Puerto Escondido is built around one thing above all: the ocean. Most of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido happen in or near the water, whether that is surfing a world-class beach break, swimming in a sheltered cove, releasing hatchling sea turtles or watching bioluminescent plankton glow in a mangrove lagoon. Prices are in Mexican pesos and most activities run every day of the week. Here is a practical list of what to do, organized by beach, wildlife and culture. For the full town overview, see the Puerto Escondido travel guide.
Things to Do in Puerto Escondido: Beaches and Surfing
Playa Zicatela
Playa Zicatela is the town’s headline beach and the reason serious surfers fly here. Its heavy, fast beach break, nicknamed the Mexican Pipeline, produces hollow barrels that break in shallow water from about May to September. Swimming here is not recommended when the swell is up, the rip currents are strong, and the lifeguard flags are red on big days. Even if you do not surf, the wide 3 km stretch of sand is worth a visit for the scene, and the sunset over the Pacific is free. Surfboard rentals on the sand run about 200 to 300 pesos an hour, and lessons for beginners are far better at Carrizalillo.
Playa Carrizalillo
Playa Carrizalillo is a sheltered horseshoe cove reached by a staircase of about 160 steps from the cliff above. The bay’s shape blocks the big swell, so the water is calm, clear and safe for swimming, which makes it the best beach for families and first-time surfers. Surf schools charge roughly 600 to 900 pesos for a 90-minute lesson including a board, and you can rent a board alone for about 150 pesos an hour. There is no road access, so expect a short climb. Arrive before 10:00 in high season to claim a shaded spot.
Playa La Punta
Playa La Punta is the bohemian southern end of Zicatela, a short taxi ride from the centre. The sand is backed by cafes, juice bars and yoga studios, and the vibe is slower than the main strip. The surf here is gentler than Zicatela’s main break and works for intermediate longboarders, while the rocky point at the far end is a good sunset viewpoint. Food trucks and beach bars set up every afternoon, and it is one of the cheapest places in town to eat a fresh fish taco.
Playa Bacocho
Playa Bacocho is a wide, quiet beach north of the town centre, known for two things: the daily sunset sea-turtle release run by the Vive Mar sanctuary and a calmer surf break than Zicatela. It is less crowded than the central beaches and has a few beach clubs with loungers and showers. The turtle release usually starts around 16:45 and costs 150 pesos, but arrive early because the line forms fast.
Things to Do in Puerto Escondido: Nature and Wildlife
Bioluminescent Lagoon Tour at Manialtepec
Laguna de Manialtepec, about 20 minutes west of town, fills with bioluminescent plankton that glow blue when you move through the water. Boat tours leave after dark and typically cost 300 to 500 pesos per person, with the brightest conditions on moonless nights. You can swim in the lagoon on most tours, and the glow clings to your arms as you paddle. The effect is strongest from June to November when the water is warmest, but the plankton are present year-round.
Release Baby Sea Turtles at Playa Bacocho
The Vive Mar sanctuary at Playa Bacocho runs a supervised hatchling release most evenings, when visitors help newborn olive ridley turtles crawl to the sea. It costs about 150 pesos per person, starts around 16:45, and you get a coconut-shell bowl with a hatchling to release. This is one of the most popular things to do in Puerto Escondido for families, and it funds the sanctuary’s nest-protection work. Book through the on-site staff or any tour desk in town, and note it is one of the seasonal highlights listed in the Puerto Escondido events and festivals calendar.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
Humpback whales migrate past the Oaxaca coast from December to March, and boat operators run daily whale-watching trips from the main pier and Playa Principal in that window. A typical 2 to 3 hour trip costs 700 to 1,200 pesos per person, and you will usually also see dolphins, sea turtles and sometimes manta rays. Book with a licensed operator rather than a beach tout, and bring sun protection, the open Pacific is hot even in winter. For the best months to spot them, see the best time to visit Puerto Escondido guide.
Things to Do in Puerto Escondido: Culture, Food and Day Trips
Mercado Benito Juarez
The Benito Juarez market in the town centre is the place to eat cheaply and shop like a local. Stalls sell fresh fruit, Oaxacan mole pastes, chapulines (roasted grasshoppers) and quesillo cheese, while the food counters serve breakfast and lunch for 60 to 120 pesos a plate. It is busiest from about 08:00 to 15:00, and most vendors close by late afternoon. It sits a short walk from the Puerto Escondido neighborhoods page’s Centro district.
El Adoquin and the Zicatela Strip
El Adoquin is the pedestrianized street that runs parallel to Playa Zicatela, lined with bars, restaurants, cafes and surf shops. It is quiet by day and loud after dark, when the beach clubs and rooftop bars fill up. Cafe Restaurante La Parota and the long-running Hotel Santa Fe restaurant are two reliable places to eat on the strip. Most bars have a cover charge on weekends, and the scene runs late into the night. If you want to be within walking distance, see the where to stay in Puerto Escondido guide.
Surf Lessons for Beginners
If you have never surfed, Playa Carrizalillo is the safest classroom. Schools such as Oasis Surf School and Puerto Surf run 90-minute group lessons for around 600 to 800 pesos including board, rash vest and instruction, with the gentle whitewash of the cove making the learning curve easier. Book a morning slot, when the wind is offshore and the water is glassy. Check the Puerto Escondido weather by month guide before you plan, because the swell changes month to month.
Day Trip to Mazunte and Zipolite
About an hour east of Puerto Escondido, the coastal villages of Mazunte and Zipolite make an easy day trip. Mazunte has the Mexican Turtle Centre (Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga), an aquarium and conservation centre, and Zipolite is one of Mexico’s few legal nude beaches, backed by a laid-back strip of hostels and cafes. Shared taxis and colectivos leave from the Chedraui supermarket area and cost around 50 to 80 pesos each way. Many visitors combine this with the Puerto Escondido travel tips article’s advice on getting around the coast.
Laguna de Chacahua National Park
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, about 90 minutes west, is a stretch of mangrove lagoons, empty beaches and small fishing villages that is far less visited than the main coast. You reach it by boat from the village of El Zapotalito for about 1,500 pesos per boat (up to four people), and the lagoon channels are full of birds and crocodiles. The park has basic beachfront palapa restaurants, so bring cash. It pairs well with the bioluminescence tour if you are spending a full day out.
