best Puerto Escondido things to do.
You can book surf lessons with Pablo who runs one of the best surf schools in Puerto Escondido. He offers expert instruction and a board rental.
3. Playa La Punta Beach
Technically a part of Playa Zicatela, the eastern edge of this beach is known as La Punta Beach.
While Zicatela can be crowded and touristy, La Punta has a more laid back, bohemian feel to it (some will call it hipster).
There are plenty of beach clubs and palm trees here, which add to La Punta’s tropical vibes.
La Punta is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido, followed by a nice dinner and stroll through this lively part of town.
In fact, this is one of the most romantic things to do in Puerto Escondido 😍
Just off the beach, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido, like Chicama Peruvian Food, which is a personal favorite with great ceviche.
There’s also cute cafes with vegan options, ice cream shops, boutique shops and beach bars.
🏩 Where to Stay near La Punta
- Casa Joseph Zicatela $$$ — My favorite Puerto Escondido boutique hotel.
- Punta Zicatela Hotel $$
- Casa de Olas Boutique Hotel $$
- One Love Hostal $-$$
4. Playa Principal (Main Beach)
Playa Principal means “main beach,” as this is the most central beach in town.
It is popular with locals and visitors alike, with plenty of restaurants and amenities. Playa Principal is also one of the best swimming beaches in Puerto Escondido.
🏝️ Playa Marinero
Playa Marinero and Playa Principal are actually one beach.
However, during the Puerto Escondido rainy season from about May to October, the heavy rains will create a lagoon that separates them into two beaches.
Marinero Beach is popular for body surfing in Puerto Escondido, and you’ll find locals renting bodyboards on the beach.
5. Playa Bacocho Beach
Playa Bacocho is on the west end of town, not far from Playa Carrizalillo, and a rather quiet beach.
It is perfect if you just want to walk on the beach, and many people head here for the Puerto Escondido turtle release at sunset.
It’s not safe to swim at Playa Bacocho, but you can visit Club de Playa Villasol (AKA Sol Beach Club) or Club de Playa Villasol.
One of the best beach clubs in Puerto Escondido, it has a large pool, swim up bar, restaurant, showers, etc. A day pass costs about $200 MXN pesos ($12 USD).
Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido
The best neighborhoods in Puerto Escondido Mexico are Zicatela, La Punta and La Rinconada (near Playa Carrizalillo).
If you’re doing Puerto Escondido budget travel, you’ll find some inexpensive places in Downtown Puerto Escondido.
When choosing where to stay in Puerto Escondido, remember that this is one of the best Mexico beach towns, so you’ll want to stay on the beach, or at least near it.
Check out the best Puerto Escondido hotels below, with options in all price ranges.
Best Hotels in Puerto Escondido (For All Budgets)
Hotel Escondido ($$$$)
Though the decor is rustic-chic, the service is 5 Star luxury all the way at Hotel Escondido, one of the best Oaxaca boutique hotels.
It is the perfect place to disconnect from it all, in one of their private beachfront bungalows.
Hotel Escondido is located on a private beach area about 30 minutes from Puerto Escondido, near the Casa Wabi Artist Residence.
Do note that Hotel Escondido is on the outskirts of town, so you’ll want a rental car to get around.
VILLAS CARRIZALILLO ($$$)
Villas Carrazillio has a gorgeous pool, restaurant onsite with complimentary breakfast, and overlooks Playa Carrizalillo below.
Each villa here has a dining area and seating area with flat screen TV, and some of the villas also have a terrace and kitchenette.
CASA UMI ($$-$$$)
I stayed here for about a week, and highly recommend Casa UMI, which is located just four blocks from Playa La Punta in the boho chic La Punta neighborhood.
My room was huge, with cold AC and a comfy bed, high end finishes in the bathroom, and a private hammock by the pool.
SelIna Puerto Escondido Hostel ($-$$)
One of the top names in hostels worldwide, Selina Hostel has a location in a quieter area of Playa Zicatela that’s also very close to all the action.
They are known to have the best WiFi in Puerto Escondido, so this is a popular spot for digital nomads with private rooms and shared dorms available.
Selina Puerto Escondido hostel is centered around a lush tropical garden, complete with a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.
The 5 Best Things to Do in Puerto Escondido
Not sure what to do in Puerto Escondido? For a small town, there’s actually a lot to see on these 10 Best Puerto Escondido Tours, or on your own.
While most think it’s little more than a surf town or beach town, Puerto Escondido has so much more to it than just beaches.
Below, you’ll find the 5 best things to do in Puerto Escondido — though this barely scratches the surface.
For a more complete list, check out the 30 Best Things to Do in Puerto Escondido Mexico.
1. Laguna Manialtepec Bioluminescence Tour
Just 30 minutes north of Puerto Escondido is Laguna Manialtepec Lagoon.
You can visit the lagoon on this kayaking tour by day, or head there at night to do this famous Puerto Escondido Bioluminescence Tour.
One of the top things to do in Puerto Escondido, Laguna de Manialtepec is among just a few places in the world to swim in the water with bioluminescent plankton.
The plankton in the lagoon only emit light when they’re disturbed, so if you want to see them glow in the dark, get ready to jump into the water.
Also, the bioluminescence is strongest in the center of the lake, so you must go by boat.
This highly-rated nighttime boating excursion is one of the best ways to experience this natural phenomenon.
The local guides not only know the perfect place to go swimming, but they also keep an eye out for crocodiles.
2. Release Baby Sea Turtles in Oaxaca
This Baby Sea Turtle Release is one of the top things to do in Puerto Escondido.
As the name says, you’ll help newly hatched sea turtles make their way into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
For many visitors, this is a Puerto Escondido must do, and a true Mexico bucket list experience.
3. Puerto Escondido Boat Tour (Dolphins and Whales)
On this top-rated Dolphin-Watching Boat Tour, guests have the opportunity to spot hundreds of dolphins jumping, swimming, and flipping around the boat.
With the help of your guide’s local knowledge, you’ll search for the four types of dolphins that roam these waters.
These include spotted dolphins, common dolphins, spinner dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins — which love to put on a show for the boats.
In the winter during the Puerto Escondido whale watching season, the boat tours also include going to the known whale spots so you can see them too.
4. Puerto Escondido Food Tours
One of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido, day or night, is eat — and Oaxaca food is arguably one of the best regional cuisines in Mexico.
The region is famous for various dishes and drinks, including mole, tlayudas, chocolate, mezcal, garnachas, nieves and tacos.
To try it all, book your spot on the best food tour in Puerto Escondido — the Made in Oaxaca Food Tour, which is rated 4.92/5 Stars.
Organized by local guides, Alex and Ricardo, guests are taken on a food journey through the streets of Puerto Escondido to try some of the region’s best dishes.
From small secret spots to famous local restaurants, foodies will experience it all, tasting tacos, salsa, quesillo (AKA Oaxaca cheese), and chocolate, all with a side of local history and storytelling.
5. Surf Lessons in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is one of the best Mexican surf towns, and has been a surfer hotspot since the 1950s.
The region is known for its massive barrels and huge waves at Playa Zicatela, but it is also home to more beginner-friendly beaches.
If you’re a beginner surfer, intermediate surfer or a longboarder, several beaches in the region have gentler waves, like Playa Carrizalillo.
This beach is also an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling, so it’s ideal for non-surfers as well.
If you haven’t surfed before, or are a little rusty and need a refresher, book surf lessons with Pablo, one of the best surf instructors in Puerto Escondido.
He offers lessons to help you learn the basics, and will help you catch your first wave or improve your surfing technique.
Top 3 Best Restaurants in Puerto Escondido
1. El Cafecito
🍳 Best Breakfast in Puerto Escondido
Whether it be breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner — if you’re craving homemade traditional Mexican food at a fair price, visit El Cafecito.
Located steps from Playa Carrizalillo Beach, El Cafecito Puerto Escondido is a locals’ favorite and one of the most popular and top Puerto Escondido restaurants.
It usually has a long line and gets busy during peak hours, but is worth the wait. If you don’t want to wait, head to Cafe Ole instead.
Note: El Cafecito specializes in baked goods, but also has gluten-free options.
2. Smoked Fish Tacos el Viejo
🌮 Best Tacos in Puerto Escondido
If you’re looking for the best fish tacos in Puerto Escondido, look no further than Smoked Fish Tacos el Viejo.
This quaint family-run business specializes in pescado ahumado (smoked fish), hence the place’s name.
Although the restaurant offers other types of tacos, like fried fish and shrimp, make sure to order their specialty.
The fish for their pescado ahumado is caught daily by local fishermen and purchased by the owner early in the morning.
By the time it touches your lips, it’s been smoked for at least four hours.
3. Almoraduz Cocina de Autor
🍽 Best Restaurant in Puerto Escondido
Looking for fine dining in Puerto Escondido? Almoraduz Cocina de Autor is one of the nicest restaurants in Puerto Escondido, and a foodie favorite.
The avant-garde menu has dishes that change according to the season, favoring organic ingredients from local farmers.
For elevated yet delicious traditional Oaxacan cuisine, make a reservation at Almoraduz Puerto Escondido.
Need some other suggestions for a nice dinner in Puerto Escondido? Try Turtle Bay, El Coste Ceviche & Grill, Mar y Sol and Metxcalli.
Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico: FAQ
How big is Puerto Escondido?
The drive from end to end across town, or from Playa Bacocho to Playa Zicatela, takes just 20-30 minutes on Highway 200.
This is the main road that connects all of Puerto Escondido, and it connects the main tourist zone from Playa Bacocho on the west side, to Playa Zicatela on the eastern end of town.
The City Center, or Downtown Puerto Escondido, is relatively small at about 25 square blocks.
What’s the best time to visit Puerto Escondido?
Weather-wise, the best months to visit Puerto Escondido and the beaches of Oaxaca and Oaxaca Coast are November to April during the dry season.
The rainy season in Oaxaca lasts from May to October, and the coast of Oaxaca sees a lot of rain thanks to its tropical climate.
📆 When is the Oaxaca Whale Season?
The best time to see whales in Puerto Escondido is from December to March.
In 2019, a 108 square mile (280 km²) area off the coast of Puerto Escondido was declared a Mexico Whale Watching Zone.
What’s the Puerto Escondido weather like?
If you can, plan your Puerto Escondido vacation for the winter months, when temperatures and humidity are mild, the mosquitoes are at bay, and you can see the whales.
If you’re visiting in summer, you can expect rain, but usually only for 1-2 hours per day in the afternoons.
🦟 Oaxaca Beaches Travel Tips: Regardless of when you visit, you’ll encounter mosquitoes and other bugs on the Oaxacan Coast.
Practice sustainable tourism in Mexico by using eco-friendly mosquito repellent.
Is Puerto Escondido safe for travelers?
For the vast majority of tourists, Puerto Escondido is quite safe to visit.
As safety is a complex topic, head to Is Mexico Safe to Visit Right Now? for a deep dive.
In general though, Oaxaca is among the safest states in Mexico, and the Mexican government wants to keep it this way.
Aside from big surf waves, mosquitoes, sunburns, and not drinking too much Oaxaca mezcal, you’re in little danger in Puerto Escondido.
However, no place on Earth is 100% safe, so you’ll want to take the same general travel safety measures you would anywhere else.
💡Puerto Escondido Travel Tip: You should also register for the United States STEP Program for international travelers, and put your mind at ease with Mexico travel insurance.
🩺 Mexico Travel Insurance for Puerto Escondido
Just as you insure your car, home and body, you can also insure your luggage, belongings and health while traveling.
If Puerto Escondido travel safety is on your mind, get a FREE quote below from two of the biggest names in travel insurance for Mexico.
- World Nomads: Perfect for general travel coverage, and those who want to do adventurous activities while traveling to Puerto Escondido, like surfing.
- Safety Wing: Perfect Mexico digital nomads who plan to be in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca state or Mexico for an extended period of time.
Is there Uber in Puerto Escondido?
No — There is no Puerto Escondido Uber service, nor Lyft in Puerto Escondido.
They do have DiDi Taxi through the DiDi Rider app, which lets you call a taxi via the app. It’s basically like using Uber or Lyft, but you will get a regular cab.
Are Puerto Escondido taxis safe?
For the majority of travelers, yes, taxis are perfectly safe to use in Puerto Escondido.
I prefer to call taxis via the DiDi Rider app, so I have a record of my trip and the price is already set for me, but you can also just hail a cab on the street.
What is El Adoquin Puerto Escondido?
Avenida Alfonso Perez Gasga, known locally as El Adoquín, is one of the main strips in town.
This long beachfront boardwalk is lined with bars, nightlife options, restaurants and shops. At night, it becomes a pedestrian-only street.
💵 Looking for Puerto Escondido ATMs? El Adoquín is where you’ll find the most ATMs in Puerto Escondido.
Do I need a car in Puerto Escondido?
If you’re just staying in Puerto Escondido itself, particularly Zicatela Beach, skip the rental car and just use taxis to get around.
As the main part of town, all the beaches, restaurants, bars, etc., all within a 5-15 minute walk.
Now, if you’re planning for some Puerto Escondido day trips, get a rental car.
When renting a car in Puerto Escondido, or anywhere in Mexico, I always recommend, and personally use, Discover Cars.
They FREE cancellation up to 48 hours before your reservation, and search both big-name international companies and local Mexican companies, so you get the best rates.
Is Puerto Escondido worth visiting?
As it takes at least two flights to get to Puerto Escondido, you might be wondering if traveling to Puerto Escondido is worth it — It is!
If you want to immerse yourself in local culture, eat authentic Oaxaca food and some of the freshest seafood of your life, Puerto Escondido is it.
As it’s still mostly off the main tourist radar, the golden sand beaches of Puerto Escondido are peaceful and gorgeous.
While the Oaxaca beaches aren’t as easily accessible as other Mexico beach towns, they’re some of the most beautiful.
If you want more than just all inclusive resorts, Puerto Escondido is your place.
While there are luxury hotels in Puerto Escondido Mexico, like the chic Hotel Escondido, Oaxaca beaches also offer a chance to connect with nature.
For an all-inclusive Mexico trip, opt for Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas (Los Cabos) — some of the best resort towns in Mexico.
Puerto Escondido vs Huatulco: Which is better?
It depends — Huatulco vs Puerto Escondido is a common question, as these are the two best Oaxaca beach towns on the coast.
However, they’re very different, so the “best” one will depend on your preferences and travel style.
In my opinion: Stick to Puerto Escondido if you want to surf and party, but for a more laid back trip, Huatulco is ideal.
They both have beautiful beaches, but the beaches in Huatulco are usually less crowded and more conducive to family travel.
Is Puerto Escondido expensive?
No — “Expensive” is a relative term, but compared to most beach towns in Mexico, Puerto Escondido is on the cheaper side, much like Sayulita and Zihuatanejo.
🤑 Traveling to Puerto Escondido on a budget?
Opt for Selina Puerto Escondido Hostel or Casa Losodeli & CoWorking.
Both of these best hostels in Puerto Escondido have private rooms and shared dorms for a good price.
Even if you don’t want to stay in a hostel, many of the best hotels in Puerto Escondido average about $75-200 USD per night, so your money still stretches pretty far in Puerto Escondido Oaxaca.
My Final Thoughts on Traveling to Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico
While many think this is just your average beach town, it has much more to offer visitors.
The Puerto Escondido beaches are undeniably beautiful, but there’s also mountains, waterfalls, amazing food and great accommodations.
Though it might be overshadowed by the likes of Cancun and Los Cabos, Puerto Escondido has a charm all its own.
As one of the best places to visit in Mexico, you’re in for a treat from the moment you arrive.