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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Puerto Escondido
Give Puerto Escondido 4–5 nights: surf and beach-hop by day, sleep in La Punta or Zicatela, and day-trip to Mazunte or Chacahua.
Puerto Escondido is a surf town on the Oaxaca Pacific coast, about 3 hours by road from Oaxaca city since the new highway opened in 2024. It is not walkable like Mazunte or Zipolite: the beaches and neighbourhoods sit 5–10 minutes apart by taxi or colectivo. Most travellers come for the waves, the beach restaurants and the sunsets, and use it as a base for the turtle beaches and lagoons nearby.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry, sunny)
- Avoid
- Sep–Oct (rain and storm swell), Semana Santa (crowded)
- Stay
- 4–5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$600–1,000 excl. bed · Mid M$1,200–2,200 excl. bed · High M$2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | M$40–70 |
| Fish tacos or a taco plate | M$60–150 |
| Beer: draught / bottle at a beach bar | M$40–70 / M$30–50 |
| Local bus ride | M$5 |
| Taxi in town | M$30–50 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PXM · Puerto Escondido International
- Close to town; colectivo about M$35 per person, taxi more. Flights from Mexico City (MEX) with Aeroméxico and Viva Aerobus; a weekly United flight from Houston on Saturdays.
- HUX · Huatulco
- Alternative airport; about 90 min by road, US$50–60 by pre-arranged taxi.
Typical fares
- Airport → town, colectivo
- about M$35 per person
- Airport → Punta Zicatela, taxi
- about M$200
- Oaxaca → Puerto Escondido, ADO bus
- about 3 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses (urbanos) run along the main roads and all pass the crucero at Carr. Costera and Av. Oaxaca; fare about M$5. Colectivos along fixed routes cost about M$10 in town. Taxis in town run M$30–50 by day; night rates about M$35 (check). Agree the price before you get in. Airport to Punta Zicatela is about M$200.
See and do
Known for
- Mexican Pipeline at Playa Zicatela
- Surf lessons and board hire
- Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Manzanillo
- Beach sunsets and seafood
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mazunte | Colectivo or bus toward Pochutla, then local transport | About 1.5 h (check) |
| Zipolite | Colectivo or bus toward Pochutla, then local transport | About 1.5–2 h (check) |
| Lagunas de Chacahua National Park | Colectivo toward Río Grande, get off at El Zapotalito, then boat | About 2 h (check) |
| Playa Escobilla turtle sanctuary | Tour or colectivo toward Mazunte | About 1 h (check) |
| Cascada de la Reforma | Tour or car; the last road is rough | About 1–1.5 h (check) |
Sleep
- La Punta (Punta Zicatela)
- Backpacker and surf end of Zicatela; hostels, cheap tacos, bars. Noisy at night.
- Zicatela / Brisas de Zicatela
- Beach strip with mid-range hotels and restaurants; walk to the sand, taxi to town.
- Centro and Adoquín
- Town centre near Playa Principal and the pedestrian Adoquín mall; market, buses, cheapest beds.
- Rinconada and Carrizalillo
- Quieter hills above Playa Carrizalillo; good for couples and longer stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedees-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Playa Zicatela is for expert surfers and strong swimmers only: there is a strong rip current and people have drowned.
- Do not drive Highway 131 to Oaxaca after dark; the surface can be washed out and there are sudden craters.
- Semana Santa overwhelms the town's water and waste infrastructure: book beds weeks ahead.
- Some male surf instructors have a reputation for roaming hands; female instructors are available if you prefer.
- Ask the taxi fare before the ride or you may be quoted more than the going rate.
Puerto Escondido is generally safe for tourists; the real risks are the ocean at Zicatela, unlit roads at night and overpriced taxis. Keep valuables out of sight on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Puerto Escondido yet. Suggested stay: 4–5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mexican Pipeline at Playa Zicatela
- Surf lessons and board hire
- Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Manzanillo
- Beach sunsets and seafood
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Puerto Escondido International Airport: www.puertoescondidoairport.com/
- ADO buses: www.ado.com.mx
- Wikivoyage: Puerto Escondido, revision 5290885 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5290885
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Puerto Escondido
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No US or UK consulate in town; the US has a consular agency in Oaxaca city and an embassy in Mexico City. Check your own country's list.
Carry small peso notes for colectivos, taxis and beach vendors.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/puerto-escondido). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.