Jamie Eats World

Last year I went to Puerto Escondido twice and I had similar experiences both times. It’s a great place to surf, connect with other backpacking beach bums, and party the night away. If you’re looking for a warm, affordable, and non-Cancun beach town in Mexico this might be a great option for you!

I’ll be honest Puerto isn’t my favorite place in the world, but I went back so I obviously didn’t hate it too much. Most people I meet absolutely love it so don’t take my harsh criticism too seriously. I would probably feel different about it if I was into surfing and if I wasn’t already spoiled by all-year warm weather back home in Florida. 

In this blog I’ll share some of my tips for what to wear, what to do, and where to stay while you’re in Puerto!

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What to Do in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

The main thing you need to know about when planning your trip to Puerto Escondido: it’s hot. It’s like the hottest, muggiest, most disgusting part of summer in Florida but seemingly like this all year long. The difference is Floridians build their lives around cooling down. This place seems to just accept the heat and succumb to it. 

People barely leave their houses when the sun is up. Restaurants are mostly only open for dinner. My hair never completely dried and neither does anything else there because it’s way too humid. I’m from an absolute hellscape of a state, so trust me I’m not exaggerating. 

Be prepared to do most of your activities in full sunlight and high temperatures or after the sunset. Below are some of the most popular activities in the area, including my favorites and some recommendations from other travelers.

• Watch the Sunset Over the Ocean (Every Night): Since Puerto is on the west coast of Mexico, you can watch the sunset over the ocean. So why not do it every night? It’s not just for tourists. Since most people are working during the day or staying inside to avoid the heat, when the sun starts to go down everyone loves to go meet up on the beach.
• Visit Bonita Escondida Hostel – Bonita Escondida isn’t just a hostel, it’s also a really fun bar with events every night. I highly recommend the trivia night on Tuesday. It’s not just questions about obscure knowledge, there are oddball categories and funny challenges involved too. Since everyone is on teams, it’s also a great opportunity to meet people if you’re traveling solo or with a smaller group.
• Go Surfing or Learn How to Surf: The main draw of Puerto is the surf. If you don’t already know how to surf, there are plenty of people offering surf lessons. You could also join a surf camp if you really want to commit to learning. These camps usually include food, accommodation, and the lessons.
• Release Baby Sea Turtles: I’m not big on tourism activities that involve wildlife, but from what I can tell the sea turtle releases in Puerto are safe for the turtles. Everyone who did this looked overjoyed to be a part of the process. They even use empty coconut shells to hold the turtles so no one is handling the wildlife with their bare hands!
• Open Mic Night: Don’t miss open mic night at Punta Origen on Thursday nights. It can get really crowded so show up early to get a good spot. If you can’t get there early, bring a towel so you can sit on the ground if you have to. Punta Origen is a collection of food stalls. You can get sushi, empanadas, burritos, desserts, and even craft cocktails. If you have a talent, bring your instrument and sign up to perform at the open mic!
• Check Out La Punta Vida: One of my favorite events is a little tricky to access. La Punta Vida is a seemingly unfinished house on the beach that hosts a barbecue on Sundays. You can get a nice size plate with the option of a few types of meat or a veggie tamale option with sides. After dinner a DJ will set up and it slowly turns into a huge outdoor dance party. I’ve been informed that this event only happens seasonally, so check with some locals if it’s happening while you’re in town. There’s also beach volleyball courts there that people use everyday if you want to join them! 
• Meditate on the Beach: Last year I had a little love affair with meditation. I was meditating every day at home and felt like a crazy person anytime I did it at my local beach. However, I did this on the beach in Puerto and was pleasantly surprised to find out that not only was I not stared at, but tons of other people were meditating and doing yoga every day. I ended up doing this every evening at sunset.
• Enjoy the Nightlife Near Zicatela: There’s a super fun strip of bars, restaurants, and clubs right on the beach in an area called Zicatela. I highly recommend spending at least one night partying there! If you want to hang with the locals, check out some of the places a little further from the ocean like one of their super fun Michelada bars.

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What to Wear in Puerto Escondido

What should you wear on your trip to Puerto Escondido? F*cking nothing dude. It’s disgustingly hot. I’m telling you if you go to Puerto you are going so sweat your booty off so only expect to wear beach clothes. I had to buy extra flowy shorts and pants the first time I went because my thunder thighs were rubbing together as I walked in jean shorts. I actually was chafing so bad that I developed a full on rash. So please pack better than I did.

Clothes to Pack:

• Long, flowy, comfy pants
• Soft, comfortable shorts and skirts
• 100 bathing suits
• A hat to shield your face from the sun
• Lightweight shirts that don’t show sweat
• Tank tops and crop tops to keep cool
• A lightweight long sleeve to protect your shoulders and arms from the sun
• Cute outfits for nights out at the bars and clubs
• At least one pair of sandals
• Sneakers that you don’t mind getting dirty (the roads are mostly dirt)

TIP: If you find yourself missing something to wear, avoid shopping near La Punta. There are tons of cute options down there if you have money to burn, but if you’re on a budget get a cab up to the Zicatela market or closer to the center of town ( tell your driver el centro).

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Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido

You’ll be outside basically the entire time so come prepared with cool clothing. When you’re not on the beach or walking around town in your flowy beach clothes, you’ll be at clubs or restaurants. Make sure you pack clothes that are comfortable and cool with a few cute things mixed in for night’s out.

If you’re traveling solo, I recommend finding a fun party hostel in Puerto. If you’re in a group, there are some really nice and affordable Airbnbs. The goal is to find somewhere you’re going to be comfortable during the day when the sun is high and it’s too hot to go anywhere. I know y’all think I’m being dramatic but I’m telling you this is how everyone in Puerto behaves. Unless they’re in the ocean surfing all day, they plan their days around avoiding the heat.

TIP: If you want to stay at one of the cool party hostels like Bonita Escondida or Vivo Escondido, book early! I’ve never stayed at either one because I’m horrible about planning ahead. Both of these hostels have fun parties and events throughout the week if you’re looking for a social place to stay.

What to look for in accommodations:

• A/C is great if you can find it and feel like you need it, but you at least need to find a place that gets a breeze at night
• A pool that you can see yourself lounging in all day
• Somewhere that cares about the local environment and community. Puerto is full of people trying to suck the money out of this beach town.
• Comfortable outdoor spaces– think rooftop terrace with a breeze, nice pool area, and hammocks
• Location near La Punta if you want to be where the good surfing and most backpackers are, Zicatela if you want to be near the nightlife, or Rinconada if you want to be near the city and the beach

A note on showers: I’ve only ever stayed in hostels and cheap accommodations but as far as I can tell most places do not have hot showers. I am a ride or die hot shower gal but I was more than happy to take a cold shower in the sweltering heat of Puerto, especially in an outdoor shower.

What about air conditioning? Last time I went I paid for a hostel with A/C and honestly didn’t feel like the A/C helped that much. The rooms were air conditioned at night but barely so. I’m still too ignorant to understand what 25 Celsius is but the temperature made it nearly impossible to sleep. The only difference between the air outside and the air inside my room was that I got an ever so slight reprieve from the humidity. I still woke up damp with sweat. 

The first place I stayed had no A/C but plenty of breeze, was mostly shaded, and cross ventilations in the room. I loved the way it was built for mostly outdoor, communal living. Try to find a place you can socialize with others and relax in a shady outdoor area. A nice shaded terrace might be the only part of your accommodation that is a tolerable temperature during midday hours (aside from being fully submerged in the pool).

Looking for what to eat? Check out my previous blog to read about my favorite restaurants in Puerto Escondido!