Puerto
Escondido
by Bill & Dorothy Bell
Playa Principal
Drive 6 hours South of
Acapulco on Highway 200 to one of our very favorite beach spots in the world
– Puerto Escondido. “Puerto” is a laid back resort community and unlike any
of its big city sisters.
Bill
tries his hand surfing the Mexican Pipeline
There are no golden
Arches; Kentucky fried anything, or Whoppers. It has a more Mex-European
feel to it, with many Italian restaurants and other international
influences. No wonder.
As the movie “Night of the Iguana” put Puerto
Vallarta on the map, the Italian film “Puerto Escondido” put this former
shipping village on the international radar screen.
Chairs lined up on Playa Principal
Puerto
Escondido or hidden port is a series of coves and bays stretching along the
Pacific Ocean. Each beach, depending on the geographical setting has
developed a community feel and responding services. Playa Zicatela “the
Mexican Pipeline,” is one of the world’s best surfing beaches and hosts an
International Surfing Competition annually in November. This area attracts
young surfers and backpackers from throughout the globe. Services include
surf shops, hammock rentals, coffee shops, tattoo and body piercing parlor.
The next beach north is
Playa Principal. The waves strike at a significantly different angle, are
much calmer and suitable for boogie boarding, family swims and boating.
Playa Principal
A small cove north is
the twin beaches of Playa Manzanilla and Puerto Angelito. These are beaches are protected
waters that make boating king. There are many Palapa style restaurants that
serve up the catch of the day, just minutes off the hook.
Again North, Playa Carrazilillo offers a romantic corner of
beach accessible by boat or by the steep 167 step stairway leading down to
the jade-green waters. Restaurants serve up great portions of beer, lobster
and fish.
Puerto
Escondido once offered very good RV services but the main RV Park has closed
and is now selling condo and home lots. The remaining RV parking is poor
quality and unsuitable for larger rigs. Don’t despair. There is plenty of
apartments and condos available in the 4
-5000 peso a month category that
will meet your budget.
Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico
Bill Bell Photography
Puerto Escondido (literally: "Hidden Port") is a port city and tourist center
in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec
Distrito 22 in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It had a population of 20,178
as of the 2005 census.
The town was established more than a century ago as a fishing village with a
small port for shipping coffee. although the area has been inhabited by
indigenous populations for centuries. It later became a popular destination
after Federal Highway 200 was built along the country's Pacific Ocean coast
during the 1960s. The primary attractions are the beautiful beaches and
championship surfing.
It attracts thousands of surfing enthusiasts annually. Puerto Escondido is also
an extremely popular destination for backpackers from all over the world and
used to be a quite famous hippie getaway.
The port does continue to support commercial fishing activity.
Click on Photographs to view in larger format
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico
Photography by Bill and Dot Bell
Click on photograph to view in larger format
Information about Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Puerto Escondido ideally located on the Emerald Coast of Oaxaca, just 324 km south of the city of Oaxaca and 110 km west of Huatulco, is a paradisiacal spot for both the solitary traveler and the adventurous family. Its jade green waters that have earned it the nickname of the Emerald Coast, together with its impressive waves, have attracted the notice of local and foreign visitors alike.
Puerto Escondido beaches, which have varying types of sand, waves and rocky slopes, extend for 500 m. Playa Principal is a calm inlet with umbrellas and changing rooms which is extremely popular among Mexican tourists. Marineros is the ideal beach for novice surfers while Zicatela, with its rough waves, is only recommended for experts. Barra de Colotepec is a turtle zone, although you can also surf there. Bacocho is an open beach with gentle slopes and waves that is ideal for diving, while Playa Embarcadero has calm waves suitable for skiing and sailing. Carrizalillo, an almost closed bay, is perfect for swimming and boat trips.
Puerto Escondido has comfortable hotels with tennis courts, Jacuzzi, and convention halls, a crafts market and restaurants specializing in fish and seafood. Puerto Escondido is the perfect blend of local village and tourist destination. Whether you want to surf or lounge, fish or shop, eat or dance, Puerto Escondido has it all.
Puerto Escondido beaches
Puerto Escondido boasts several remarkable natural attractions, because of its scenic beauty and extraordinary bays with clear waters and pleasant tropical climate. Its beaches have fine, white sand, offering visitors privacy and tranquility as well as a range of water sports.
Ecotourism in Puerto Escondido
The Oaxacan coast has been sacred for a long time, particularly so for the endangered species that find refuge in Laguna de Chacahua. On these days the tourists can enjoy the nature in Puerto Escondido by walking the surrounding natural areas or riding in bicycle and please yourself with great sceneries. Water sports in Puerto Escondido
Water skiing, surfing and parachuting are some of the activities available in Puerto Escondido. Parachuting facilities are available at Playa de Zicatela and Bacocho beach in Puerto Escondido as well as Water skiing and sailing classes are available in Playa Embarcadero. Puerto Angelito, a small bay next to Puerto Escondido, is a sort of beautiful natural pool, whose closed shape and transparent waters make it ideal for gentle swimming. Professional swimmers looking for more of a challenge should head for the beaches. Snorkel & scuba at Puerto Escondido
One of the best places for diving in Puerto Escondido is the rocks off Carrizalillo. There is also a place near Puerto Angel, 70 km away from Puerto Escondido known as Playa del Amor, whose crystal-clear waters are inhabited by magnificent fish such as red snapper, tuna and black skipjack. Diving classes are available in Bacocho. Surfing in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is said to be a surfer’s paradise and the 4 m high waves on the Zicatela beach pose a challenge to even the most advanced surfers. People arrive from around the world to participate in the phenomenal Mexican Pipeline, a consistent and powerful stretch of waves perfect for all wave riders. The best time to surf in Puerto Escondido is in the summer, when the waves are big and fast. Less experienced surfers should try Marinero, where you’ll have a great time. Puerto Escondido fishing
Though surfing put Puerto on the international map, it is by no means the sole local focal point. Fishing is the life blood of the town. Deep sea commercial boats, small family canoes, and every size and shape of boat in between can be seen on the horizon as they bring in tuna, mahi mahi, snapper, jack, marlin, and hundreds of other types of fish. Many of the local boats welcome traveling fishermen and are available for chartered trips to their favorite fishing spots. The catch of the day can be either sold on the beach or taken to a beach restaurant and grilled to your specifications. Marine tours in Puerto Escondido
Boats aren't limited to fishing trips. The coast of Puerto Escondido and the surrounding area alternates between long, sandy beaches and small, intimate coves. Traveling by boat is an easy way to explore the coastline. Also mixed in with the beaches and coves are fresh water lagoons, home to many different birds and fish. Entire days can be spent gliding through the sea, stopping for a snack of freshly steamed lobsters at one cove and to study the sea turtles at another. Snorkel and scuba gear can be difficult to find in the area, but it is worth the effort. The coves host any number of submerged rock formations and coral reefs; it is an ideal setting for the inquisitive swimmer. Horseback riding in Puerto Escondido
There are a number of places on Playa de Zicatela where horses are available for hire for riding across the sand where you will enjoy a great day right on the beach or a Puerto Escondido’s dazzling sunsets. Arts and crafts in Puerto Escondido
Oaxaca boasts the richest and most beautiful variety of handicrafts in the country, such as leather ware, tin work, ceramics, stone work and jewelry. Some of the most popular items include cotton or woolen textiles and of course the black pottery objects that are typical of Oaxaca and can be found on small shops in the village and some hotels of Puerto Escondido. Where to eat
In either the thatched beach shelters overlooking the sea or the restaurants in the hotels or along Puerto Escondido’s tourist avenue known as Alfredo Pérez Gasca, visitors will be able to savor the local fish and seafood-based cuisine or sample a variety of traditional Oaxacan tamales and further more. Museums
The Living Museum of Sea Turtles is located on Mazunte Beach. Designed to protect sea turtles and save them from extinction, it displays all the kinds of sea turtles that inhabit Mexico’s shores. Festivals
Several festivities are held throughout the year in all the regions and communities of Oaxaca, with many of the traditions showing signs of syncretism resulting from over 500 years of cultural fusion.
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