2-Day Puerto Escondido and Mazunte Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Puerto Escondido is your base for the first three nights, with a long day down the coast on the last.Details

Getting here: Puerto Escondido has a small airport a short ride from town, with flights from Mexico City and a few other cities. The other way in is a long road or bus from the city of Oaxaca, through mountains. Book the last leg to your door ahead.
Getting around: The town sits on a hillside above its beaches, so expect steps and short climbs. Short hops are easy by local taxi or on foot. The lagoon and Mazunte need a rental car, a driver or a place on a small group trip. Keep to main roads in daylight.
The waves: The Pacific here has strong surf and rip currents. Zicatela is a break for experienced surfers only, so watch it from the sand. Swim only in the calmer coves, and ask a lifeguard or a local about the day before you go in.
Sun and the evening: The sun is strong, so bring a hat, a long sleeved shirt and water. Day 1 starts at Playa Principal, the town beach, so settle in and take an easy walk along the bay before supper.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.9 kilometers a day, and 91.8 kilometers by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. Puerto Escondido and its bays and Zicatela and the south beaches

4 stops · 34.9 km by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Morning
Playa Carrizalillo
A small cove of pale sand tucked below the cliffs, reached by a long staircase from the street above. Local fishing families and surfers share it. The cove is more sheltered than the open beach, but check the waves and ask a lifeguard before you swim.
Go when Morning, when the cove is quiet and the light is soft.
Local tip The staircase is long and uneven, so wear shoes you can climb in, and leave nothing of value on the sand. Ask a lifeguard about the water before you go in.
About 31 min by car or transit15.7 km
2
MorningBest early
Laguna de Manialtepec
A large lagoon behind the coast west of Puerto Escondido, ringed by mangroves and fed by the sea at its edge. Local boatmen take visitors out to see the birds that use it. Some nights the water can glow, but only sometimes and never on demand, so check ahead and do not count on it.
Go when Early morning, when the birds are active and the water is still.
Local tip Go with a local boatman, wear insect repellent and keep to their advice. Do not swim, and check ahead on what is running. Any glow on the water is rare and never promised.
Photo: Jaumahell, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Fried whole fish
A whole fried fish with rice, tortillas and a squeeze of lime, eaten at a plain table in the shade near the water.
Local tip Eat after the lagoon, and drink plenty of water.
About 32 min by car or transit17.0 km
3
MorningBest early
Playa Principal
The town beach on the bay of Puerto Escondido, where the fishing boats are pulled up on the sand and the town begins. It is a working beach more than a resort one. Walk along the water, watch the boats, and keep to the shore if the swell is up.
Go when Early morning, when the boats and the first walkers are out.
Local tip Walk the whole bay once and stay on the sand if the swell is up. Ask a local about the water before you swim, and carry water, since shade is scarce.
About 9 min by car or transit2.2 km
4
Evening
Playa Zicatela
The long beach south of the bay, a surf break known across Mexico. The waves are fast, heavy and break close to the shore, and strong currents run along it. It is for experienced surfers only, so do not swim here. Watch from the sand and let the light fade.
Go when Late afternoon, for the light on the waves (about 6:14 PM).
Local tip This is a break for experienced surfers only, with strong currents. Watch from the sand and never swim here. If you want to surf, ask a local surf school about a calmer beach for lessons.
Dinner
Garlic shrimp
Shrimp cooked in butter and garlic, with rice and a salad, eaten with the sound of the waves behind you.
Local tip Ask for the shrimp with the shell on if you like the flavour it brings.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 2. Mazunte and the turtle coast

2 stops · 0.9 km on foot, 57.0 km by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Drive from Playa ZicatelaAbout 1 h 2 min by car57.0 km
Where Day 1 ended.
1
MorningIndoor
Mexican Turtle Centre
The Mexican Turtle Centre, the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, a research and conservation centre in Mazunte with tanks of sea turtles and other species of the coast. It grew out of a place where turtles were once hunted. Check ahead on when it is open.
Go when Morning, before the heat.
Local tip Look and do not touch. Ask the staff how the centre works, and check ahead on when it is open. It is a research place, so keep your voice low.
Photo by marco antonio on Unsplash
About 11 min walk0.9 km
2
Evening
Punta Cometa
A rocky headland that marks the southernmost point of the Oaxaca coast, reached by a footpath from Mazunte. The path is rough and has little shade. Go in good shoes, take water and watch the sun go down over the sea. The rocks can be slick, so keep well back from the edge.
Go when Late afternoon, so you see the sun go down (about 6:14 PM).
Local tip Wear closed shoes, take water and a torch for the way back, and keep well back from the cliff edge. The path is rough and the rocks can be slippery.
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Grilled fish with garlic
A whole fish grilled with garlic and chile, served with rice, salad and warm tortillas at a simple table with the sea in front of it.
Local tip Ask what was caught that day.

If it rains. Mexican Turtle Centre is covered, so keep it. Move Punta Cometa to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Plan the road to your airport before you go, and leave a margin.Details

Getting out: Book the ride the day before. Puerto Escondido has its own airport, and the airport at Huatulco is the nearer one if you sleep in Mazunte. The coast road is long and winding, so travel in daylight and allow extra time.
Your last morning: If you are still in Puerto Escondido, walk once more along the bay before you go, and watch the boats and the early surfers from the sand. Look rather than swim if the sea looks rough.
Your bag: Rinse sandy shoes and pack wet swim things in a bag of their own. Spend your pesos before the airport, since they are hard to change outside the country.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Puerto Escondido?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to March are the best months for a beach trip to Puerto Escondido. This plan is built for november to April, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Puerto Escondido, planned for november to April. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.9 kilometers a day, and 91.8 kilometers by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.