Have you got your sights on Puerto Escondido and eyeing up what activities you shouldn’t miss out on? Here’s a well-thought out list of the 11 best things to do in Puerto Escondido, a cool surfer town on the Oaxacan coast.
You can have any kind of holiday in Puerto. Wanna spend all day in the water? Great, there are shit tons of big waves. A lazy beach holiday? The best. I’m talking vast, wild beaches as well as cute clear-water coves. Fancy a few big nights out? I’ve got you covered. Want something more adventurous? There’s tons of exciting activities that won’t break the bank.
1. Catch the worlds best sunset
You’re kinda spoilt for sunset spots in Puerto. Buuut if you held a gun to my head and forced me to choose one, I’d say Mirador las Tortugas. Closely followed by Playa Bacocho and La Punta Zicatela joint second.
A dreamy evening is to grab a few beers and head down to the Mirador with a speaker, blanket and new friends. Make sure you stay until at least 30 minutes after the sun has gone down because that’s when the sky is the most beaut. Then, walk approx five minutes to Oaxaca Grill, ready to eat the best burger of your life. You can thank me later.
Check out a more detailed guide to the best sunset spots in Puerto Escondido here.
2. Take surf lessons at Playa Carrizalillo
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Puerto is the place to surf in Mexico. Known for the Mexican pipeline among the surfing community, you can expect to see swells of up to 10ft in the peak surfing season between April – September.
So, unless you’re an experienced surfer, Playa Carrizalillo is the perfect starter spot with its small(er) waves and light swell. Expect to pay around 500 MXN for an hour’s lesson including gear hire.
Tip: be sure to check up on swell in advance before you book your lesson because I’ve seen people pay for lessons and have little/no waves.
3. Watch a film at an outdoor open air theatre on the beach
Every Wednesday, just after sunset (around 7 pm), Villa Sol Beach Club hosts a FREE movie night right on the sand.
I’d say head down to the beach early to participate in the turtle release, enjoy the sunset and then watch a movie under the stars. A pretty dreamy evening I’d say!
4. Grab Tacos at Pepe's Fish Tacos
Pepe’s Fish Tacos are a strong contender for the well-known Fish Shack in La Punta, but I’ll say it here and now. I think Pepe’s are better. Albeit the location is very rustic and basically in a carpark, you’ll not have tasted anything like Pepe’s Hawaiian-inspired coconut-crusted fish and shrimp tacos. Meeting Pepe will make your trip to this part of town worth it.
Hot tip: If you ask him personally, he will host a cooking class for you.
Hungry? Here are my favourite cheap eats in Puerto Escondido!
5. Take a Trip to Mercado Benito Juarez
This is as local as you’re going to get in Puerto. Located in Centro, you’ll find very few English speakers at Mercado Benito Juarez. The best time to head there is in the morning when the market is in full frenzy.
Hot tip: If you’re a meat eater, head across the road from the market to Pollito Ranchero for half a chicken, two sides and sauce for MXN 80. Bargain. Pop around the corner for MXN 10 tortillas, and you’re good to head to the beach.
6. Release Turtles at Playa Bacocho
Every day just before sunset, head down to Playa Bacacho to release baby turtles into the sea. It’ll cost you MXN 100 but all proceeds go to conservation projects.
7. Go for A Sunrise Jog or Swim at Playa Bacocho
Head down to Playa Bacocho for a beautiful sunrise and you’ll find many people jogging/walking their dogs along the wild, unspoiled and stretched-out beach.
For an early morning breakfast, El Cafecito is your best bet for an authentic Mexican breakfast experience. They open at 6 am every morning and serve refill coffee and chilaquiles. Stunning.
8. Travel Off-the-Beaten Track to La Reforma Waterfall
I don’t use the term “off-the-beaten-track” lightly, but La Reforma Waterfall really is off the tourist trail. There’s no public transport to the waterfall, so you’ll have to take a scooter.
It’s a long ride, but it’s worth it. Head out of Puerto on the 131 Road towards San Pedro Mixtepec. Just before you reach the town, turn off the tarmacked road, and then the fun really starts.
As soon as you turn, the road will get bumpy, and to be honest, it only gets worse! It’s very sandy in places and not for the completely inexperienced rider. If you need a break, you can stop halfway at the little village, El Pescadito.
After leaving the main road, it’ll take you about an hour and a bit to finally reach the waterfall. A lovely man charges MXN10 to enter the waterfall, looks after your scooter, and sells some cold drinks. But beware—there’s nothing else here, so you have to come equipped with the food and drinks you need for the day.
I don’t want to spoil it with too many pictures. So, I’ve included one below so as not to spoil the beauty of it for you. But I promise, it’s one of the most remote and wild waterfalls I’ve ever been to.
9. Take a Dolphin and Turtle Watching Tour
It’s on the tourist list, but it’s hella worth it. Embark on a sunrise tour with local fishermen who know the best location to spot hundreds of dolphins swimming together along the coastline. The boat is bumpy, and you may feel a little seasick, but it’s worth it. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to see manta rays, turtles and whales too.
You can usually book a dolphin and turtle-watching tour with your hostel or hotel, expecting to pay around MXN 600 pp. Alternatively, go to Playa Angelito and barter with the fishermen selling all sorts of tours.
10. Skydive Over the Oaxacan Coast
Throw yourself off a plane 13,000 feet up, landing on Playa Zicatela. It’s the perfect chance to skydive in an insane location. The only company that offers this in Puerto Rico is Skydive Puerto Escondido, which is for only EUR 220, which I think is a bargain compared to other countries.
11. Take a Trip to Playa Tierra Blanca
Around a 30-minute ride from Puerto Escondido, you’ll find Playa Tierra Blanca, a completely wild and unruined beach. It’s an amazing spot for relaxing, surfing, windsurfing and bird spotting. You’re for sure guaranteed to have most of the beach to yourself. The beach is vast and has sand (no rocks to hurt your feet when you enter the water). I still have dreams about this place.
Hot tip: no need to take a picnic with you as there’s a little cabana on the beach serving food and coconuts.
If you follow this list, I promise you’ll have a truly insane time in one of the best destinations in the world (I’m not even exaggerating; you’ll see). Check out my other Puerto Escondido-related posts below!
