The town of Puerto Escondido was established in 1928 as a port for shipping coffee, although the area has been inhabited by indigenous populations for centuries. In the 1960's it was connected to other coastal towns by Highway 200. Tourists began to discover the town and surfers found its beaches. Its importance as a port diminished as coffee shipments began going by truck instead of boat. The port does continue to support commercial fishing activity.Today, Puerto Escondido is a home for fishermen, surfers, vacationers, and an ecletic expatriot community. The large waves of Zicatela beach put it into the top ten surfing destinations. It does not cater to the high end tourist as much as Huatulco to the east. Its sprawling beaches host numerous small to mid-size hotels and restaurants.
There are two main beaches,Playa Principal andZicatela, as well as several other smaller beaches. Avenida Perez Gasga is a pedestrian only street known as theAdoquín that parallels Playa Principal, where you will find theInformation Goddess. The Sueño Posible Sea Walk begins at Playa Principal and winds along rocky oceanside cliffs. Up the hill from the Adoquín is the coastal highway 200 and on the other side of that is the downtown business district where you can find banks, the mercado, etc. Playa Zicatela is a long straight beach on the east side of the bay and can be seen from Playa Principal. Zicatela is where the strong waves are that make Puerto Escondido a world class surfing destination.
Follow this link to www.mexico-condo.com for some nice aerial photos that show the layout of the area.
Beaches
• Playas
Playa Principal is the main beach in town and runs parallel with the adoquín or pedestrian area of town. Restaurants, boating, swimming, snorkeling.West of the lighthouse is a small cove with beaches Playa Manzanillo and Puerto Angelito. Very calm for swimming and snorkeling but watch out for boats that come and go. There is a restaurant with restrooms at Puerto Angelito. You can get there from Playa Principal by boat or go northwest on highway 200 for 1/2 mile and turn left on Calle Miguel Hidalgo at the old airport. At the billboard turn left again and go down the dirt road to the beach.
A note of caution: There have been reports of incidents of crime taking place on the beaches at night. Avoid remote beach areas at night. Beach lighting has been added.
The World Masters Championship surfing competition is
held in Puerto Escondido normally around the second week in August. Read about
the 1998 World Masters Championship surfing competition.
Laguna Manialtepec is located 10 miles
west of Puerto Escondido. It is deeper and fresher than Chacagua. During the
rainy season, the Río Manialtepec breaks through its sandbar and the lagoon
becomes a tidal estuary. There are 100's of species of birds--cormorant,
anhinga, herons (including great blue, little blue, black-crowned night
heron), ibis, parrots, egrets, ducks, jacanas (lily walkers). Many tours are
available; Hidden Voyages Ecotours is recommended. La Alejandria,
located near the Km 125 marker 10 miles west of Puerto Escondido, has an
idyllic, shady beach, palms, RV spaces, rustic cabins with shower and toilet,
camping, and restaurant
The hot springs of Atotonilco (Aguas Termales Atotonilco) are
located near the village of San José Manialtepec, about 15 miles west of Puerto
Escondido. See map (90K). It's a
two-mile hike or horseback ride up the Río Manialtepec canyon. A guide from
the village is recommended.
The Lagunas de Chacagua National Park is located 41 miles west of Puerto Escondido or 51 miles
east of Pinotepa Nacional at coastal highway marker km 82. It is 54.8 square
miles (14,187 hectares) in size and encompasses 20 miles of open-ocean
shoreline and jungle lagoons. [liga a más información] Fishing is strictly licensed. There
are numerous species of fish and wildlife. Crocodiles are being restored to
the area by a hatchery at Chacagua village on Laguna Chacagua. Bird
life includes pelicans, herons and cormorants. Excursions by boat are
available from Zapotalito, which is the only easy access point to the
Lagunas de Chacagua. There are a number of islands in the lagoons that are
suitable for camping and wildlife viewing during the dry months. You can have
a boatman drop you off and pick you up later. Playa Hermosa is a good place
for snorkeling. The 18-mile dirt road from San José del Progreso to
Chacagua is very rough and usable in the dry season only. Check the
road conditions before attempting this trip. Hotel Siete Mares, on the
west side of the village, has rustic bamboo cabañas, cabins, a small
restaurant, showers, and is close to a beach. Playa Chacagua is a
10-mile long beach, suitable for snorkeling and fishing, and surfing on the
west end.
AMixtec Ceremonial Center
was discovered in early 2000 just east of Puerto Escondido and is considered a
major discovery. Walking tours are conducted
by Gina, the Information Goddess.
The village of Rio Grande, with a population of 5000, is the service
community for the Lagunas de Chacagua area. There you will find grocery
stores, a bank, pharmacy, doctor, telephone office (954-32450), and a hotel.
The Hotel Santa Monica, telephone 954-124, Avenida Puebla, Rio Grande,
Oaxaca 71830, has ceiling fans, toilet, hot water, $13 U.S. for a double.
There's a restaurant across the street.
An article onTiltepec, a
poverty-stricken town with an epileptic and deaf population of 40%, located 15
miles northwest of Puerto Escondido (straight-line distance).
Hotels • Hoteles
Puerto Escondido offers a wide range of hotels and other
accommodations. See List of Hotels.
Restaurants • Restaurantes
Real Estate • Bienes
Raíces
Surfing • Acuaplano
One Surfing Competition is held in November during
the Fiesta de Noviembre. For 2006, the dates are November
17, 18, 19. The Mexpipe surfing competition is held in August.
Scuba Diving • Buceo
Sport Fishing, Boat Tours • Pesca, Excursiones en
Barco
Typical cost for a boat with guide is US$30/hour, 4-hour
minimum. (1/03)
Celebrations • Fiestas
Transportation • Transportación
Tour Operators, Outfitters • Operadores Turísticos,
Proveedores
Libraries • Las Bibleotecas
Nearby Points of Interest • Puntos Interesantes
Cercanos
The village ofBarra de Navidad
Colotepec is 4 miles southeast of Puerto Escondido on the banks of
the Río Colotepec. The village ofCacalotepec is
approx. 30 km west of Puerto Escondido. It has a big broad beach that
sometimes has a good surf break but is better for boogie boards. Puerto
Escondido sports fishermen often bring clients here to fish yellow fin tuna
and gallos. It has some great palapa restaurants on the
mainland beach, frequented by Puerto locals looking for beaches quieter and
more remote than those in Puerto. Roca Blanca is a big rocky island in
the middle of this broad bay plastered white from the many seabirds that roost
here.
Miscellaneous • Misceláneo