The best beaches in Puerto Escondido

There are so many beaches in the area. Some are ok for swimming, others are better for surfing. Some have beach bars, some are more remote. We're going to cover a little of everything in this comprehensive list of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido.

Playa Zicatela

If you're looking for a Puerto Escondido beach, the first place you'll probably land is Zicatela.

Playa Zicatela is the most famous beach in Puerto Escondido because it's home to the Mexican Pipeline, which is the beach break that's put this surf town on the map. Zicatela beach is just over 3 km long, the north end is closer to the town, the southern end is home to La Punta ('The Point'), which is another good break.

At the top end of Playa Zicatela, you have Playa Principal which is a small cove full of fishing boats and locals. It's pretty swimmable here as the boats break up the waves. However, it's probably not the best place for a picture-perfect beach day, as there's usually a fair amount of rubbish on the sand (sadly).

Moving slightly along from Playa Principal is Playa Marinero, which is kind of the same bit of beach but further around the cove (look at the map below if that's confusing). Similar to Playa Principal, there are lots of boats and still some rubbish.

Once you've walked on from Playa Marinero, you'll get to the main stretch of Playa Zicatela, 3.5 km of sand, surf, restaurants, beach bars and accommodation. If you're looking for the big waves, park up at El Cafecito on the main road, and walk directly onto the beach. Then look out for the lifeguard huts and crowds of people watching the surf. The best time to go is early in the morning.

Playa Zicatela is a great place for a beach day as you have plenty of restaurants, shops and cafes within walking distance. The beach is also so huge that it never feels too busy, which is nice.

La Punta

La Punta is the end point of Playa Zicatela, before the beach ends and the land curves round toward Playa David Hasselhoff (more on that later). There are still some decent waves here, though not usually as crazy as Zicatela. It's a good spot for intermediate surfers and brave beginners who fancy surf lessons (if you've never surfed, we wouldn't recommend going out alone here).

In the peak season, La Punta can get very busy with travellers, backpackers, and holiday makers from both Mexico City and the rest of the world. As the sun sets, hundred of people make their way out onto the beach to watch the sun sink below the Pacific Ocean. It's a nice vibe, but if you prefer something a bit quieter, we have a few more great spots to watch the sunset coming up.

Playa Bacocho

Playa Bacocho is further north than most of the other beaches in the area. It doesn't get as busy as some of the other beaches of Puerto Escondido, because it's a little further out of town (and I don't think as many people know about it). If you want a quiet day at the beach, this is a good place to go. There are also public toilets and a car park close by, as well as a couple of small beach shacks that serve cold beers and ceviche.

Bacocho beach also has a couple of beach clubs, Club Bacocho and Club de Playas Cocos. If you want to be near the beach but not covered in sand, these beach clubs make a nice day out. However, they are pretty expensive (90 to 100 USD for a day pass). We've visited Club Bacocho and weren't convinced that the cost of a day pass was worth it, but it depends on your budget!

Bacocho also has a turtle release sanctuary. You can release a baby turtle into the sea here most days of the year, head down around sunset time to do this.

Once the sun's gone down and you're ready to head home, there are plenty of taxis waiting here to take you back to the town. Otherwise, it's a long walk up the hill and back into Rinconada!

Swimmable beaches Puerto Escondido

This town is known for its surf spots, so there aren't quite as many places to swim but we do still have a couple of recommendations.

Playa Carrizalillo

Turquoise waters, beach bars, surf schools and palm trees. This is probably one of the most picturesque beaches in the area.

Playa Carrizalillo is a small cove beach just off the main road in Rinconada. The view from the top of the steps is pure paradise, and getting in the water after tackling the stairs is pure paradise too. If you want somewhere to swim, Playa Carrizalillo is usually the perfect spot. However, a word of warning that it's not always calm waters here, the waves do get big sometimes so check the surf report for the day.

It's also worth knowing that the beach itself isn't huge. In the high season (December to January or April, over Easter) it can get very busy so if you arrive late, you'll find yourself battling with umbrellas and sun loungers whilst looking for a place to sit. There are public toilets here (compost loos), and beach bars so you can buy water and snacks to keep you going all day.

Playa Manzanillo and Puerto Angelito

Playa Manzanillo and Puerto Angelito sit on opposite sides of a small cove. This cove protects the beaches from the waves, so they are also great places to swim. But like Playa Carrizalillo, they also get very busy.

Puerto Angelito in particular was absolutely packed when we went there. We couldn't have laid our towel down if we tried. There are also several beach restaurants that take up a lot of room on the sand. Great for sitting and having a drink whilst looking out to sea, not great for a relaxing beach day.

Bonus beaches

There are a couple more options sneaking onto this list at the end. These are some lesser known beaches that are worth a visit.

Playa Coral

Playa Coral is a small beach just along from Playa Bacocho. You can either pay 50 pesos to enter through Hotel Villa Mexicana, or you can walk around from Bacocho, depending on the waves and tide.

Playa Coral is the perfect place to spend a day as it's quieter, with plenty of places to shade and a few places to buy food and drink. There are still some decent waves but you should be ok getting in and out of the water to cool off.

Playa David Hasselhoff

Last but definitely not least, Playa David Hasselhoff. This long beach is usually almost deserted, as there aren't really any places to eat or drink. If you want to feel like you're some of the only people in Puerto Escondido, definitely head here for the day. It's also a great place to watch the sunset.

If you're wondering why there's a beach in the State of Oaxaca named after this Baywatch legend, you're not alone. Apparently the actor has a home here, and so the locals have lovingly named the beach after him. Keep an eye out for a main in red shorts patrolling the sand.

Roca Blanca

If you're staying in Puerto itself you probably won't stumble across this one, as it's 35 km away from the town.

Roca Blanca is a 6 km beach near the town of Río Grande. It's quiet, peaceful and so relaxed. The easiest way to get here is by car or moped, but if you don't have either of those you can catch a bus from the TUR terminal, book the one that's heading to Río Grande. From the drop off point you'll need to take a 10 minute taxi to the beach itself.

A couple of quick beach questions

Can you snorkel in Puerto Escondido?

Definitely! There is tonnes of marine life around Puerto Escondido, so it's a great place to snorkel. You just need to be careful with the waves. Swimmable places like Playa Carrizalillo and Manzanillo are good places to snorkel. Or, you can book a snorkeling tour where they will take you out into deeper waters to see marine life that you can't reach from shore. You might even see some whales, too.

Where to surf in Puerto Escondido for beginners?

Playa Carrizalillo probably has the most consistently beginner-friendly waves. There are plenty of surf schools up on the main Rinconada and also a few shacks to hire surf boards from down the steps.

Depending on the day, you might also be able to surf at La Punta as a beginner. These waves break from right to left so they're great for goofy foot surfers. As a beginner, it's best to head here at high tide. There are big rocks in the water here so just be extra careful if you're new to surfing.

What is the best time of year to visit the beaches in Puerto Escondido?

The best time to visit the beaches in Puerto Escondido is usually the dry season, from December to April. There will be warm weather, sunny skies, and ideal conditions for both surfing and swimming.

In the rainy season (May to October) the southwest swell hits the coast creating larger waves, especially at Zicatela beach. If you're heading to Puerto Escondido for big wave surfing, the rainy season is the best time for you.