Welcome to Puerto Escondido . . .

PUERTO NOW! Carnaval

Carnaval, held annually in March

PUERTO NOW! Virgen de la Soledad

Flotilla of the Virgin of the Solitude

PUERTO NOW! Turtle release

A baby turtle is set for release

PUERTO NOW! Zicatela beach

Zicatela is famous for its surf

PUERTO NOW! Waiting for the surf

Waiting for the waves

Welcome to one of Mexico's best beach towns, where daytime temperatures are always warm, the beaches are long and sandy, and the Mexican culture lives on. It is one of the top 10 surfing destinations in the world and a winter escape for thousands from the United States, Canada and other locales.

This is not to say that Puerto Escondido is overrun with tourists during the winter high season. Nor are there are high-rise beach hotels offering all-inclusive stays where the guests rarely leave the premises. No, most visitors to Puerto are looking for something a little different. Something more Mexican, perhaps?

If you're planning a trip to Puerto Escondido, you've come to the right place for information. With Puerto Now! you can check the local weather, find a hotel with our directory of accommodations or map pages and time your visit to coincide with local events such the annual Puerto Music festival, or the Fiestas of November.

If you're travelling from afar, then a trip to Puerto Escondido is not complete without a visit to the state capital, Oaxaca. It's an eight-hour bus ride or a 50-minute plane ride. Either way, you won't regret seeing the second city settled by the Spanish, along with the ruins of pre-hispanic civilizations.

We hope you will enjoy your stay in Puerto Escondido, and that we can help you plan your vacation here.

Puerto at a glance:

Population: 45,000

Main industries: Tourism, fishing, agriculture

Beaches: Six, at least — Zicatela (surfing), Principal, Marinero, Manzanillo, Carrizalillo and Bacocho.

Shopping: Two supermarkets (Super Che and Bodegas Aurrera), public market and lots more, including specialty and gift shops on the Rinconada and the Adoquín.

Accommodations: For every taste and every budget, from surfer hostels at Zicatela, to pricey vacation rental homes on the beach.

Restaurants: Lots of seafood, Oaxacan cuisine, beach palapas, you name it.

Bank machines: Half a dozen or more.

Visitor information: Gina, in the kiosk on the Adoquín.

Getting here: By air through the Puerto Escondido airport or the Huatulco airport (two hours east); by car (it's a long drive from Acapulco or Oaxaca); by bus (there's regular service to and from Oaxaca).

Plan your trip to

Puerto Escondido with

our events calendar

NIGHTLIFE • FESTIVALS • PUBLIC EVENTS

Visit the calendar

Your map of Puerto Escondido

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Everything you need to know about Puerto Escondido

Puerto has some

terrific beaches

Swim, surf or sunbathe. There's a great choice of beaches for doing all three. Or go for a walk, and enjoy refreshments at the palapas en route.

Weather is nearly always perfect

With an average daily temperature of 28-30 C, Puerto boasts weather conditions that are outstanding almost year-round.

release turtles

There are several local beaches where baby turtles are hatched, and later released, between August and May. Visitors are welcome to help.

How to get here

One of the reasons Puerto is a special place is that getting here is not as simple as travelling to an all-inclusive destination resort city. But the traveller has several options.

Security not an

issue in Puerto

Worried about security issues in Mexico? Don't let overlblown news reports deter you from making a trip to Puerto.

More to do in Puerto Escondido:

• Bird-watching • Ecological tours • Whale-watching

• Fishing • Shopping • Dining • Nightlife

• Skydiving • Ocean diving • Watching the sun set

• City tours • Study Spanish

FOR MORE INFORMATION AFTER YOU ARRIVE:

Visitor information booth, The Adoquín: 582 1186

Read more about Puerto Escondido and Mexico

BARRA'S IGUANARIO Iguanas, crocodiles and more are cared for at shelter near Puerto Escondido.. MORE	PEANUT BUTTER CAPITAL Visit El Tomatal and tour the peanut butter factory. MORE	PUERTO'S LIFEGUARDS Lifeguards have essential role on beaches of Puerto Escondido. MORE	RESORT MOVES AHEAD Vivo Resorts rises on the beach near Puerto Escondido. MORE	SAVING THE TURTLES Visitors are invited to help release newly-hatched turtles MORE	THE GREEN FLASH Watching the sun set is a ritual for many. MORE

EXCURSIONS Two overnight trips in the Chatino coffee country. MORE	ECOTOURISM A look at activities in Barra de Navidad. MORE	SAN JOSE DEL PACIFICO Magnificent scenery surrounds mountain town. MORE	CARNAVAL Anything goes at Puerto's annual let-loose festival. MORE	SAN PEDRO AMUZGOS Town famous for its huipiles is a three-hour drive from Puerto. MORE	DAY OF THE DEAD Watch for this festive event in November every year. MORE

ALL ABOUT TORTILLAS Everything you could possibly want to know. MORE	ELIXIR OF OAXACA A quest for the best of Oaxaca mezcal. MORE	VERSATILE NOPAL The prickly-pear cactus is common in Oaxacan cuisine. MORE	THE MARKETS An enduring an ancient part of the Mexican culture. MORE