Introduction and Practical Information
Puerto Escondido has always been an interest of mine, because of the idea that it is low-key, full of hippies, and a great vibe all around.
We made the journey from Oaxaca City by bus, which is only about a 3 hour bus ride thanks to the newly build highway (Barranca Larga-Ventanilla) recently being completed. This was once a grueling 6-7 hour journey through intense roads which made this a heck of a journey, so with that being said, this city will soon become the next big Mexican destination for many reasons.
We based ourselves in Zicatela, which is the long, surf-battered stretch of beach that most people picture when they think of Puerto Escondido. This was a great trip and I overall highly recommend making the trek down here. We spent these three days eating well, exploring many of the beaches, and slowing down in the way that only a beach town can force you to do. No real agenda, no sites to check off. Just good food, warm water, and a great vibe that makes Oaxaca City feel hectic by comparison.
This isn’t a guide for surfers — there are plenty of those already. This is for anyone who wants to know what three days in Puerto Escondido actually feels like when you’re there to eat, relax, and take it all in.
The Itinerary
Day 1: The Bus from Oaxaca City, Many Beaches, and First Impressions
Morning: We headed to the ADO bus terminal in Oaxaca City to catch the bus to Puerto Escondido leaving at 7:10am, thanks to the new “Barranca Larga-Ventanilla” highway, this made a previously grueling 6-7 hour journey through the sierras to a quick and painless 3 hours. The bus ride was scenic, but nothing too exciting. Service can be spotty along the route so plan to bring a book, or download some content!
We arrived at around 10:15am, and decided to catch a taxi to our hotel to drop off the bags, so we can explore a tad bit lighter. The hotel we stayed at was Hotel Blater which is located right on Playa Zicatela. I highly recommend this hotel, but I’ll discuss more into this later.
Afterwards we decided to grab breakfast, so we took a short (and uphill walk) from the hotel to Mercado de Zicatela. This touristy market is clean, organized, and best of all it has great views from the back side of the market. This is the place to get a great view of the coast for a good price. There were many options to choose from but we ended up choosing Restaurante Aleli, which I can say I would recommend for a quick bite.
Afternoon: After breakfast, we took a collectivo to the centro and walked downhill for ~15 minutes to the first true beach of the trip, Playa Carrizalillo. This beach is busy, had waves, but some incredible surrounding views. There were nooks and crannies at every turn, with so many opportunities to take photos of the surrounding coastline and landscapes. We spent a few hours here doing just that.
Afterwards, we made the trek back up the stairs (yes there’s a lot of stairs to come back up on!) we made our way to Puerto Angelito and Playa Manzanillo. Note: these 2 beaches are connected by a short boardwalk, so absolutely take the time to see both if you can! The heat of the day really got to us at this point, so we decided to take a rest at one of the beachside restaurants for a cold beer.
Afterwards, we made our way back up the grueling stairs and made our way to the Mirador Un Sueño Posible for some great views of the surrounding coastline. Needless to say we were not disappointed. I should add here: If you have some, there are stairs to the left as you are leaving the mirador, I highly recommend taking the steps down, because it leads you to the shoreline, with very few people, fishermen, and the potential for great photos.
Evening: We made our way to Bahia Puerto Escondido and Playa Marinero for one of the few amazing sunsets we will experience here. We slowly made our way back to the hotel to check in, and dress up for dinner. We ate at La Cevicheria PXM which is essentially a small deck inside of Oaxaca Grill Zicatela, do not be fooled though, this is a great place to spend the evening.
Day 2: Sunrise, Playa Bacocho, and La Punta for Sunset
Morning: We woke up early to catch the sunrise on Playa Zicatela (rare for Puerto Escondido!). It was a beautiful site with the large waves crashing up, and the sun rising behind us. It really was a proud moment to be alive. Afterwards we go back to the hotel and get ready for the day.
Afterwards, we proceeded to breakfast. Folks, I can say this, I cannot recommend Tistal enough for an affordable spot with great food and a million dollar view. You get unlimited refills of café de olla so you can enjoy the amazing view for as long as you like. This is the life in Puerto Escondido guys, its a very special place ot spend a few days
Midday: After breakfast, we proceeded to check out a lesser known beach, called Playa Bacocho. It’s a bit far from your typical tourist beaches so plan to make the venture out her if you’re planning to explore it. It’s best ot take a taxi, as the colletivos do not come back here, and its a long walk from the main highway. Needless to say it was worth the trek. It’s a quiet, laid back beach with not many people around. We decided to chill out at a hut on the beach and grab a few beers and enjoy the view.
Late Afternoon: After a few hours relaxing here, we decided to head out to Punta Zicatela for sunset. It’s an easy collectivo from Zicatela and Centro if you’d like to save some money, which of course is what we opted to do, but a taxi would definitely save you some time. After walking from the costera to the Punta, time is of the essence for sunset (so plan to take extra time to get here!). We arrived just in time for sunset, and we did a quick hike to the Punta Zicatela Cove which I highly recommend doing if you’re up for it. It’s a quick climb up and back down to get here, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing this in flip flops or sandals, but I saw people doing it no problem. The sunset here was perfect, and getting photos in front of the cove is fantastic. There are many places around to take even more photos, so let your adventurous side wander here.
Night: After the sunset, we headed back to the main street of La Punta Zicatela. This is quite a hippie part of town, with the unpaved streets, the many hipster stores, bars, and cool restaurants on every turn. We ate at Alaburger for a good ‘ol fashion burger for dinner. The ambiance here was laid back, and communal, and the burger was solid.
Day 3: Mazunte Day Trip
Morning: Watch the pros at Playa Zicatela. The “Mexican Pipeline” is world-famous; even if you don’t surf, the sheer scale of the waves is a visual masterclass. Grab breakfast at El Cafecito—their portions are legendary.
Afternoon: Head to Playa Bacocho for the 5:00 PM turtle release. It’s a quiet, conservation-focused moment that grounds the trip.
Evening: One last sunset at Espadín. It overlooks the Carrizalillo cove you visited on Day 2, offering a full-circle view of your weekend.
