BEST BEACH TOWN IN ALL OF MEXICO!!
It sure helps that they…read morehave the best beach in Mexico, but even apart from the beach, this is a hip little town. Beautiful, natural ambience with a laid back surfing vibe. In July 2009 the state congress declared Puerto Escondido to be a city, with a population of 20,178. This former sleepy fishing village in the San Pedro Mixtepec District is growing up, though the remote location keeps development in check. Oaxaca is basically a rural state, and what a cool name. So Mexican-exotic with an "X" in the name. Like Xel-ha in Riviera Maya. Puerto Escondido ("Hidden port") is a cool name too, sounding mysterious. Here at the bottom of Mexico, the coast runs from east to west.
The cobbled main street of El Adoquin (the cobbles) is the center of activity. Open to vehicles during the day, it becomes a "walking street" at night where people party till late. Nearby is the National Park Lagoon of Chacahua, with swamps, crocodiles, iguanas and exotic birds from the dense jungle of the mountain range. They grow good coffee in the mountains.
The area around Puerto Escondido had been inhabited by indigenous peoples for centuries, but no towns of any size were established in the area. The bay was known as Bahia de la Escondida (Bay of the Hidden Woman). Legend has it that the pirate Andrés Drake, brother of Sir Francis Drake, anchored his ship in the bay to hide from pursuit. A few weeks prior they had captured a local native Mixtec woman and held her captive on their ship. The woman escaped and swam to shore here and disappeared into the jungle. They never found her after many searches over years, and the pirates called her "La Escondida" (the hidden one). This bay then became known as the Bahía de la Escondida, and the name later changed to Puerto Escondido.
Playa Principal is the town's small central beach where boats park. Nice to swim.
Playa Zicatela is considered one of the world's top surfing beaches (see separate review). This is the best beach in all of Mexico, and known as the "Mexican Pipeline" from the similar waves to the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Zicatela has huge, powerful swells of hollow tubes. In August, Puerto Escondido hosts the World Masters Championships, and the MexPipe Challenge is here also. In November, there is an international surfing tournament during the annual Fiestas de Noviembre. The waves here are consistently good. Playa Zicatela was the first public beach in Mexico to initiate volunteer lifeguard services. The rip currents are wicked. There was no lifeguard when I got sucked out, and I had to do the old-fashioned save-yourself method back to shore.LOL
Playa Bacocha on the west end is a great beach to walk. Its long stretch of beach is often deserted, and there are some interesting rock formations that look like swirls of water turned to stone. Sometimes dangerous to swim.
Playa Carrizalillo has calm, emerald-green waters which make this beach the best choice for swimmers and snorkelers. Carrizalillo sits in a small cove with 100-foot cliffs as a backdrop. There is no road here, but you can access it by 150 stone steps from the Rinconada section of town, or come by tour boat or water taxi from the town's central beach, Playa Principal. Snorkelers will see large schools of reef fish, sea cucumbers, lobsters and other marine life.
Puerto Angelito beach used to be informally clothing-optional, but I doubt it is that anymore.
Certain people seek out a place like this. In 1986 at the Playa Principal campground I met a Canadian couple who had sold everything to live here indefinitely in an RV on the beach. That's what this place might do to you. You just never want to leave.
