Puerto Escondido is a beach town located on the pacific coast in Oaxaca, Mexico. This itinerary focuses on visiting beautiful beaches, seeing stunning architecture, eating delicious food and having a bit of fun. 

Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico

Puerto Escondido | 5-Day Itinerary

Welcome to Puerto! Ideally you've taken an evening flight from Mexico City and you are starting Day 1 with a good night's sleep at your hotel or Airbnb. 

Start your day surfing at Playa La Punta. Recommend going out with a surf school as the area can get busy and the instructors help you catch the best waves.

If you are feeling adventurous, start your day with a long beach walk from Playa La Punta to Casona Sfroza (approx. 1 hour). There is a slightly tricky element to this walk as you need to follow a less obvious path up the cliffs of Punta Zicatela and back down, but it can be done and the experience is worth it. 

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at Casona Sforza, and take stunning pictures of the uniquely designed hotel. 

Call a cab back to Playa La Punta and post up at the beach for the remainder of the day. Reminder, always stay for sunset. 

Go out for dinner in La Punta again. There are so many good options depending on your mood. Try Sommo (sushi), Atarraya (Mexican), or Lychee (Thai).

For after dinner fun try Mombasa or head back to Juana Mezcala for drinks + dancing until 11pm. 

Now it's time head back to the beach and post up all day at one of the beach restaurants with lounge chair + umbrella. Since there is a minimum cash spend, eat and drink from the comfort of your chair. Today, do not leave before sunset - it's a must see.

If your accommodations do not include breakfast, start the trip off at a personal favorite, Cafe Ole. The jugos y agua frescas are a must order, also a fan of the omelettes - they're huge.

For dinner try Chicama, an amazing Peruvian restaurant in La Punta. If for some reason it is too crowded when you want to go, do not worry, there are many amazing options to eat (see Day 3). 

After dinner head to Juana Mezcala for drinks and dancing. As a heads up, all of La Punta will close at 11pm. 

It's time to leave La Punta, grab a cab to Rinconada early for breakfast at El Cafecito. This is a local spot that can get very crowded with families, especially on Sundays.

For a quiet gastronomic dinner head to Glou Glou located in Casa TO. They offer a special tasting menu or a la carte options. If you would prefer something more casual, look back to Day 3 for more dinner options. 

After breakfast, head down the stairs to the stunning beach cove, Playa Carrizalillo. This beach is small and gets crowded. If you can secure beach chairs - do it. Also, it is great spot for beginner surfers. 

Between 5-6pm make your way back up the stairs, and walk through the parking lot on your right towards Espadin Restaurante. This is the best spot to watch sunset over Carrizalillo with drinks + guacamole. Recommend making a reservation.

For your last day, get it a final surf or head straight to breakfast + beach before check-out. You can either go back to a favorite or try another spot such as Pyoli (vegan). 

Next, I am recommending to cut your first beach day short to get in a bit of culture. Book in advance a 4pm tour to Fundacion Casa Wabi at the link below: 

Tour - Fundación Casa Wabi

Fundación Casa Wabi is approximately an hour drive from La Punta. It is a non-profit, civil organization founded by Bosco Sodi that aims to promote collaboration and social commitment through art. The tour will showcase impressive architecture and art. 

After you finish your tour, head over to Hotel Escondido or Terrestre Hotel for a pre-dinner drink in anticipation of 6:30pm omakase at Kakurega. This is one of my favorite experiences - the location is stunning, food delicious, and the chef keeps the laughs going. Reserve ahead of time on OpenTable. 

After breakfast head to Playa La Punta, the beach across from the restaurant. Depending on your mood, grab lounge chairs (all have a minimum cash spend) or take your towels over by the surf to watch. 

After exhausting yourself surfing, head to breakfast. Personally, I can go back to Cafe Ole every day, but there are many other great options within walking distance such as Malagua cafe or Jaguar Negro. 

For lunch head to Fish Shack for amazing fish or shrimp tacos. If wanting something sweet after, go to Palma Negra for a paleta (popsicle).

If you want to have a late night, you can then head to Zicatela where there are many clubs that stay open late such as Canabrava or Mar & Wana. 

For nature lovers, there are tour groups that offer activities such as baby sea turtle release at Playa Bacocho, dolphin watching, and bioluminescent night tours. Talk to the locals offering these tours on the beach and in the town of La Punta. 

Cell service is bad - the wifi has improved with the introduction of Starlink, but don't expect to be reachable everywhere 

Bring cash - while you can now use credit cards at most restaurants and shops, you will definitely need cash for cabs and beach clubs. 

No Uber - cabs are readily available by the airport and in town, but grab their WhatsApp if you want to order a pick-up

Stay in La Punta - there are many amazing options for hotels and Airbnb's at all budgets in Puerto Escondido. To follow this itinerary with ease, pick sleeping accommodations in La Punta so you can walk to most of the plans

Puerto Escondido | 5-Day Itinerary

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