Daydreaming of a break? Sun, surf, and a laid-back vibe may help you to release that stress you’re in. Puerto Escondido is a perfect place whether you are looking for an escape or just a nice place to leave your footprint. It must be calling your name now, right? But how to get to Puerto Escondido?
No worries! From hopping on a plane to a road trip through Oaxaca, I’ve got you covered. Now let’s get you to this beachy paradise, shall we?
Where is Puerto Escondido?
Before getting to Puerto Escondido, you should know where this place is exactly located. It’s a beach town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It’s located in the state of Oaxaca. How far from the main Oaxaca city? It’s about a 7-hour drive and if you want to get there quickly, it’s only a 1-hour flight. If you are into surfing, it’s a great spot to take your surfing board.
How to Get to Puerto Escondido?
Getting to Puerto Escondido is very easy due to its various ways of transportation available. You will have your own way of traveling suitable to your financial background. Let me give a detailed breakdown of how to get to Puerto Escondido in every possible way.
Flying to Puerto Escondido
I will start from the quickest and easiest way. Flying to Puerto Escondido is also the most used way to get to this beach town. The good thing is it has its own little airport – Puerto Escondido International Airport.
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Direct Flights
Are you already staying in Mexico? Then you are in for the treat! You are lucky enough to fly from Mexico. It will only take about an hour’s flight from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido. There are several direct flights on Airlines like VivaAerobus, Aeromexico, and Volaris. You can get there without any hassle.
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From Abroad
If you are someone from the US, Canada, or any other country, getting to Puerto Escondido is not one flight away – Unfortunately! But it’s okay as you can first have a flight to Mexico City or Oaxaca City. And then you can hop on another 1-hour domestic flight from there to Puerto Escondido. This beach town is so fun that it’s worth the little layover.
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Local Flights
Let’s assume you are already in Oaxaca City. How to get from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido? Well, that’ll be only a 30-minute short flight on Airlines like AeroTucan. And what can I say about the view from the plane?
It’s breathtaking in one word. Picture an airplane window with vanilla clouds, a colorful city, rugged coastline with blue Pacific waves and rocky mountains. There’s nothing more aesthetic than this for your Instagram feed.
Taking a Bus to Puerto Escondido
This way is not for international travel – obviously! But if you are someone in Mexico who is not into flying looking for a more affordable way or simply want to take in the scenery, taking a bus is for you.
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From Oaxaca City
Buses from Oaxaca City take around 10-12 hours to get to Puerto Escondido. Well, it depends on the route they take. If you like sightseeing by bus, you can take a bus during the day. But how to get from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido more comfortably?
You can book an overnight bus in companies like ADO. That way you’ll be just a sleep away from the beach. Plus, you can wake up fresh and enjoy the whole day from morning to midnight in the sandy paradise.
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Van Shuttles
I will never forget the memories when I first traveled by a Van Shuttle to get to Puerto Escondido. It’s a hell of an adventurous ride! It was faster than the bus – only took about 6 hours to get to the beach town. But it was bumpy as well – the tracks were all curvy!
It felt like a lite rollercoaster but you’ll get a lot of stories to tell your grandkids. Even if you are an international tourist, you can first fly to Oaxaca City. Then do the rest of the journey to Puerto Escondido by Van Shuttle.
Driving to Puerto Escondido
Are you up for a lil adventure? Then how about driving to Puerto Escondido? Well, this has a plus point – you can stop to explore other spots along the way to the beach town.
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From Oaxaca City
The main driving route from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca and vice versa is two to be exact. The faster route is by Highway 175 – very windier you should know! Driving through this highway, you’ll be passing through mountains and beautiful city sights.
Be prepared for the most beautiful scenarios you ever laid eyes on. Also, be aware that this road is not for people with car sickness.
If you are one of them or simply want something a lil calmer, then you can drive through Highway 200. This route is not so curvy and easy on the stomach. But remember, it’ll take more time to get to Puerto Escondido.
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From Mexico City
How to get to Puerto Escondido from Mexico City by driving? Well, it’ll be a long 12 to 14-hour drive – so it’s a good escape for long-drive lovers. As it’s a long way to Puerto Escondido, do stop at Oaxaca City.
And clear up your phone storage – you’ll pass through gorgeous landscapes and you don’t want to run short on photo storage.
Puerto Escondido By Boat
Okay, so this is a very unusual way of getting to Puerto Escondido. Not a lot of people think of this but as I said I’ll let you know every possible way to get to this beach town, here I am! In case you are feeling a lil too fancy!
If you are coming from places like Huatulco or even Acapulco, you can charter a boat. I’m sure it’s going to be an unforgettable sea adventure. Well, for most of us, we’ll stick to planes, buses, or cars.
Best Way to Get to Puerto Escondido
Hmm, now this is something I can not give you a straightforward answer of. It depends on a variety of factors. But I can still help you to decide the Best way to get to Puerto Escondido.
If you don’t have a lot of time to spend on vacation and want to get there quickly, flying to Puerto Escondido is hands down the best option. If you are an international tourist coming to explore Mexican beauty, travel to Puerto Escondido by bus or rent a car.
Not just for international tourists, if you are on a budget, riding on a bus to Puerto Escondido is a much more affordable way. If you simply want to explore the landscape, avoid planes and rent a car to drive to your destination.
And if you are into an adventurous journey to Puerto Escondido, you should definitely pick Van Shuttle.
Things to Do After Getting to Puerto Escondido
Now that you know every way how to get to Puerto Escondido, let’s assume you successfully got there. Now what can you do? Well, getting around in Puerto Escondido is super easy. It’s a small beach town but has a lot of things that you can do here. Let’s make a list of what you should do in Puerto Escondido when you get there.
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Chill out on the beach
This is something you would definitely do – even if I tell you not to. I mean Puerto Escondido is a beach town so of course you’ll need to stroll along the beach and breathe the fresh Pacific Ocean air. For chilling out, Playa Charrizalillo is undoubtedly the best beach in Puerto Escondido.
It’s a small crescent-shaped beach where the water is crystal clear. You can go swimming, paddleboarding or just floating around. Or you can just grab a coconut or cold bear from a local vendor and sit back to enjoy the beautiful view.
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Surf’s Up
Puerto Escondido in Mexico is famously known as a surf heaven throughout the country. If you are into surfing and winning over the hard waves, Zicatela Beach is where you want to be.
Everyone is surfing with their colorful surfboards in the heart of the blue ocean – what a great view from the beach! Pros from around the world come here to ride the Mexican Pipeline. If you want to surf, be cautious though. The waves can get pretty intense.
If you are new to surfing, head to Carrizalillo Beach. It’s a cozy little cove with gentler waves. If you don’t know surfing but still want to try it, you can learn from the locals – they are super friendly!
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Watch Turtles Hatching
Puerto Escondido is not only famous for surfing, it’s also famous for nature lovers. You can head to Playa Bacocho to witness baby turtles hatching from the eggs and gradually making their way to the ocean. Such a cute view! If you want to witness this, the best time to go to Puerto Escondido is August to January.
Watching these tiny new lives having their first swim is a piece of peace for any animal lover. But remember to talk to a local guide and let them take you to the perfect spot to watch turtle hatching.
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Go Whale Watching
Also, you can go Whale watching in Puerto Escondido. If you visit this beach town from December to March, you can watch humpback whales migrating along the coast.
Watching these giants is too overwhelming for many people. There are a lot of tourist boats to take you there to watch these majestic creatures. You can also watch dolphins, sea turtles and rays.
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Experience Bioluminescent Magic
Ready for something straight out of ‘Pandora’ by James Cameron? Then visit Laguna De Manialtepec. It’s about 15-20 minutes away from Puerto Escondido. So you can take a taxi or rent a scooter and head there before the evening.
Water at that laguna has bioluminescent algae in it which literally glow. You can watch the waves clearly in the dark for these microorganisms. Also, you can walk on the ocean water and watch the water glow wherever your feet touch. Trust me it’s magical!
Tips Before Getting to Puerto Escondido
I’m sure you’ve already put Puerto Escondido on your bucket list to visit. But before getting to this beach heaven, you should know some things to make your vacation more fun and convenient.
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Cars are overrated
It’s a small beach town – walkable in most of the places. But if you don’t feel like walking, you can hop on cheap taxis that are always ready everywhere. Don’t rent cars to drive yourself – a waste of money I feel. If you really want to drive by yourself, you can rent scooters – It’s more fun by the way!
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The best time to visit
November through April is arguably the best time to visit Puerto Escondido. It’s a dry season. So it’s sunny every time, giving you the best feeling of the beach. You should avoid the rainy season before getting to Puerto Escondido.
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Pack light
You don’t need a lot of stuff there on the beach. It’s more about exploring a lot of places throughout the day. So don’t take heavy packing when you go out. Maybe a swimsuit, a flip flop and sunscreen?
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Keep Cash
As it’s a small beach town, not every local small shop may take cards. So keeping cash in small towns is always the best thing you can do.
Final Thoughts
If you want to spend time on a sun-kissed beach and want some full-of-life memories, Puerto Escondido must be on your radar. I’ve broken down every possible way how to get to Puerto Escondido. You can now pack your bag and get to your dream destination anyhow you like.
Not just that, I’ve also shared my observation on the best way to get to Puerto Escondido. If you are confused, just focus on that and you’ll find the best way how you can get to this hidden gem. Remember it’s a sunny adventure waiting to happen – don’t forget your sunscreen!
