After exploring the city for 6 weeks, I’ve compiled the ultimate Puerto Escondido itinerary customized to fit however many days you plan to be there!
Located on the Pacific Coast in Oaxaca state, Puerto Escondido is an epic destination for stunning beaches, adventure activities, wildlife, and world-class sunsets. Puerto Escondido is known for absorbing you in and making you never want to leave. I can attest to that, as I ended up staying for over 6 weeks!
In this Puerto Escondido Itinerary, you’ll find all the top things to do and some hidden gems I discovered from my 6 weeks there. By the end of this article, you’ll have a curated plan for enjoying every moment of your Puerto Escondido adventure, whether you’re staying for 3, 4, 5, or up to 10 days.
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The Perfect 3 Day Puerto Escondido Itinerary
Day 1: A Sun-Filled Beach Day and Sunset Picnics
Your first day in sunny Puerto Escondido is all about La Punta. La Punta is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Puerto Escondido, known for its dirt roads, small beach town vibes, and exceptional restaurants. Trendy restaurants and bars line the streets accompanied by boutiques and surf shops.
Breakfast at Malagua
Start by grabbing a delicious breakfast at Malagua. This was my favourite breakfast/brunch spot out of the dozens of restaurants I tried in La Punta. Their menu features fresh and local food with gourmet combinations and incredible flavors. My favourite menu items were the Spirulina oatmeal pancakes, their unique toasts made with homemade sourdough bread, and their variety of juices and smoothies. Aside from the incredible food, Malagua’s hip and earthy ambiance is spot on.
La Punta Zicatela Beach
After breakfast, take a few steps outside the restaurant onto La Punta Zicatela beach. This is one of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido, with wide open sandy spaces to relax in the sun.
Helpful Tip: Swimming in La Punta can be hit or miss and it is 100% recommended that only strong experienced swimmers head into the waves. All along the coast in Puerto Escondido, the currents are strong and the waves crash down hard on the beach.
Spend your day enjoying the sunny beach vibes and watching surfers in action.
- Relax on the beach and enjoy the sun.
- Eat lunch at the nearby Fish Shack – They have delicious fresh seafood tacos (the restaurant is a true shack with tables lining the sandy alley next to the beach). I recommend their coco-fried fish tacos!
- Explore the hidden beaches over La Punta’s rocky point – there is an unmaintained trail leading over the rocks South of La Punta beach. You can get some great views from the top and when the tide is low you’ll be able to find some hidden beaches and wonderful rock formations.
Sunset and Impromptu Picnic from La Punta
Puerto Escondido is famous for its incredible sunsets. Locals and tourists gather every evening on the beach to watch the spectacle. Keep an eye out for the many vendors who make their way down the beach selling snacks. Enjoy a spontaneous picnic while you watch the sunset. One of the nights, we were able to purchase sushi, cakes, and empanadas, making for an entire picnic spread.
Dinner and Drinks in the Hippest Part of Town
La Punta is home to the highest concentration of Puerto Escondido’s best restaurants.
For Dinner: Espacio Cometa
Espacio Cometa is a collection of food stands serving exceptional food in an even better atmosphere. The food options range from Thai, Pizza, Mexican Tacos, Sushi, Crepes, etc. and it’s all good. They have massive communal tables to share and mingle, with music playing.
Drinks: Savana Beach Bar
Savana overlooks La Punta Beach. It’s an open-air bar and one of the most popular spots to grab a drink in La Punta. It’s located right on the main street.
Day 2: Swimming with Wild Dolphins and Local Market Experience
For your second day in Puerto Escondido head out on a wild dolphin-watching boat trip. This is the number 1 thing to do in Puerto Escondido and the best experience I’ve had in all my travels.
The dolphin tours leave bright and early from Playa Angelito beach at 7am. Book the tour in advance with a local tour operator and they will include hotel pickup.
Check Out: Dolphin Watching Tour with Local Tour Operator
Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll head out into the Pacific Ocean in search of dolphin pods. Once you find them, watch as they race in front of the boat, jumping and spinning out of the water. We saw hundreds of dolphins on this single boat tour alone. The best part? You’ll likely have a chance to jump into the ocean and swim around with the wild dolphins! Keep in mind, conditions might impact this (on my tour there were too many jellyfish in the area).
Many of the dolphin watching tours also incorporate whale watching at the end, where you’ll have a chance to spot humpback whales (the most common), blue whales, and/or gray whales.
After the tour, spend some time relaxing on Playa Angelito and take a dip in the water to cool off.
Lunch at Cocofam
Head into Centro to grab lunch at Cocofam. This was one of my top 3 restaurants I loved going to in Puerto Escondido. Their restaurant is small and located inside a local family’s home. Their food is vegetarian and completely fresh, but trust me on this, you do not need meat because the flavours in their food are out of this world. My friends and I were astonished by the amount of flavour in these purely vegetarian dishes. You also have to try their agua fresca, it is amazing.
Mercado Benito Juarez
In the late afternoon, head to the Mercado Benito Juarez to experience authentic local culture. This market is the biggest in Puerto with vendors selling everything from fresh produce and meats to souvenirs and food stands to sample local treats. If you dare, try the popular local snack, chapulines, which are roasted and salted grasshoppers.
Sunset hike at Mirador Las Tortuga
Watching the sunset over the ocean is a must for each night you are in Puerto Escondido. For tonight’s sunset, enjoy the views from Mirador Las Tortuga. It is a short hike along the cliffside to a fantastic viewpoint over the ocean and coastline. The trail can be a little steep and sandy in moments so make sure to bring proper shoes.
Day 3: Playa Carrizallilo and Snorkelling With Sea Turtles
For your third day in Puerto Escondido, enjoy a delicious breakfast at Cafe Nopal. The cafe is in the Renconada part of town right near your beach destination for the day. The cafe is lowkey with a cute upper patio and amazing smoothies. If you’re a fan of sweet breakfasts, they serve the best French toast of all time.
Playa Carrizalillo Beach Day
After breakfast, spend the day at my favourite beach in Puerto Escondido. Playa Carrizalillo is the most scenic beach with beautiful yellow sand tucked into a small bay. There are stairs to get down to the beach providing a fantastic view from the top as you descend. Carrizalillo is the best beach for swimming with calmer waters. Lounge chairs and restaurants line the back of the beach. You can rent a beach lounger for about 200 pesos.
- Grab a cold “Coco” – Drink the juice directly from the freshly cracked coconut and when you’re finished, they’ll chop up the coconut flesh for you to eat.
- Snorkel to spot sea turtles – Carrizalillo is one of the best spots in Puerto Escondido to spot wild sea turtles and other marine life. You can purchase snorkel kits for cheap (300 – 400 pesos) at the large supermarket in town (Chedraui).
* Alternatively, you could book a guided snorkeling tour that takes you all around the nearby Huatulco bays on a catamaran.
- Take a surf lesson on the beach – there are some surf instructors and shops along the beach where you can rent a board or book a last-minute lesson.
- Rent a lounge chair to relax with drinks.
Dinner with the Best Sunset View at Espadín Restaurante
Espadin Restaurante offers the best views over Playa Carrizalillo for sunset. The open-air restaurant is perched atop the cliffs on one side of the bay with a large patio overlooking the beach, the coastline, and the vast ocean.
The food is absolutely divine. They offer higher-end food options but there are still affordable options available too. The fresh seafood is the way to go and their passion fruit cheesecake dessert blew me away.
4 – 7 Day Puerto Escondido Itinerary:
If you are looking for a 4 – 7 day Puerto Escondido itinerary, simply add each of the extra days to the 3 day itinerary.
Day 4: Bacocho Beach and the Puerto Escondido Turtle Release Experience
For the fourth day of your Puerto Escondido itinerary, visit Bococho Beach. Playa Bacocho features a seemingly endless strip of white sand stretching down the coast. The water is accessible to strong swimmers and with such a long beach, there is always tons of space to spread out.
To the far left of the beach (when facing out towards the ocean), you’ll find Beach Club Bacocho. They offer day passes where you can access beach lounge beds, a swimming pool, hot tubs, bars, table tennis, and two restaurants.
Baby Turtle Release
At 5 pm every night on Playa Bacocho, you can pay to participate in a baby turtle release. Release your own tiny sea turtle (freshly hatched) wiggle its way into the ocean waves. The turtle release is run by Vive Mar, a non-profit that has been working to protect and conserve endangered turtles since 2011. You’ll wait in line for the briefing and then receive a newborn turtle in a coconut cup to release in the sand. It is one of the top things to do in Puerto Escondido.
Day 5: Surf Lessons and Swimming in Bioluminescence
You’ll quickly notice that surf culture is HUGE in Puerto Escondido. Everybody talks about it and you’ll see surfers driving around with surfboards on the back of their motorbikes. As a result, participating in a surf lesson is one of the top things to do in Puerto Escondido.
There are numerous surf shops to choose from that work with any level of surf experience (even the most beginner surfers). You’ll be paired one-on-one with a local instructor who will bring you out and make your dreams of successfully standing and riding the wave into shore a reality. The surf lessons take place either at Carrizalillo or La Punta, depending on the day’s conditions.
I highly recommend booking with Javier at his surf school called Ponte Chingone. I surfed 2x per week for 6 weeks with Javier and his son Justin, and they made me feel like an absolute champion.
Smoothie Bowl in La Punta
Cool off after your surf lesson with an elaborate smoothie bowl from Karma Bowls in La Punta. They have a large variety of delicious flavours and toppings and offer lunch options as well.
Experience Magic on a Bioluminescence Tour
In the evening, experience the magic of swimming with the glowing bioluminescent plankton. Only occurring in a few places in the world, bioluminescence forms with only the right mix of salt and freshwater. And it happens to be found in a lagoon 20 minutes outside of Puerto Escondido. Tours arrive at the lagoon in complete darkness and learn about the local ecosystem and the plankton that cause this phenomenon. You’ll get on a boat that takes you further into the lagoon where you can swim in the water and watch the water glow all around you.
You can find the best bioluminescent tour here: Bioluminescent Tour From Puerto Escondido
Day 6: Watch Expert Surfers at Playa Zicatela and Visit Hidden Gem Hot Springs
On day six of your Puerto Escondido itinerary, visit Playa Zicatela to watch the expert surfers riding one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Zicatela is home to the Mexican pipeline, a famous wave worldwide. The wave itself is considered only accessible to very experienced surfers because of how the wave crashes so hard close into the shallow waters on the shore. The beach is completely off-limits to swimmers because there are powerful rip currents and the waves are too powerful. That’s what makes watching the surfers at Zicatela that much more exciting.
Yoga Class with the Ocean as Your Background Noise
After watching the surfers, walk up the block to Spirulina for a relaxing yoga class. The studio is located above one of the best restaurants for fresh healthy food and fantastic freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. Their yoga classes are relaxing and fun with the sound of waves crashing in the background. Grab lunch at this open-air restaurant after the class. I recommend the breaded chicken sandwich, made with so many fresh veggies and delicious chipotle mayo sauce.
Horse Back Riding to Hot Springs
About 30 minutes outside of Puerto Escondido in the town of San Jose Manialtepec, you can find some hidden gem hot springs. I was in Puerto for the one of hottest months of the year (April) so opted not to go, but my friends who went were raving about how great they were. You can take a quick taxi to the town and then local guides will be available to bring you there on horseback. The horseback ride is about 1 hour, crossing rivers and meandering through forest coverage.
There are about 7 pools ranging in size, depth, and temperature. You can lay in the beautiful warm water and enjoy the sounds of the tropical forest around you.
Dinner on the Beach
Enjoy dinner on the beach tonight at La Mariinera. The restaurant tables and lounge chairs are directly on the sandy beach with beautiful string lights and palm trees around you. The food is also fantastic. I recommend trying the Tostadas. Get there an hour before sunset to enjoy your meal as the sky illuminates with colour.
A Night Out at Mar Y Wana or Cactus
Puerto Escondido is known for its wild nightlife scene with dancing lasting into the early hours of the morning. The two most popular spots for a night out are Cactus and Mar y Wana. Mar y Wana plays reggaeton music which is incredibly fun to dance to. It is an outdoor bar with a DJ in the middle of the dance floor. Cactus has a sand dance floor right off the beach and plays more electronic music.
Day 7: Playa Coral, Surfskating, and Salsa Dance Class
Soak up some sun at your favourite Puerto Escondido beach in the morning. If you are eager to try another new beach, you can venture to Playa Coral for a change of scenery. Playa Coral is a nice sandy beach with an abandoned waterpark. Palm trees line the beach and the water is relatively gentle for swimming. To get there you need to enter and pay a small 50 peso toll through Hotel Villa Mexicana and walk down the steep walkway to the beach. This was my least favourite of the beaches in Puerto Escondido, however, it is quieter due to not being as popular.
Surfskate Society
In the afternoon, dive into the world of surf skating—a popular activity in Puerto Escondido that combines the thrill of skateboarding with the fluid movement of surfing. Surfskateboards are designed to mimic the movements and sensations of surfing, making it quite popular in the surfing community.
Join a session with the Surf Skate Society run by local skaters. They create a welcoming environment for seasoned skateboarders or complete beginners and aim to add a real community aspect to the lessons. It is a great way to try a unique activity in a relaxed, social setting.
Salsa or Bachata Dance Class
Salsa and bachata dancing are a big part of Mexican and Latin cultures. It is a fast-moving and fun form of dancing and you can take classes to learn it in Puerto Escondido. Salsa and bachata classes are incredibly popular amongst expats living in Puerto Escondido, with numerous schools and socials throughout the city. I highly recommend booking a dance class with Timba Na’ma to enjoy a night of learning something new. You just show up to one of the scheduled classes and pay 250 peso cash at the end.
10 Day Puerto Escondido Itinerary
If you are planning a 10 day Puerto Escondido itinerary, an overnight trip to Chacahua is a must!
Day 8: Journey to Chacahua
Chacahua is a sleepy island beach town with pristine natural beauty. Located in Chacahua National Park, the town is magically placed between bright blue ocean waves and green jungles and mangroves. To get there, you take a boat through the mangrove forests spotting graceful birds and crocodiles. It is a place where people sleep overnight in hammocks and surf the morning tides.
How to Get to Chacahua
Getting to Chacahua from Puerto Escondido requires multiple steps. You’ll first need to get to El Zapotalito, which is about 1 hour drive from Puerto Escondido.
The Easiest/Quickest Route – 1 Step: Take a taxi directly from Puerto for about 1200 pesos. Divided amongst a group, this can be a relatively affordable option too. We crammed 5 of us into the taxi making it that much cheaper.
The Cheapest Route – 3 Steps: Get to Terminal Tur Bus station in Puerto Escondido either by walking, colectivo, or short taxi. Then take a colectivo mini-bus towards Chacahua. They depart every 15 – 30 minutes and you buy your ticket directly from the bus driver. Simply ask for “El Zapotalito.” The ride costs 80 pesos and takes 1 hour.
From there, the driver will drop you off at the intersection where the road to Zapotalito branches off. It’s next to a restaurant called La Bamba. Cross the road to the taxi stand and grab a 10-minute taxi ride to El Zapotalito for about 25 pesos per person.
Once you arrive in El Zapotalito, you’ll have two more options for getting to Chacahua.
The Easiest/Quickest Route – 1 Step: Take a direct boat to Chacahua, where they will drop you off on the beach. This costs 300 pesos per person and they’ll wait until the colectivo boat fills before departing. If you are with a group you can also negotiate for a private boat to depart right away. Definitely barter it down if you choose this option. This boat ride is about 45 minutes and brings you through the mangroves to spot crocodiles and birds.
The Cheapest Route – 2 Steps: Take the indirect boat from “Lanchas Colectivas” bringing you through some of the mangrove forest to a dock. There you’ll depart and catch one final 45 minute colectivo to Chacahua. The boat ride costs 50 pesos and the colectivo truck ride costs 50 pesos. The truck will be waiting for you at the dock so you won’t have to worry about finding a station.
Where to Stay in Chacahua
Chacahua is one of those places where you can show up and find accommodation on the spot. If you want to book in advance in a comfortable place right on the beach with surf lessons, I recommend Surf House.
If you are looking for a cheaper and more adventurous option, you can pay just 50 pesos to sleep overnight on the beach in a hammock. This is what I did for the 3 nights I stayed in Chacahua and it’s one of my favourite travel memories.
Day 9: A Full-Day of Relaxing in Chacahua
For your full day in Chacachua, relax. That is what Chacahua is all about. If you are eager for activities:
- Surfing – Surfing in Chacahua is quite different from surfing in Puerto Escondido. You can book lessons with the many local surf schools or rent a board to go independently.
- Swim in the lagoon.
- Watch surfers on the pier – This is also a great photo spot looking back over the beach town.
- Relax in a hammock – There are hammocks on the beach everywhere in Chacahua.
- Take a walk around the small town.
- Watch the sunset from the incredible rock arch.*
* If you do one thing on this list, head over to the rock arch to watch the sunset. Take a quick ride across the lagoon for just 20 pesos per person and then head right down the road until you come across a clear path on your left. Take that path to the hidden beach on the other side of the mountain. There you’ll find a massive stone arch and rock formations and the best sunset you’ll see in your life.
Day 10: Return to Puerto Escondido and Final Beach Moments
Enjoy your final hours and then make your way back to Puerto Escondido on your route of choice. If you are taking the colectivo back to the cheaper boat, you can ask the locals and they’ll direct you to the multiple stops in town.
Enjoy your final hours in Puerto Escondido by heading to the beach and soaking up your last spectacular sunset.
How to Get to Puerto Escondido
The best way to get to Puerto Escondido is to fly into Mexico City and then take a direct flight from there to Puerto Escondido. There is a small airport in Puerto Escondido.
If you are flying into Oaxaca city for some reason, you can take a comfortable ADO bus or a Colectivo with Linear Uniadas for 300 pesos. The ride takes 3 hours direct.
How to Get Around Puerto Escondido
The best way to get around Puerto Escondido is to rent a scooter. Puerto Escondido is not overly massive but it is spread out along the coastline making it not very walkable. I rented a scooter for the entirety of my time in Puerto and not only was it so easy and convenient to get around, it was also a lot of fun. You don’t need any experience to drive one, I had literally 0 and it was really quick to learn.
Alternatively, you could rely on the colectivos that run up and down the main road to get around town. They only cost 10 – 20 pesos per ride. You don’t need to head to any specific stops, although major intersections are easiest. You flag the colectivo down when you see one approaching in the direction you want to go. Take the ones that are blue and white and have the big cover over the back. With this option, you’ll still need to do a bit of walking from the main road to where you are going.
The final option is to hire a rental car. I don’t recommend this option because getting into some areas of Puerto might be tight, like La Punta for example. If you’re a confident driver this could be a good option though.
When to Visit Puerto Escondido
The best time to visit Puerto Escondido is from November – March during the high season. The weather is dry and the temperatures are warm and comfortable. April is also a good time to visit because the rainy season hasn’t started yet, however April and May are the hottest months of the year and can be quite overwhelming. Rainy seasons runs from May – October.
Plan Your Trip to Bacalar – Logistical Tips:
📱 Stay Connected Without Expensive Roaming Fees
I never travel without an E-Sim now. Stay connected at a fraction of the price of roaming fees, and my favourite part, you can simply down the E-Sim to your phone and don’t have to switch SIM cards around. The service I always use is Airola.
🚍 Book Your Buses in Mexico
The local bus websites are often only in Spanish and are very glitchy. I used Busbud to book all my bus tickets in Mexico because they actually offered the exact same rates as buying them in person with the added bonus of your tickets being secured in advance.
🏠 Book Your Accommodation
Hostelworld is the best place to book hostels, whether you are staying in a dorm or a private room. They offer great environments to meet people and many will also offer activities. If you prefer hotels, Booking.com is great for finding the cheapest rates.
🏄♀️ Book Your Tours and Excursions
The best search tool I use to book tours in Mexico is Viator. It has the largest selection of tours with local operators and offers flexible cancellation.
Final Thoughts on the Perfect Puerto Escondido Itinerary
Puerto Escondido is one of my favourite destinations in the world and I’m sure you are going to love it too. This vibrant place offers the best blend of sun-filled days, the best beaches, and unforgettable bucket-list experiences. From some of the world’s most stunning beaches like Playa Carrizalillo and La Punta Zicatela to thrilling encounters with wild dolphins and baby sea turtles, you’ll want to stay forever. Equipped with this epic Puerto Escondido itinerary, you are sure to have a well-balanced vacation there. Happy adventuring!
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