First off, let’s review let’s review a few of the main places to spent time in Puerto Escondido: Playa Carizalillo: Our favorite beach and the best beach for families in Oaxaca. While this isn’t the ideal time of year for relaxing on the beach, the waves are the best in July and August for experienced surfers. Once there, learn about the life cycle of the sea turtles and efforts of the conservation camp from your guide. A hip and romantic (depending on who you're with) beach bar/restaurant good for nocturnal drinks with a Zicatela crowd either propping up the bar or relaxing post-surf on canopied loungers on the sand. The boat seated about 15 people and came with life jackets. Help baby sea turtles reach the sea for the first time on a visit to a sea turtle sanctuary outside of Puerto Escondido. We must have seen 20 turtles including a few that were engaged in the act of reproducing which we were told goes on for 3 hours?? Swim and enjoy free time at the pools before getting dropped off back at your Puerto Escondido hotel. It's not at all pretentious. It is actually a really neat experience that they take very seriously. The waterfall is about an hour and a half drive from Puerto Escondido but it is beautiful and makes for a fun day trip! Just be sure not to wear your nicest clothes as your likely to get dirty! When you think of a beach-side town, horseback riding probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, am I right? The waves can be quite large and on the small boat, it is easy to get a bit seasick. We stayed at a lovely place called Casa Losodeli, and to be completely honest, it was one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at. Fun Things to Do in Puerto Escondido with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. You can book with random salespeople who walk the beaches in Puerto Escondido but they will try to charge you as much as possible. We went out one Friday night and ended up starting in a small bar with amazing live music, then heading to Barfly, and then heading to an outdoors after party. And for only about $45 USD per person with a guarantee of seeing dolphins, you really can’t go wrong! Your email address will not be published. Every time you move the plankton shine, it is as if you’re swimming in a body of water filled with glitter! You can either just hire one of the guys at the beach (about 500 pesos for a 2-hour private lesson) or book a lesson online in advance that includes transport. This particular turtle release tour has incredible reviews and you are guaranteed to release AT LEAST one turtle! 100% of the proceeds go right back towards this project so it is a great cause! It is a very organized and well-run experience. But, oh the food! They travel in large packs and work together to trap (circle) their food (fish). From Puerto Escondido, set off on a drive to the quiet village of La Reforma. … We saw for ourselves that the people in Puerto Escondido like to party and we were happy we joined them (although the hangovers the next day weren’t overly enjoyable!). They were relaxed and reasonably priced. ). The wonders that abound Puerto Escondido are truly worth visiting at least once in your life. For those who are budget travelers, you’ll also find cheaper prices this time of year. 10 BEST Tours in Oaxaca - The Best Guided Experiences in Oaxaca City, 10 Best Cities in Latin America (That You Need to Check Out! Puerto Escondido was known for surfing long before it became a vacation paradise. Only a short 20-minute drive from Puerto Escondido is the Manialtepec Lagoon, a sanctuary for birds. Puerto Escondido is a small port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. You could start with the 'One Love taco' (a ceviche wrap with a mango-and-habanero-chili... Talk about simple. This particular tour visits La Reforma waterfall before also doing a turtle release in the evening – sounds like an ideal way to spend a day if you ask me! This is a lot more of an intimate experience as the public release at Bacocho Beach for only 100 pesos gets very busy (and there is the chance they will run out of turtles for everybody!) Occupying part of a rocky iguana habitat, this sand-floor garden hosts live bands and DJs, while an on-site food court offers gourmet burgers, tacos and Asian fare. However, you can’t really swim at the beach here because of the rough swells and it has no shade. So in all honesty, it wasn’t the most exciting tour for me here in Puerto Escondido. this catamaran tour from Puerto Escondido. The open dining space in the rising... Small is beautiful at Carrizalillo, set in a sheltered cove west of the center that's reached by a stairway of 157 steps. I visited in October and while it rained most days, the rain only came for about an hour or two in the evenings so it didn’t disturb my trip at all. Discover the best attractions in Puerto Escondido, Mexico including Playa Zicatela, Playa Carrizalillo, Laguna de Manialtepec. The best option, in my opinion, would be to do this catamaran and snorkel trip out to Huatulco Bay. You will likely find us hiking, scuba diving, catching public transport, or just drinking beer at a hostel. And, I hope you love the town as much as I did! The best day trips from Puerto Escondido according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Oaxacan Coast Adventure (Ventanilla, Mazunte, Zipolite, & Puerto Angel) Mazunte, Zipolite, Ventanilla, beaches; Manialtepec Lagoon and Beach Break Day Trip from Puerto Escondido; Snorkelling Experience Alaburger inhabits a beach garden where its congenial owners have constructed an open kitchen under a thatched roof. The sheltered bay of Puerto Angelito has two smallish beaches with shallow, usually calm waters: the western Playa Angelito and the eastern Playa Manzanillo. Here, we stopped the boat and hopped in to see the glittery plankton! It is most easily reached by bus from the state capital city of Oaxaca, but also has a small airport that offers plenty of domestic flights from other places in Mexico such as Mexico City or the Yucatan Peninsula. Every day at 5 pm all you have to do is show up at the beach with 100 pesos and you’ll be able to set your own baby turtle free. It’s safe to say we had high expectations, but it’s also safe to say our expectations were exceeded! We were walking distance to Playa Carrizalillo, close to the market and local restaurants, and away from the busy streets but still only a 40 peso taxi to Playa Zicatela! The waterfall is massive and nothing short of picture-perfect. Hot Tip: If you ever get seasick or motion sickness it is likely you’ll get a bit woozy on this tour. There are also various lagoons around small islands that you can visit as well as a reptile sanctuary where you can see crocodiles! They also have several turtle egg hatcheries to help shade the eggs from the sun. But instead of riding along the ocean on the beach, most of the horse riding tours actual take you out to the lagoons and thermal waters. Okay, this might not really be a “thing to do” but to me, it is important to mention. The waves at Carrizalillo are good for beginner surfers, but also calm enough that this beach is perfect for those who just want to swim. It isn’t a surprise this beach-side Mexican town is quickly growing in popularity for vacationers from all over the world. And the best place to do so is right at beachfront restaurants. The best place to go for partying is the area of Zicatela. Just be sure to negotiate a good price and all inclusions! As you start to descent to the beach along the stone stairs the view is incredible! It is easily one of the most exciting things to do in Puerto Escondido! Then, once at the beach, there are tons of restaurants to eat at or just relax on lounge chairs under umbrellas. Expect many people not to speak English, small local al pastor taco stands and many smaller guest houses as opposed to massive skyscrapers and 5-star resorts. The evening trip includes round-trip transportation so you can reach the remote beach without the hassle of renting a car. Lots of boat anchor here but there is still a sectioned off area for swimmers only. … More. Although the steep staircase to get to the beach isn’t all that fun on the way up (quite the workout) it is totally worth it. 5 hours; Free Cancellation; From. You’ll also get very detailed instructions on how to properly release the turtle. The tour we did picked us up at our hotel at 8 pm. "Roberto is such a wonderful person and gave us such a beautiful adventure we even went out with him again on our last day in Puerto to soak up the sea, dolphins, and beauty of Puerto Escondido from the Ocean." Bask in some of the most breathtaking sights of the Oaxacan landscape on a journey into the coastal mountains. The main road that runs parallel with the beach offers a large selection of bars, night clubs, and restaurants. Puerto Escondido is located on Mexico’s southern pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca. Un service aérien régulier relie la ville de Mexico et Oaxaca à l'aéroport de Puerto Escondido (PXM). I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Obviously it largely depends on your group’s size on high expensive it is but expects to pay around 3,000 to 4,000 pesos for the smaller less professional boats thats seat up to 6 people and around $450 USD for a pro boat that can take 10 to 12. Sights, Landmarks & Activities in Puerto Escondido Sightseeing Tours Don't miss out on the must-sees of an area - join a sightseeing tour to catch the best. As the story goes: once upon a time, a beautiful and young woman was kidnapped by pirates. If I ever return to Puerto Escondido, I will stay at Casa Losodeli again, no questions asked. Excellent Euro-Mexican dishes with fresh local ingredients are served in this restaurant run by a Mexican-French couple. All the hotels in these areas come up in search under Puerto Escondido so use the map on Booking.com and select hotels in the area you want to stay. Playa Carrizalillo has a large selection of restaurants but I did find them to be a little overpriced. You can go on a day tour to Huatulco or take a local bus and spend a night or two. Unfortunately, we never landed the elusive Marlin but we did catch about 15 other fish which we divided up to the crew to take home to their families! From December to April is the dry season. All rights reserved. Upon arrival, embark on a hike that takes you along the river and through the verdant forest. Booking online gives you the security of a written description outlining what you’ll get as well as the ability to read reviews and leave your own! Yes, there is a massive gorgeous waterfall near Puerto Escondido. One of the local beaches, Playa Zicatela, is home to the well-known... Types: Surfing Location: Puerto Escondido, Mexico Horseback riding All along the beaches you will see an old man pulling along a row of horses. The dense jungle and rolling hills create the perfect scene for racing an ATV! Many people stay at Chacahua for a couple of nights to really relax and explore, but it is also possible to visit on a day trip from Puerto Escondido. On a tour from Puerto Escondido you will be swimming with the plankton in a lake rather than the ocean. Below are what I consider to be the absolute best things to do in Puerto Escondido (I’m sure you’ll love most of them!). Beautiful crystal-clear water means perfect conditions for snorkeling! For me, I swam with bioluminescent plankton in the ocean in Cambodia a couple of years ago. Just be aware, many of these restaurants close around 6 pm so it is best to hit them up for lunch or an early dinner! You can book your accommodation in Puerto Escondido here! There are also literally dozens of seafood restaurants to choose from at Playa Zicatela but again they can be a little pricey. This particular ATV tour comes highly rated and offers high-quality equipment and safety gear. In fact, many tourists stay here and never visit Puerto Escondido (what a shame!) If you are looking for a beach-side Mexico destination that is gorgeous, safe, offers tons to do, and still maintains authentic Mexican local culture at every turn – then Puerto Escondido is THE place for you! This is also the peak season. We are Dan and Bailey, just your typical thrill-seeking travelers! However, due to legal problems securing the necessary beachfront land in Puerto Escondido, by the 1980s Fonatur abandoned its plans for Puerto Escondido and set its sights on the Bahias de Huatulco. This is first on my list simply because I think it is likely the most popular activity in Puerto Escondido. It includes hotels and hostels in every budget to suit every traveler! Puerto Escondido propose tous ces attraits, en plus d'y ajouter la lagune de Manialtepec, où il est possible de faire du kayak, du bateau, de l'observation d'oiseau et de la nage dans des eaux phosphorescentes. It won’t rain during these months and the ocean is a little calmer which is better for those not wanting to surf. The state of Oaxaca is world-famous for food! The most popular sport fish you can catch the Blue Marlin (up to 14-feet long),  these fish are catch and release only (thank goodness!) $77.00. Distillery Tours in Puerto Escondido; Sights & Landmarks in Puerto Escondido. This project is run by the conservation organization. To be honest, I’ve been surfing quite a few times before but I’m still not an expert at all. The rainy season is from May to November. These ones you can keep and grill up for dinner that night if you so choose! When you’re out on the boat, expect to also see plenty of sea turtles. During low tide, you could head out to the rocks at Playa Carrizalillo, but you will want to be careful as the waves can be rough and rocks are sharp! Top Puerto Escondido Landmarks: See reviews and photos of sights to see in Puerto Escondido, Mexico on Tripadvisor. What to See in Puerto Escondido . The bay had been used as a port intermittently to ship coffee, but there was no permanent settlement due to the lack of potable water. This area has more of a “hippy vibe” but is still walking distance to the main area of Zicatela. Regardless, this beach is very popular with local visitors and is much cheaper than the other beaches! Top Things to Do in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca: See Tripadvisor's 26,169 traveller reviews and photos of 39 things to do when in Puerto Escondido. Hot tip: Book your tour online in advance in order to avoid being ripped off. Here, only a few miles from the shore it is possible to see hundreds of dolphins! Buy some sea sickness medicine from any pharmacy in town and take the medicine a good half hour before departing to help prevent this! We have reviews of the best places to see in Puerto Escondido. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. The zip lining in Puerto Escondido is really good and although the ziplines aren’t the longest I’ve done you’ll still have lots of fun! Playa Carrizalillo was my personal favorite beach around Puerto Escondido! The 6km-long Manialtepec Lagoon, beginning 14km west of Puerto Escondido along Hwy 200, is an essential spot for bird enthusiasts and a fascinating place for anyone interested in nature. Loved eating at the beach here because of the boats that use the bay must-do ” activity in Escondido... Horse—Even beginners can easily spend a day here alternating between swimming, eating, and surveys have constructed an kitchen. 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