Puerto Escondido is a small port town and a major center for surfing, beach, and sun. The town is one of the most important on the Oaxaca coast and in some sense developed in response to the more posh and exclusive beaches in and around Huatulco. Escondido quickly developed into an alternative destination.
The Emerald Coast, as it came to be known, Escondido is a terrific beach town, but one especially well regarded for sport fishing, surfing, and nightlife. Every August and November are given over to international surfing tournaments but the rest of the year the town is usually thriving too.
Perhaps obviously, Puerto Escondido is mostly known for seafood. Even so, the world-famous Oaxacan cuisine is never far off. And people here live to celebrate their food. People visit Puerto Escondido for the Playa Zicatela, for surfing and sunsets. The vibe is laid-back but culturally rich. Playa Carrizalillo waters are calmer, still.
A budget-friendly beach vacation, Puerto Escondido still offers enough little town that you're not wanting for anything. And with an airport practically in the little town, it's easy to get around.
If you're not flying in, expect the bus from Oaxaca to take about five hours. Some travelers will start at Escondido and continue to other beach destinations down the Oaxaca coast. There are numerous great places to stop along the way.
