Puerto Escondido Beaches

Beach

By Erin Helland

As the name hints, Playa Principal is the main beach in town. It runs parallel with the road El Adoquin which the highest concentration of restaurants and shops is in town. The water here is calm, which makes it a good place to learn to surf. The beach is also used by some fishermen to bring in their daily catch. Some allow tourists to try their luck fishing by offering excursions on their boats. The beach is busiest on Sundays when many local families frequent the beach.

South of Playa Principal sits Playa Marinero, an ideal swimming beach that is protected by the natural curve of the coastline. Do be aware that the current can be very strong at the south end of the beach. Also this area is very built up with restaurants, bars and hotels.

Playa Zicatela is the most famous and photographed beach in Puerto Escondido. It lies further south beyond a rocky point called Rocas del Morro. This beach is regarded as a surfers’ paradise, and is said by many to be the best surfing beach in Mexico. It is one of the top ten surfing beaches in the world. Only experienced surfers should brave this beach however, its strong currents make it unsuitable for swimming.

West of the lighthouse sits a small cove holding both Playa Manzanillo and Puerto Angelito. These beaches are very pretty, but the area tends to be much commercialized and very crowded. Its calm waters make it a good place to swim and snorkel, just be sure to watch out for boats.

Further northwest is a pair of small beaches called Playa Carrizalillo. This beach is usually protected from bit surf and is an excellent place to swim.

Playa Bacocho lies in the most western part of Puerto Escondido. Although this long beach is very beautiful, and rarely crowded, swimming is very dangerous due to heavy surf and undertow. This is the beach that many of the luxury hotels reside.

Traveler Reviews of Puerto Escondido Beaches

I loved the beaches

Rating: 0%

The fact that there are multiple beaches makes a trip here more fun, you can wander and check out the different scenes. I liked the ones that were filled with Mexican families, seemed more authentic, even though I did stick out more. I had a great time, but don't forget the sunscreen, sunburn is never fun.

By V!VA User from Minnesota, USA, May 11, 2007