Puerto Escondido

Travelers come for the surf at Zicatela, the calmer coves nearby and a relaxed beach-town pace on Oaxaca's Pacific coast.

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Puerto Escondido is a surf town on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca state, in southern Mexico. Its best-known beach, Zicatela, has large, powerful waves that draw experienced surfers and people who want to watch them break from the sand. Calmer beaches and coves nearby suit beginners and swimmers. Carrizalillo is a small cove where the water is usually calmer than at Zicatela, which makes it easier for swimming. The town center sits back from the surf and has shops and restaurants close by. These differences should shape where you sleep.

Choose the town for a relaxed beach pace, surf lessons, or a base for day trips along the coast, including to the Chacahua lagoon. Swell changes through the year, so check conditions close to your dates. Zicatela has strong surf and rip currents, so swim only where lifeguards are on duty. Before you book, check current bus and flight options from Oaxaca City.

Puerto Escondido in five

Pick Zicatela, Carrizalillo or the centerZicatela has the big surf and a long strip of cafés; Carrizalillo is a small cove with stairs and calmer water; the center has the most services and the ADO bus station.
Fly if you are coming from Oaxaca CityThe mountain highway between the two is winding and long by road, often most of a day. A short flight saves hours, but check the airline schedule, since small planes run limited days.
Match the beach to your surf levelZicatela's waves are for experts and for watching from the sand. Beginners should look to Carrizalillo, Playa Principal or a lesson with a local school, and ask about the day's swell.
Visit the lagoon, then the beachBoat trips on the Chacahua lagoons give a mangrove and bird morning that is a world away from the surf. Book a tour or arrange a transfer to the Zapotalito boat launch.Lagunas de Chacahua
Add Puerto Ángel and the quiet beachesEast along Highway 200, Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Puerto Ángel are quieter beach towns with a very different mood. Plan a night or two there.Puerto Ángel

Things to do in Puerto Escondido

See all attractions in Puerto Escondido

Sight · Puerto EscondidoCasa Wabi

an aerial view of a beach and a body of water

Beach · Puerto EscondidoPlaya Carrizalillo

Beach · Puerto EscondidoPlaya Zicatela

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Need to know

Airport: Puerto Escondido (PXM), about 10 min from town
Getting there: Flights from Mexico City; long bus or van from Oaxaca City
Getting around: Taxis, colectivos and walking along Zicatela
Best base: Zicatela for surf; Carrizalillo for a calm cove
Time needed: 3 to 5 days, more for lagoons

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, small waves
FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, calm
MarchClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low23°Dry, hot
AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, hottest
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Rains begin
JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Big swell, rain
JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Big swell
AugustRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low24°Swell, showers
SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Peak rain
OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Storms ease
NovemberClear8 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry returns
DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, holidays

Average daily high and low in Puerto Escondido, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Puerto Escondido

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 76%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 8%

Puerto Escondido

04:41 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today33°21°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 8%.
Tue33°21°81%Tuesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 81%.
Wed31°22°93%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 93%.
Thu31°22°99%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 99%.
Fri32°21°99%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 99%.
Sat31°22°90%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sun31°20°92%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 92%.

Updated 04:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN

Amount

Converted to

MXN · Mexican Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Puerto Escondido

Lagoon and coastal toursBoats, mangroves and turtle stopsCompare day trips

Zicatela and Carrizalillo staysSurf lodges, hostels and boutique hotelsCheck availability

eSIM for the Oaxaca coastData for transfers and surf forecastsRead the guide

Travel insurance for MexicoSurf injuries and remote-road delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Puerto Escondido, checked

Many nationalities need no visa for Mexico. Check the entry rules for your passport at gob.mx/sre before you book.
Immigration issues a tourist permit (FMM) on arrival for most visitors. Keep it with your passport until you leave the country.
Declare cash and other valuables above the legal limit on the customs form. Check the current limit with SAT, Mexico's tax authority.
Zicatela has strong surf and rip currents. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty and obey the posted warnings.

Plan around Puerto Escondido

All of Mexico

Beaches, colonial cities, ruins and highlands

Read the guide Lagunas de Chacahua

Mangrove lagoons and a surf point west

Read the guide Puerto Ángel

A quieter fishing village east

Read the guide San Agustinillo

A small, wave-battered beach village

Read the guide Oaxaca Coast

All the beach towns between Huatulco and Chacahua

Read the guide Pueblos Mancomunados

Cool mountain villages near Oaxaca City

Read the guide

Puerto Escondido FAQ

Is Puerto Escondido worth visiting?

Yes for surf culture, beaches and easy access to lagoons and quieter coastal villages. It is a working town as well as a beach resort, so expect busy streets near the center.

How do you get from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido?

By plane in a short flight, or by bus or shared van on the winding mountain road, which takes many hours. Many travelers fly one way and ride the other.

Is Puerto Escondido good for beginners?

Zicatela is for experienced surfers. Beginners do better at the calmer beaches and with a local instructor who checks the swell and the day's currents.

What is the best time to visit Puerto Escondido?

November to April is dry and sunny, with smaller waves for learners. May to October is the rainy season, with bigger surf, fewer visitors and cheaper rooms.

Should I stay in Zicatela or Carrizalillo?

Zicatela for surf, cafés and a lively evening scene; Carrizalillo for a calm swimming cove and quieter nights. Remember that Carrizalillo's stairs and small beach suit travelers who pack light.