FAST
FACTS
Location: Oaxaca State, Pacific coast,
western Mexico
Distance from Mexico City: 500 miles south
Population: 35,000
Closest major airport: Puerto Escondido
International (PXM)
Time zone: Central Standard Time
Puerto Escondido is a traditional Mexican
fishing village located 180 miles south of
the city of Oaxaca and 70 miles west of
Huatulco Bay in an area known as the Emerald
Coast for its magnificent jade-green waters.
The city, which inherited its name from the
local rocks known as “Punta Escondida,”
attracts tourists from all over the world
for its remarkable surfing, natural scenic
beauty, extraordinary bays and pleasant
tropical climate.
Although Puerto Escondido was officially
founded in 1928, it had long since been a
shipping point for coffee plantations.
During the 1960’s, when the coast road was
built, tourism began to develop and
continued to increase with the opening of a
small airport in the 1980s. Today, tourism
is one of the city´s major industries.
The diverse beaches in Puerto Escondido are
one of its major attractions, varying in
types of sand, waves and rocky slopes. Playa
Principal, for example, is one of the calm
beaches in the city, offering kiosks and
changing rooms; while Marineros is ideal for
novice surfers and Zicatela, known for its
rough waves, is a surfer’s paradise with
13-foot high waves. Other popular beaches
include Barra de Colotepec, a turtle zone;
Bacocho, an open beach with gentle waves
ideal for diving; Playa Embarcadero,
suitable for skiing and sailing; and
Carrizalillo, a bay area perfect for
swimming and boat trips. Puerto Angelito, a
small bay next to Puerto Escondido, is
another great place to visit. Its natural
pool, with transparent waters, is ideal for
recreational swimming.
Puerto Escondido is also renowned for its
Turtle Assistance Ecological Camp, located a
few miles from the port, and The Living
Museum of Sea Turtles, located on Mazunte
Beach. The museum is designed to protect sea
turtles and prevent extinction and displays
a variety of sea turtles that inhabit
Mexico’s shores.
Shopping is another diversion in Puerto
Escondido. Local merchandise includes
everything from leather ware, cotton/woolen
textiles, tinwork and ceramics to stone
work, jewelry and the black pottery typical
of Oaxaca State.
Local cuisine in Puerto Escondido is
primarily fish and seafood-based. Following
a busy day of beach lounging and handicraft
shopping, a scrumptious seafood dinner, with
traditional Oaxacan tamales, is the ideal
way to end the perfect day. The best places
are found at the beach shelters, hotel
restaurants and the Alfredo Perez Gasca
tourist avenue, better known as, “El Adoquin.”
Puerto Escondido is a charming fishing
village that offers all the commodities of a
splendid tourist destination enriched with
traditional Oaxacan coast culture. |
