Puerto Escondido is the type of place the place you need to get misplaced for awhile. To neglect Zoom calls and daily obligations for a bit and sink into the sounds of crashing waves and an easier life. All you really want is a swimsuit and a bottle of sunscreen. I ought to know—this previous fall, bordering on burnout throughout one of many busiest durations I’d ever had at work, Adam and I stole away for just a few days to this paradise on the coast of Oaxaca. Inside two hours, I’d forgotten that my email inbox even existed.
However let’s again up a bit. I’m guessing that at this level, a few of you might be asking: the place is Puerto Escondido and why ought to I’m going there? I first heard about it myself on our trip to Oaxaca City last year. As I fell head over heels for this magical state in Mexico, I obtained interested in its many different areas (Oaxaca is Mexico’s greatest state, and it’s huge). Locals informed me that I have to try the laid-back port city within the south of Oaxaca known as Puerto Escondido.
The way to Spend a Lengthy Weekend in Puerto Escondido
It should be stated: this Puerto Escondido journey information comes from a really particular point-of-view, protecting solely the a part of the coast that I actually explored. From our dwelling base at Hotel Escondido, it’s a surprising stretch of seaside about 40 minutes from the extra bustling seashores like Zicatela and La Punta. As soon as we found the riches to be discovered dotted alongside this one lengthy (and intensely bumpy) dust highway, we didn’t need to depart. Unspoiled seashores with rocky outcrops, huge waves, desert vegetation rising like loopy over each dust path and rock wall—it’s paradise.
So, with that disclaimer, right here’s what to do in Puerto Escondido on an extended weekend journey.
The way to Get to Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has a small airport that’s a simple hour-long flight from Mexico Metropolis. Take a taxi from the airport (our resort had one ready for us exterior the exit doorways able to make the 40-minute drive).
In case you’re planning to discover up and down the shoreline, you’ll need to hire a automobile. Nonetheless, when you’re sticking to this information, you’ll be capable to experience a motorcycle alongside the gorgeous dust roads round Hotel Escondido and Casa Wabi, and entry in every single place you have to go.
What to Pack
Repeat after me: you’ll not be dressing up whereas in Puerto Escondido. It’s one of the carry-on pleasant locations because you’ll principally be carrying the identical uniform your entire journey. In the course of the day, a swimsuit topped by a linen button-down and cutoffs. At night time, pair a light-weight shirt or simple sundress with flat sandals (bear in mind, you’re driving a motorcycle!). No heels, no hair dryer—it’s that kinda place. I used to be really shocked by how sizzling it will get right here in the course of the day, so plan to decorate as cool as doable and put on a hat always.
Professional tip: Convey ear plugs. The jungle sounds exterior our room have been loud. The primary night time, I used to be awoken a number of instances by birds screams and frogs croaking.
The place to Keep in Puerto Escondido
There are some unimaginable Airbnbs in Puerto Escondido and I used to be taking notes for future journeys if we come again with the children or a bunch of mates. Nonetheless, since this journey was simply Adam and I, we knew we wished to check out one of many beautifully-designed inns on the stretch of highway close to Casa Wabi.
Lodge Escondido
Hotel Escondido was our dwelling base for the journey, and if I had to decide on, it could win greatest resort in Puerto Escondido (although the inns under are shut seconds). It’s a real refuge within the jungle, and feels extremely restorative from the second you enter its rock-walled passageway that leads straight onto an unspoiled seaside. The resort’s restaurant serves unimaginable dishes all day, there’s a lap pool the place you may hang around and stare on the crashing ocean simply steps away, and the tiny spa affords every kind of lovely companies. Professional ideas: Friends at Puerto Escondido need to be at the very least 16 years outdated. And, borrow the resort’s bikes and experience them in every single place.
Casa Sforza
Casa Sforza is a hanging new resort in Pueblo Del Sol. Its up to date cement construction is juxtaposed by furnishings manufactured from native wooden and ceramics, and there’s a formidable deal with sustainability and supporting the encircling group. It’s an unimaginable expertise for any design-lover.
Lodge Terrestre
Hotel Terrestre is definitely Lodge Escondido’s sister property. As a result of it’s a three-minute bike experience away, we spent fairly a little bit of time indulging in its nice restaurant and exploring the distinctive Hammam expertise. With 14 villas overlooking the ocean, it is a wellness obsessive’s dream. The resort operates fully off the grid utilizing 100% solar energy. Friends are inspired to disconnect from expertise and reconnect with nature, synchronizing their day with the cycle of the solar.
The place to Eat in Puerto Escondido
No Puerto Escondido journey information can be full with out a part devoted to the unimaginable meals. My suggestion is to pattern as a lot regional fare as doable. Under, I’m naming the very best Puerto Escondido eating places from our journey. I do assume there are some respectable eating places in La Punta and Zicatela, however when you’re planning to stay across the Casa Wabi space, you may maintain your self splendidly nourished by the fish tacos and mezcalitas alongside this stretch of seaside.
Cobarde
A low-key spot that’s technically a mezcal bar. However when you contemplate your self within the know, you then’re ordering the nightly “chef’s menu” ready proper in entrance of you on the big cement bar. Although it’s nothing fancy—just a few low tables and chairs strewn round underneath the palm timber—Cobarde has a wabi-sabi cool issue all its personal. Make a reservation by DM on Instagram.
Kakurega Omakase
A real omakase sushi menu set in a thatched roof treehouse within the Oaxacan jungle? Suffice it to say, this was one of the particular eating experiences I’ve ever had. Chef Keisuke Harada moved to the coast from Mexico Metropolis and his 10-course menu is a real murals. And because of the good playlist and boisterous workforce, the expertise can also be actually, actually enjoyable.
Punta Pajaros
In case you’re not wanting carefully, you’d simply miss the wooden signal pointing the way in which to this palapa tucked into the palm timber. However when you did, you’d be lacking out on an genuine and scrumptious Oaxacan meal. The extremely contemporary components are ready proper in entrance of you: guacamole (with or with out grasshoppers), octopus ceviche, tsayludas, and different specialties, washed down with a spicy cucumber mezcalita.
Hotel Escondido
If the encircling spots hadn’t been so scrumptious, we may have simply eaten each single meal at Lodge Escondido and been completely glad. Huevos Rancheros for breakfast underneath the palapa, mezcal margaritas and ceviche on the beachside deck, steps from crashing waves—it’s laborious to beat. In case you solely eat one meal whilst you’re at Lodge Escondido, make it the battered fish tacos. Better of my life.
Hotel Terrestre
Simply down the highway is the architectural stunner, Hotel Terrestre (sister property to Lodge Escondido). A equally scrumptious menu served in a hanging brick and concrete setting, it’s the right option to combine issues up with out roaming too removed from dwelling. In case you can, go for dinner on Thursday after they fireplace up the huge wood-burning oven for pizza night time.
Punta Pájaros
Subsequent door to Lodge Escondido is a extra tucked away however equally lovely resort known as Punta Pájaros. We stopped in for a scrumptious lunch beneath the palapa and feasted on shrimp tostadas and probably the most unimaginable mango mezcalita. As we wandered all the way down to the seaside, we realized that the resort additionally has unimaginable villas proper on the sand—and a palapa for yoga and wellness actions within the jungle (see extra on that under.) This can be a future dwelling base on our subsequent journey to Puerto Escondido!
What to Do in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is made for exploring—making a unfastened plan, then permitting your self to get sidetracked by a hidden path that goes all the way down to the ocean, or a palm-covered seaside bar that’s calling your identify. Listed here are just a few concepts to get you began.
Casa Wabi
Created in 2014 by artist Bosco Sodi and designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, this unimaginable artist residency is located on a distant stretch of Oaxacan seaside. An arresting primary constructing with a 312-meter-long concrete wall acts because the framework, surrounded by exhibition areas, studios, and bungalows the place the artists stay. I’m unsure which was extra inspiring—the up to date artwork on show, or the constructing and grounds themselves.
Book a reservation online for a guided tour. It’s the one option to see the property, and effectively price a go to to see this “meditative group crammed with introspection and connection.”
El Papelillo Sauna
On the finish of the lengthy dust highway is a small signal that merely says “El Papelillo.” Simply contained in the picket gate is without doubt one of the most particular wellness experiences I’ve ever had. A distant sauna that’s actually tucked into the Oaxacan jungle, El Papelillo is meant to “join you to Mom Earth and take you again to our roots.” You pour water over the open fireplace contained in the sauna, lay on the wooden bench and savor the advantages of this detoxifying custom: boosting metabolism, supporting the circulatory system, and calming your breath. One factor I do know for certain: as I showered off after and drank an ice chilly cerveza, I’d by no means felt so fully relaxed in each physique and thoughts.
Meridiano Gallery
Meridiano is an unimaginable stone and concrete house that includes experimental exhibitions of paintings by artists working internationally and throughout disciplines. Based by Nicholas Olney
and Boris Vervoordt, it’s effectively price a go to if you end up on the stretch of highway close to Casa Wabi. We have been fortunate sufficient to be on the town for the most recent exhibition, Joel Shapiro: 4 Bronzes, and it was a magical expertise viewing these works on this house underneath the celebrities.
Hammam at La Terrestre
I’ve by no means been to a true Hammam, and I actually didn’t assume the primary time can be in Oaxaca, however right here we’re. Within the heart of La Terrestre resort is an exquisite brick tower that homes 4 chambers that includes 4 conventional water experiences: a sizzling jacuzzi, steam room, rain bathe, and chilly plunge. You ebook an hour-long personal session wherein the hammam is yours to rotate between the enjoyable experiences. The top result’s a deep sense of well-being bordering on a coma.
Yoga at Punta Pajaros
Puerto Escondido is a spot that nourishes you, physique and soul, and I’m so glad that we squeezed in an energizing yoga session with our unimaginable teacher, Chia Cittadini. Chia teaches at Punta Pajaros resort in an exquisite palapa within the jungle. She led us by means of an hourlong session of flows {that a} newbie can comply with—however that may nonetheless problem an skilled yogi. To search out out Chia’s group session instances or ebook a non-public, head to her Instagram and ship her a notice through WhatsApp.
Swim within the bioluminescent waters of Manialtepec Lagoon
Certainly one of nature’s best-kept secrets and techniques and solely present in just a few locations on earth, Bioluminescence is a phenomenon the place tiny organisms within the sea make the water glow at night time. One such spot, Manialtepec’s Lagoon, is positioned about 20 minutes from Lodge Escondido. You may ebook a driver on the entrance desk, and if you arrive, a non-public motorboat takes you out into the lagoon to expertise the magic.
Day journey to La Punta and Zicatela
As talked about, we stayed largely exterior the principle seashores that draw extra vacationers, however we did enterprise into La Punta at some point to take a look at the thatched-roof seaside bars, eat some açai bowls, and wander round the principle avenue. It’s one palm tree-lined stretch of dust highway, with hippie vibes and backpackers on repeat. Primarily based on mates’ suggestions, the very best eating places in La Punta are Fish Shack, Chicama, Lychée, and Ala Burger.
Surf (when you’re courageous)
Puerto Escondido is named a surfer’s mecca. Nonetheless, in the course of the time of yr after we have been there (October) the waves have been a bit too aggressive for newcomers (as in, we might have died instantly). Nonetheless, when you head into La Punta or Zicatela on an excellent surf day, you may cease by one of many surf outlets and seize a board and an teacher to hit the waves.
Mezcal Manufacturing unit Tour
Mezcal is a lifestyle in Oaxaca. A centuries-old artisan custom, it’s revered in Oaxaca in a means that feels virtually non secular. Household-owned farms and factories are discovered all all through Oaxaca state, together with Puerto Escondido. You may ebook a automobile to take you to one of many factories within the space to see how mezcal is produced. And naturally, you’ll need to style its various varieties.
