Where to stay in Puerto Escondido: La Punta, Zicatela, Rinconada and La Barra

This article will cover where to stay in Puerto Escondido in the neighbourhoods of La Punta, Zicatela and Rinconada/Bacocho, with a quick touch on La Barra, too. There are some places to stay in Centro, as well, but we haven't spent that much time there, so we're sticking to what we know.

Where to stay in La Punta Puerto Escondido?

We're going to start with this area of Puerto Escondido as it's definitely where the most visitors stay. From digital nomads to solo travellers and long-time Puerto residents, this part of town packs a big punch when it comes to accommodation, restaurants, cafes and things to do.

The best place for digital nomads

If you're a going to be living and working in Puerto, first of all hi and welcome to the club. Secondly, here are a few accommodation options that are great for remote workers in Punta Zicatela.

Hotel Nectar Cafe and Cowork

Hotel Nectar is an absolute heaven for remote workers. It's quiet, it's got great facilities, there are plenty of places to sit in front of your laptop, and it's slightly away from the main road in La Punta, so it's a little less noisy.

The accommodation style is somewhere between hostel and boutique hotel, with both dorm rooms and private rooms available. There's a beautiful pool on the ground floor, along with a cafe, plus, a roof terrace, bar and hot tubs on the top floor. Whilst it might not be the most social place on this list (see Bonita for that), it's a really good place to get some work done.

The best place for solo travellers

If you're heading to Puerto Escondido as a solo traveller, La Punta is definitely the best place for you to stay. La Punta has the busiest bars, the best hostels, and a beautiful stretch of beach which is a meeting point for what feels like everyone in the area at sunset.

Bonita Escondida Hostel

If you're heading to La Punta as a solo traveller one of the best places you can stay is Bonita Escondida Hostel.

Bonita is a super social hostel right on the main beach. There's a swimming pool, a bar, and loads of events throughout the week (both alcohol and fitness related). You also have all the usual hostel stuff, like a tour desk to book excursions, a book exchange, a communal kitchen, luggage storage and lockers. But the best thing about this place is definitely the atmosphere. If you're travelling solo and you want to meet people, this is the place.

Even if you're not staying here, it's a great place to come for a beer.

It's about £15/350 MXN for a bed in a 12-bed dorm here, or £80/2000 MXN for a private room.

The best place for boujee holidaymakers

Casa Babel is so photogenic, we're 100% sure you'll end your stay with at least 100 pics of the place on your phone.

It has around 8 studio rooms, each with an en suite and a sofa bed in case there are 3 of you. There's also a gorgeous pool (which somehow stays super cool even on the hottest days), a shaded seating area and a small communal kitchen, with a fridge for those Coronas, and a sky terrace with killer views of the Pacific. The location is also great, you're just a 30 second walk from the main road in La Punta, so there are loads of restaurants, bars and shops for you to enjoy nearby.

Prices start from around 1273 MXN per night, which is only about £50, so even though the place it pretty boujee, the price isn't.

Where to stay in Zicatela?

Zicatela is a busy area along Playa Zicatela, a 3.5km long, wide sandy beach. There are loads of hotels in this area, a couple of hostels, and some apartments. If you're coming to Puerto Escondido as a big wave surfer, Zicatela is the right place for you. As well as the beach, the restaurants and the waves, you'll also have the clubs nearby, if you're into late night partying.

The best places for solo travellers

Straw Hat Hostel

Straw Hat Hostel is your classic, backpacker vibe hostel. If you're travelling solo, want to meet people, and you don't mind some cheesy (/cringey) games, this is the place for you. It might not have the best amenities, the cleanest showers, or the most perfect location, but it's a good all-rounder for a fairly bargain price. Just be aware that the music starts early and plays loud in this place.

For a bed in an 8-bed, mixed dorm, you'll pay around £11/280 MXN per night.

Tip: Another option in Zicatela is Selina Puerto Escondido. It's in a great location, right on the main road along the beach, but the vibe here is not great, and neither are the cleaning standards...

The best places for boujee holidaymakers

Casa Joseph Zicatela

Casa Joseph Zicatela is a luxury, adults-only hotel right on Playa Zicatela beach, in an area called Los Tamarindos. The hotel has suites and villas, including a 2-bed option, and some of the villas even have private pools.

There are so many cute touches that make this hotel amazing, like the complementary slippers and beach hats, the on-site restaurant, and the gorgeous sun loungers laid out on the beach. There are also regular daily activities, like yoga, breath work, ice baths and moonlit cinema showings.

The only potential downside to Casa Joseph is the location. Whilst you are right on the beach, it's about a 20-minute walk to the main road in Zicatela, or the same to La Punta Zicatela. There's not really much around the hotel itself, though when the place is that beautiful maybe you don't need to leave...

Prices vary hugely, depending on when you stay and in which room. But, as a rough guide, to stay in an ocean front suite on a weekend night in June would set you back about £330/8600 MXN.

Where to stay in Rinconada?

Rinconada is very different to Zicatela and La Punta, as there's not so much of a backpacker scene. It's a quieter area, with fewer bars and restaurants. If you're in Puerto Escondido on holiday or as a digital nomad, Rinconada is a great place to stay. But, if you're here solo travelling/backpacking and you're looking to meet people, we'd reccomend Zicatela or La Punta instead.

One brilliant thing about Rinconada, though, is that you have the beautiful Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Manzanillo on your doorstep, which are small, cove beaches with calm waters which are perfect for swimming, or anyone learning to surf. More on the best beaches in Puerto Escondido here.

The best place for digital nomads

Casa Cosme

Casa Cosme is a collection of studio rooms and larger apartments. It's got a beautiful swimming pool, brilliant WiFi, and it's in a really quiet part of Rinconada (technically called Bacocho). We stayed here for six weeks whilst working online, first in one of the studio rooms (which was a bit small for two of us but would probably be ok for one person), and then in one of the bigger apartments.

Casa Cosme is brilliant for remote workers because of a few reasons. First of all, it's in one of the quietest neighbourhoods in the area, on a private development, so there aren't really any distractions. Secondly, power cuts can be a problem in Puerto Escondido, especially in the high season, but, whilst we were staying there we didn't really experience any, even when the whole of La Punta's power was off for days. And, the WiFi is super fast, so you won't have any issues joining work meetings.

The only drawback to staying here is that you're a bit of a walk away from everything. There's a couple of tiendas about seven minutes away, and one or two family-run restaurants, but really all the main cafes and the bigger restaurants are in Rinconada, which is about a 25-minute walk.

Casa Losodeli

Casa Losodeli is right on the edge of Rinconada, almost in Centro. It's a hotel, hostel, coworking space and a cafe, run by a local family from Puerto Escondido. The casa is right near the ADO terminal, if you're arriving from Oaxaca City, and it's only a 10 minute drive from the airport.

One of the nicest things about Casa Losodeli is the lovely, family-run vibe. And one of the most important things that makes it great for digital nomads is the fibre-optic internet. Puerto Escondido has a reputation of poor internet connection, but Casa Losodeli has fibre-optic and Starlink for backup, so you should have no issues staying connected 24/7.

The rooms are also a bargain, you can get a single bed in a 4-bed dorm for less than £8/200 MXN per night. Or, have an air conditioned, private room for only £34/900 MXN per night.

The best places for boujee holidaymakers

Suites La Hacienda

Staying at Suites La Hacienda is a truly magical experience. It's a traditional, Mexican Hacienda surrounded by swaying palm trees and tropical plants. There are only seven rooms, all decorated in a colonial style, and the team are super friendly and welcoming. The hotel is only a couple of blocks from the main road in Rinconada, so there are plenty of brilliant restaurants and cafes within walking distance.

Hotel Suites Villasol

Hotel Suites Villasol is a traditional, resort style hotel with room service, a gym, massages, and a restaurant. The hotel also has a sister site, a private beach club called Club Bacocho, though unfortunately hotel guests still need to pay for entry as it's not included in the stay! The rooms are basic but clean, and the hotel is in a great location.

The reason we included Hotel Suites Villasol is because it's one of the only places on this list that offers the traditional 'hotel' experience. If you're having the type of holiday where you want to stay pretty much completely on-site, lounging by the pool and enjoying the restaurant, this is one of the best hotels for that.

Where to stay in La Barra

Casona Sforza

Casona Sforza is a an adults-only, beachfront resort, and one of the most beautiful hotels in the whole of Puerto Escondido. If you're into architecture and design, you need to get on the waitlist for this place. Yes, there's a waitlist. There's also a Michelin Guide restaurant, LA BÓVEDA Restaurant, which serves up seasonal cuisine sourced from local suppliers.

The only thing to bear in mind is that this hotel is a little off the beaten path. It's a 45 minute walk to La Punta, so you'll probably be catching taxis everywhere, if you can peel yourself away from the hotel.

Rooms are around £250-£300/6500-7800 MXN per night, though they do have regular special offers.

Still wondering where to stay in Puerto Escondido?

A few commonly asked questions for anyone coming to Puerto Escondido for the first time.

Is Puerto Escondido a party town?

Yes and no. La Punta can get very busy on the weekends, especially in high season. It's a major meeting point for backpackers from all over the world, and Mexican residents who want a weekend away. However, all the bars shut at 11, so you won't have music pumping until the early hours.

Zicatela, on the other hand, is a different story. All of the major clubs are in Zicatela, like Mar y Wana, Isha and Cactus, and these are open as late as 5/6am sometimes. The clubs are also pretty close to the main strip, near the hotels, so it can get pretty noisy around here. And there is definitely a big party vibe.

Rinconada is the complete opposite. There are only a couple of bars, and these shut early.

How long should you spend in Puerto Escondido?

How long is a piece of string! The first time we visited Puerto Escondido, we stayed for about a week and it was a good amount of time. But, you could easily get the vibe of the place in just a few days. Or, you could stay for months on end and not get bored. Tips here for what to do in Puerto Escondido.

What part of Puerto Escondido to stay in?

If you want to meet travellers, stay in a backpacking haven, and have some of the best restaurants and cafes on your doorstep, stay in La Punta.

If you're here for a party weekend, you want to be right on the beach, and still just a short walk from La Punta, stay in Zicatela.

If you want to stay somewhere beautiful, away from noise and people, stay in La Barra.

If you want to stay a short walk from swimmable beaches, away from the party vibe but still close to some restaurants and cafes, stay in Rinconada.