home General issues Mexico: what is Puerto Escondido hiding? Terrible road and beautiful landscapes of Puerto Escondido.

Mexico: what is Puerto Escondido hiding? Terrible road and beautiful landscapes of Puerto Escondido.

Surfing in Puerto Escondido

Why go to Puerto Escondido, you ask? Surfing, of course! In the summer, during the stormy and rainy season, professional surfers from all over the world come to Puerto Escondido, famous for its beach break point waves, Zicatella Beach.
The waves at this time can reach from 3 to 6-7 meters and, sitting on the shore and sipping juice, you can watch very high-level surfers skating 30 meters away.

If you want to not only watch, but also learn to surf yourself, you should definitely contact. Our portal cooperates with a Russian surf camp in Mexico. Here you will be provided with proper safety for learning to surf and will be shown all the best corners of Puerto Escondido and nearby towns.

Surf spots in Puerto Escondido
Zicatella Beach is the main, most famous and crowded surf spot in Puerto Escondido. Zicatella Beach is full of restaurants, cafes, bars, and surf shops. Here you can take a cozy walk, watch the sunset, do yoga at dawn, watch professional surfers skate and listen to live music in one of the bars.
Very close to Zicatella Beach, at the end of the beach, there is another surf spot - the so-called La Punta. La Punta is a rock point. Thanks to the rocks, the waves here are much smoother and slower to close than on Zicatella. La Punta, depending on the season, is used by confident surfers, intermediate surfers, and even beginners.
In winter, when the waves on La Punta are small, almost all surf schools and surf camps in Puerto Escondido bring their students here to surf. This makes the surf spot overcrowded and dangerous. On the one hand, all normal waves are taken by good surfers, on the other hand, surf school students are pushed right under you.
So if you are here for a short time and want to surf, then you should either ride here in the rows of surf school students so that they push you, or come at about 6 in the morning, when there are not many other surfers here yet.

Another surf spot in Puerto Escondido is Corrisolillo Beach. This is a closed, beautiful, cozy cove, an idyllic haven for retired tourists, families and skimboarding enthusiasts. Near the shore here you can swim in relatively calm water, but a little further from the shore there are waves. Carrizollio Beach begins to “work” during a big swell, when giant waves come to Zicatella and La Punta. In Carrizolillo, the waves are small and, most importantly, thanks to the rocks protecting the bay and the features of the bottom, these waves practically do not “knead”. That's why this place is ideal for teaching surfing to beginners and children.
If you take the stairs to the left of the central one, you will come out to the most expensive, but also the most comfortable restaurant in all of Puerto Escondido. Here you can sip a cool beer, snack on crispy squid and delicious grilled potatoes, and watch the sunset.

Secret spot.

This surf spot was wild until recently. And only the bravest surfers came here to surf. But then the rains and the river flowing in this place changed the shape of the bottom and wonderful waves began to come here. There are waves at the secret spot even when there are none at either La Punta or Zicatella Beach. The waves here are larger than on La Punta and come at different places. Therefore, there are enough of them for everyone!

This place still remains a protected area. Here you can see dolphins and whales very close to the shore (killer whales too!). And hundreds of birds find shelter on the river flowing near the shore - pelicans, gulls, herons - when they take off in a flock and fly overhead in the form of a cloud - it’s very beautiful! There is also a restaurant here, near which, in a protected area, there is something like a turtle incubator.
Residents of Puerto Escondido carefully collect all the eggs buried by turtles in the sand in protected areas. When the turtles hatch, ceremonies take place at sunset to release them into the ocean. Anyone can take part in these ceremonies.

You can also read about surfing on La Punta and the secret spot in my blogs:

Beaches of Puerto Escondido

We now know beaches that are also surf spots. In addition, in Puerto Escondido there is also Baccocho Beach - long and deserted. Good for walking. In addition, there are several restaurants here.
As for beaches where you can swim, this is La Principal - the main beach of Puerto Escondido, which is also a fishing port. In the mornings, fishermen sell freshly caught fish here, and here you can swim in relatively calm waters, surrounded by boats and pelicans.

ON A NOTE: From here, boats depart in the mornings (cost from 180-250 pesos per person) on three-hour walks on the ocean, during which you can fish for tuna or swordfish, as well as see whales, dolphins and turtles

The most favorite beach in Puerto Escondido among the Mexicans themselves is Puerto Angelito Beach. The water here is completely calm and there is nowhere for an apple to fall during the holidays. The beaches and coastal waters are littered with hundreds of bodies of vacationing Mexican families.

Whale watching in Puerto Escondido

In December, when the ocean water cools, to the coast of the California Peninsula and Southern Mexico gray whales arrive. Giants give birth to their children in coastal waters, raise them, and at the end of February they begin their further seasonal migration - north to the Arctic Ocean.

If you find yourself in Puerto Escondido during this period, be sure to rent a place on a boat to try your luck. You will definitely meet dolphins, manta rays and turtles. And if you are very lucky, you will be able to see GRAY WHALES! These amazing creatures jumping out of the water, peaceful and wonderful. Boats depart from Principal Beach in Puerto Escondido.

What else to do and see in Puerto Escondido?
It is also held periodically in Puerto Escondido. There is also a motocross track where competitions are held almost every weekend. Carnivals are also common in the city. Local tour companies can book a variety of excursions - to whales and dolphins, trips to swim in luminous plankton, to organic coffee plantations. You can also go on a horseback ride along the shore, learn to dance salsa, listen to numerous blues and rock concerts, drink local delicious beer or inexpensive Chilean wine, and, of course, eat local tasty and inexpensive fruits, for which you should definitely go to the local mercado - market! Mercado is also a great opportunity to see how people live local residents. For example, parrots accompany many sellers at the market!

Where to eat in Puerto Escondido?
There are plenty of restaurants here, but many of them have very mediocre food, and the prices are no lower than in other establishments. So don't waste your time and money, go only to the restaurants recommended to you.
In La Punta, the burritos in the tiny tent next to the pizza tent are delicious. There is also a good establishment called “Lychee”. The food here is not exactly Thai, but the atmosphere is absolutely wonderful!
Near the Mercado there is perhaps the most popular restaurant among the locals. It's delicious, local and cheap!
And be sure to find an ice cream shop from the Italian Frederico called “Crema I Chocolate”. This is the most delicious ice cream we have eaten in our entire lives. Francesco prepares it from natural milk bought from farmers and natural ingredients. The taste is amazing and it's surprisingly inexpensive!!!

From cool, sunny Oaxaca we went to the coast to the city of Puerto Escondido to splash around in the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

The road from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is 300 km of pure hell and horror.

7 and a half hours in a minibus along a mountain serpentine road is not like flying on a plane and munching on free food.

Although it seemed like I was the only one who felt bad. The rest of the passengers enjoyed the beautiful views from the window and even bought fruit from the Mexican women who periodically entered the minibus (I still don’t understand how they managed to appear out of nowhere with their fruit trays). Then all this was chewed with relish under cheerful laughter, which made me feel worse and worse.

However, the views outside the window were quite picturesque:

And now, 7 hours after the cool Oaxacan spring, summer came with all its delights: mosquitoes, night and day heat and the scorching sun.

Until the last moment, I still did not believe that I would see the ocean and that it was exactly as I imagined it to be. So, despite being mortally tired, the first thing after finding housing was visiting the Pacific Ocean.

The first night I stayed at the Casablanca Hotel on Playa Principal Beach, then immediately put on a summer dress and ran to look at the water.

The beach is located in a bay, so there are no waves there at all, but there are many, many different boats and people swimming.

Behind the Principal without any visible signs begins Marinero Beach.

There are already waves there, no boats, and everything is as it should be: you can swim, ride the waves and not be afraid that you will be carried away somewhere into the blue sea, because the depth is insignificant.

There is already open sea here. This is several kilometers of a wide strip of fine white sand, boundless ocean and waves, the height of which varies from two to eight meters depending on the time of year.

This is where surfers hang out, or those who want or are trying to become surfers.

Sunset at Zicatela Beach

From the point of view of life, Puerto Escondido is not bad, since there is gorgeous beach for every taste, supermarkets, restaurants with local and foreign cuisine, several surf schools, quite varied nightlife.

There is no colonial architecture or coolness here. To be honest, the town is not much different from others resort places in other countries, there are only hotels and resorts along the coast, which gives it a special charm. For example, hotels stand along coastline- no comfort.

You can travel around Puerto Escondido by taxi for $1.5 to any point or by taxi for $0.33.

Another of the Pacific resorts in Mexico I liked. It has its own specifics, but the beaches are simply magnificent.

Puerto Escondido is a paradise for surfers and not only for them

Mexico has a lot amazing places for holidays, and Puerto Escandido is certainly one of them. Translated from Spanish, the name of this small fishing village means “hidden port”. Indeed, there are beaches and coves, which are not easily accessible along narrow paths in the rocks, but in general Puerto Escandido is known as an excellent place for surfing. Of course, there is all the infrastructure characteristic of popular resort: comfortable beaches, cafes and restaurants, rental of necessary equipment, excursions, boat trips And so on. Surfers from all continents and at any time of the year meet here, since even during the rainy season you can ride the Pacific waves here.

Terrible road and beautiful scenery of Puerto Escondido

The easiest way to get to Puerto Escandido is by bus from Oaxaca de Juarez, where the nearest airport is located, although this route may not seem easy to an inexperienced tourist. The road takes six to seven hours in a minibus (on a regular bus the journey can last all nine hours) along a steep mountain serpentine. From time to time, local women appear in the salon with trays and offer travelers fragrant fruits. The best part of the trip is the stunning mountain scenery. Amazing views of Mexican nature replace each other, and the climate becomes warmer. And here it is, finally, the hot, cheerful and slightly reckless Hidden Port - Puerto Escondido!

A trip from Oaxaca by regular bus will cost the traveler 180 pesos, and a trip by minibus costs 200 pesos. The most expensive bus fare is the ADO company - 372 pesos. There is also a direct flight from ADO from San Cristobal, which costs 632 pesos.

Hidden Port Beaches

To briefly describe the weather this year unusual place, just one word is enough: heat! The sun here is trying its best and burning tirelessly, and the high humidity helps it hard. As a result, both tourists and the local population sweat actively, clothes stick to the body and the desire to plunge into the cool waves becomes simply unbearable. Luckily, Puerto Escondido has plenty of beaches. Here are the most popular of them: Zicatela, Carizalillo, Puerto Angelito, Manzaniyo, Principal, Marinero. Each beach has its own characteristics and character.

The most famous, of course, is Zicatela beach. Mexicans confidently claim that here, to the delight of surfers, is the “third wave in the world.” This is probably true, the waves here are simply huge. There are special flags all over the beach, persistently warning visitors that swimming here is dangerous. A wave can spin and hit a careless swimmer hard against the rocks.

Both experienced surfers and green beginners are welcome here. Local enterprising youth offer equipment rentals as well as lessons for beginners. There are many such teachers here; from time to time tourists receive an invitation to surf in Spanish, English, and sometimes in broken Russian. You can rent a board for the whole day for 200 pesos. Included with the services of an instructor, the cost of surfing increases by 1.5 times - up to 300 pesos.

Playa Principal Beach is nearby and is perfect for a relaxing beach holiday and swimming. The waves here are not high, you can rent a sun lounger, and the depth of the ocean off the coast is moderate. There is a cozy family guesthouse nearby. On the beach of Puerto Angelito (Playa Puerto Angelito), which is quite different large sizes, also very calm. There are a lot of people here: both locals and tourists. Young people and sedate pensioners are on holiday, there are many families with children.

Carrizalillo Beach Playa Carrizalillo is located near a bay located between the rocks. This is a beach for extreme sports, the waves here are quite high and dangerous. Marinero (Playa Marinero), located very close to Principal Beach, is also great for riding the waves.

All the beaches of the Hidden Port have one thing in common - they are incredibly beautiful. White sand, emerald green-blue-azure ocean, proud green palm trees, picturesque piles of rocks, huge waves, white foam, pelicans, turtles, dolphins... You can simply admire this beauty endlessly.

What else to do in Puerto Escondido?

Puerto Escondido is a really small place. There are no majestic temples, no picturesque houses, no examples of colonial architecture here. The main vacation spot is the beaches; all interesting events take place there. There are cafes and restaurants right on the beaches that serve delicious dishes. Of course, there is an abundance of fresh fish here. Some individuals end up in the frying pan literally a few minutes after being caught.

Boat excursions are the main entertainment after the beach and surfing. A short excursion costs 100 pesos, a long one - 350. In addition to the vast expanses of the ocean, you can watch huge turtles, dolphins, and, in season, huge whales. It is worth noting that sightseeing tours, like any other services, they are offered here not too intrusively, although quite often.

Some tourists do not miss the opportunity to learn Spanish. Here you can find inexpensive accommodation and suitable courses. The cost of living and tuition for a month can be about $500. A bed in a hostel costs only 120 pesos (about $9), and room prices start at 250 pesos. Double apartments or bungalows will cost $25-50. The best local accommodation comes with a number of amenities such as shower, air conditioning, kitchen, internet, ocean view, etc. You can have a great time in Puerto Escondido, enjoying beautiful waves, hot sun, great warm water, beautiful nature and excellent Mexican food.

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Useful information for tourists about Puerto Escondido in Mexico - geographical position, tourism infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Puerto Escondido is a Mexican city in the state of Oaxaca, located on the Pacific coast approximately 280 km from the capital of Oaxaca de Juarez and 800 km south of the capital Mexico. About 20 thousand people live in Puerto Escondido. Due to the high migration of foreign residents and the inclusion of nearby settlements, the population of the town is rapidly increasing. Conventionally, the city can be divided into two parts: the rather poor coastal outskirts and the wealthy, solid center.

The resort town of Puerto Escondido is a real paradise for young surfers and hippies. The surfing season in the city lasts all year round. The city has surf spots designed for all levels of surfing, which is its main feature and dignity. This is a place where all the necessary conditions for have a wonderful holiday and surfing, which is why Puerto Escondido is called a surfer's paradise.

To ride the huge waves of Puerto Escondido in summer time Professional surfers from all over the world come here every year. For those who want to learn to surf, they should definitely visit a surf camp, where proper safety is ensured for learning this sport.

The most important, famous and crowded surf spot in Puerto Escondido is Zicatella Beach, where there are many cozy restaurants, cafes, bars and surf shops. In addition, here you can take a wonderful walk, admire the sunset, listen to live music and watch professional sefers ride.

In the immediate vicinity of Zicatella Beach there is another famous surf spot - rock point La Punta. Thanks to the rocks, the waves at this surf spot, unlike Zicatella Beach, are much smoother and slower to close. Depending on the season, La Punta can be enjoyed by both confident surfers and beginners.

Corrisolillo Beach is another popular surf spot in Puerto Escondido. It is a closed, beautiful, cozy cove and an idyllic haven for retired tourists and skimboarding enthusiasts. The water near the shore is relatively calm, but a little further from the shore the waves rise. The season at Carrizolillo Beach opens with a big swell, that is, when huge waves come to La Punta and Zicatella Beach. Since the waves in Carrizolillo are small and the bay is protected by rocks, this place is ideal for learning to surf.

Real surfers should also visit the Secret spot, which until recently was considered wild. There are almost always waves at the Secret Spot.

Puerto Escondido is a small coastal town that is all beach. And outside the city there are several kilometers of wild, empty and beautiful beaches, as well as two huge lagoons, where you can find several thermal springs with hot ones volcanic waters, many birds and even crocodiles.

The main beach of Puerto Escondido is La Principal, with Puerto Angelito Beach considered the most popular beach in the city. During the holidays, the beaches and coastal areas are dotted with hundreds of vacationing Mexicans. The water here is always calm, making it an ideal place for swimming. Another famous beach in Puerto Escondido is the long and deserted Baccocho, which has several restaurants. It is great for walking.

What is the beauty of free travel, you ask? And I will answer: that you can make spontaneous decisions. There is neither a maximum plan nor a minimum plan, without fulfilling which you will bite your elbows for the remaining six months until your next vacation.

Since Andryusiks and I are those same free travelers (at least, we like to think so), we took it and decided to drop by for a week in coastal town of Puerto Escondido(Pueto Escondido).

No, I’m still being a little disingenuous, because everything that is accidental is not accidental. This zigzag was our last chance to see in Mexico Pacific Ocean. How could it be possible to miss it?

We thought about this meeting much earlier, when we wanted to lie on beaches of Acapulco, but somehow it didn’t work out with them: it seemed that everything there was too expensive, and it was not on the way at all. Although nice little Christopher invited us there. We met him in Queretaro, he studies there, but lives in Acapulco. It’s a pity that our plans with him did not coincide a little. In general, we passed by.

But you know that Mexico is a hot country. The soul quietly and unobtrusively, but asked for the water of the great seas and oceans. A trip to Veracruz did not help satisfy this desire at all. I don’t know what we expected from the beaches of the port city. Although, there was still one plus - we saw the Gulf of Mexico.

After Veracruz, the coast of Puerto Escondido seemed like paradise! I have never seen anything like this either in Koh Chang, Thailand, or in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. If we add here the beaches of nearby Puerto Angel and the surrounding area, we get a beautiful set. To be honest, even Cancun made less of an impression. But more on that later.

For now - Puerto Escondido. There are many beaches here, we visited six. The trick is that they are all different. Yes Yes! Some are more similar to each other, others less, but each has its own face and character.

Okay, enough general phrases, quickly put on your trache de banyo (this is not a curse word, this is what a swimsuit is called in Spanish) and let's go swimming in Pacific Ocean.

Carrizalillo Beach

I don’t know about you, but we don’t look for easy ways, so we immediately go to the farthest beach. This means that before diving, you will have to walk under the scorching sun through a tourist street with cafes, restaurants, souvenir stalls and shops. A classic of the genre, so to speak.

The people here are kind of uncommunicative and not very smiling. Either the tourists are completely sick of them, or it’s just hot and everyone is sleeping on the move. We ourselves are half alive. It's hard to endure 35-degree heat. The sun is beating down mercilessly, the humidity is wild, no shade can help. Trache de bagno instantly sticks to the body.

We must quickly run to the water! Farthest from the city center Carrizalillo beach(Playa Carrizalillo). This is where we need to go. Ufff!

If you are too lazy, you can take a taxi or public transport, but we love to walk. So what, it’s hot, there’s more than enough enthusiasm))

There is a sign for “Playa Carrizalillo”, which means you are on the right path. A little more and we see a staircase running down, straight to where the noise is ocean waters. A few steps and... wow!

And then steps, and a little more, and a little more. And the realization that later you will have to climb up them, but now this is not important. Now it’s important to jump into the water as soon as possible. She's so alluring, isn't she? The thought flashed through my head that we were in heaven. I had no idea it would be so cool.

I need to put my backpack somewhere.
- Yeah, there are sunbeds. Let's go and put it in plain sight, otherwise your camera or wallet might be stolen by someone.

We, already taught by the Vietnamese, are afraid to just leave things like that. Thanks Nha Trang! We approach the sun loungers under the umbrella and begin to attach the backpack. A minute later a local guy runs up.

This... Sunbeds are paid
- How many?
- 100 pesos.
- Wow! What if for 15 minutes?
- Still 100 pesos.
- No, thanks.

Yeah, it's a little expensive. Perhaps we'll stand on foot sometime. We place our precious burden on a tree and run, no, rush to the water.

“Gurg, gurgle,” heard the wind. It was Andryusiks and I who finally plopped into the Pacific Ocean!

Carrizalillo Beach is a bay sandwiched between rocks. It is quite small, but with character: the waves are wow, they knock you off your feet in one or two moments. I even drove across the sand a couple of times (not the most pleasant sensation). In general, I’m always dangling in the waves like a piece of foam, Andryusiks copes with them much better.

As for me, everything is perfect on this beach: there are palm trees, the water is magnificent, ranging from an incredible emerald-azure color to a super-comfortable temperature, yellow sand that perfectly matches the color of the first two components, cheerful waves that will not let anyone down. get bored. If you disagree, raise your hand. I'm sure there aren't many of them.

We are here to just splash around for half an hour and move on (you remember that there are six beaches, it’s interesting to look at them all). And some come for the whole day, lie around, read books, others fight the waves, either hand-to-hand or with a board at the ready, others drink beer and cocktails in coastal cafes (there are a couple of them).

Want to get even closer to the ocean? Order a lunch of freshly caught shellfish. I don’t even really know what they are called. The sun-dried Mexican uncle will gladly pick you a delicacy.

While we were spying on the process of preparing dinner for some gourmet, a local macho approached.

Ola, amigos! Ablan Español (Speak Spanish)?
- Poquito (A little).

I switched to English, apparently to make the conversation more productive.

Do you want to surf? Board for the whole day - only 200 pesos.
- No, we don’t know how.
- Then I can give you a lesson. Board, instruction, everything - only 300 pesos.
- How long?
- An hour and a half.
- No, not today, we are leaving soon.
- Then come tomorrow, I’m here every day, hanging out near the cafes. Only 300 pesos.
- What is your name?
- Juan.
- Ok, Juan, maybe another time.

Although we ourselves know that there will most likely not be another time, because there is no point in trying to get on the board just for one or two days.

Before Juan had time to leave, another approached. Hmmm, tourists are being completely bullied, although not intrusively. This other suggested a boat ride: an hour for 100 pesos and three hours for 350 pesos per person. The first option is for those who want to see turtles, the second is for those who hope to see dolphins. A tempting offer, but again not here and not now.

Well, it's time to move on. Again some local amigo is broadcasting something in our direction. Surfing again? No, a boat? No? He says there is a secret cove nearby, you just need to go behind the stones along the path. Ahh, well, thanks for this advice!

We climb, of course. A little up the rocks to the right of the beach, a little along the path through the thickets and there it is, a secret cove.

So sweet, cute, deserted. No! They interrupted some kissing couple. Okay, okay, don't get distracted, we won't be long.

We take the same paths to Carrizalillo, conquer the long staircase that creeps out onto the road, and continue on. What next, where are we headed? To the nearby beach.

Puerto Angelito Beach

Already on the way to the destination we understand that it will be fun here. Large tourist buses and people scurrying back and forth kill any theoretical possibility of privacy. Well, okay, we’re not the only ones who are hot.

One sign calls to the beach of Puerto Angelito, another to Manzaniyo, and we go a little further to enter the first one from the very edge.

Believe it or not, we were in for a surprise again! A tiny rocky bay with clear water and shells. Well, isn't it lovely?

To be honest, shells are my weakness; from every beach where they are found, I take at least a little with me. That's right, without them the backpack is not big and heavy enough))

Well, I’ll take one more last shell, and let’s go, oh, and one more, and this beautiful one. Okay, let's go. We make our way through buses, Coca-Cola stores, tents with swimsuits and again find ourselves in paradise. Only this time it is more crowded and noisy. And in larger sizes. The name of this paradise is Puerto Angelito beach(Playa Puerto Angelito).

In general, everything is the same as on Carrizalillo, only multiplied by five: five times more palm trees, five times more cafes, restaurants, sunbeds and boats.

Quiet, calm water, no waves for you, please drift as much as you want. This is probably why there are so many Mexicans here, all with children. These fearless chocolate brats will have complete freedom - madres and padres will not worry about being carried away by a wave into the ocean.

Do you know what is visible and invisible in Puerto Escondido? Fish! And why be surprised, the ocean is in charge here. Each restaurant has several types of fish on the menu, prepared this way and that way. Plus all sorts of shrimp, squid, lobster and octopus. In general, seafood lovers will be pleased. On the beach of Puerto Angelito you can order fresh fish without leaving the cash register, or rather, from the coast. And just recently she was swimming somewhere out there in the blue abyss, waving her fins and moving her gills, and now she lies silent on your plate. And her life costs only 100 pesos.

If you don’t want fish, you’re tired of lying on the beach, you can’t swim anymore, let’s go parrot the crabs, there are a great many of them lurking on the stones hugging the beach to the left and right.

I don’t like watching crabs, it’s Andryusiks who likes to hunt for them, or even better, catch one and make three wishes. I'd rather watch the waves crash on the shore. A boring job, you might say. It’s not boring at all, but fascinating; there’s something magically calming about it.

What do you think attracts us so much about beaches? After all, lying in the sun is so hot, and after a few days all the beauty becomes completely familiar and ordinary. And every time everyone repeats the spell: “beaches, beaches, beaches.” For many beach holiday- this is truly the standard of an ideal vacation. What's the matter? I guess I never found the answer to this question.