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Home›Destinations›Puerto Escondido
North AmericaMexicoOaxaca

Puerto Escondido

Oaxaca, Mexico · North America

About Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido sits on the route: 10 minutes from Brisas de Zicatela, 59km from Mazunte.

Puerto Escondido is a town located in Oaxaca, Mexico. With a population of 29,903, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Puerto Escondido sits in Mexico, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Mexico City time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Puerto Escondido to your route.

About Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido (English: "Hidden Port") is a Mexican city-port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the state of Oaxaca. Prior to the 1930s, there was no town. The bay had been used as a port intermittently to ship coffee, but there was no permanent settlement due to the lack

Read more of potable water. The name "Puerto Escondido" had roots in the legend of a woman who escaped her captors and hid there. The Nahuatl word for this area was Zicatela, meaning "place of large thorns". Today, it refers to the area's most famous beach. Puerto Escondido is one of the most important tourist attractions on the Oaxacan coast. It caters to a more downscale and eclectic clientele than neighboring Huatulco, mostly surfers, backpackers and Mexican families. The main attractions are the beaches: Zicatela Beach hosts major surfing competitions, while other beaches have gentle waves. A large lagoon area to the west of the town is popular for fishing and birdwatching.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Puerto Escondido?

Puerto Escondido offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Puerto Escondido?

Plan your road trip to Puerto Escondido with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Puerto Escondido as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Puerto Escondido located?

Puerto Escondido is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, North America. The coordinates are 15.8628 latitude, -97.0683 longitude.

What is the population of Puerto Escondido?

Puerto Escondido has a population of approximately 29,903 people, making it a town in Mexico.

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Quick Information

Population
29,903
Continent
North America
Country
Mexico
Region
Oaxaca
Timezone
America/Mexico_City
Coordinates
15.8628, -97.0683

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Mexico

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

Green Angels (free tourist roadside assistance on federal highways): 078.

Full driving guide for Mexico

Tags

North AmericaMexicoOaxacaTown

Worth the detour from Puerto Escondido

2 notable places within an hour's drive.

beach

Mazunte

A small Oaxacan Pacific village with the national turtle centre on the sand and the Punta Cometa headland alongside: the southernmost point of Oaxaca and the coast's best sunset viewpoint.

59 km · about 70 min drive

photogenic

Punta Cometa

A rocky headland jutting into the Pacific at Mazunte, reached by a 20-minute walk through scrub: the southernmost tip of Oaxaca and a near-360° platform for sunset, whale and dolphin spotting.

59 km · about 70 min drive

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Puerto Escondido.

Brisas de Zicatela

🇲🇽 Mexico

4 km awayPop. 9,771

La Barra de Colotepec

🇲🇽 Mexico

6 km awayPop. 1,224

Bajos de Chila

🇲🇽 Mexico

9 km awayPop. 5,425

San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito Veintidós

🇲🇽 Mexico

13 km away

Santa María Colotepec

🇲🇽 Mexico

14 km awayPop. 1,369

Santa María Tiltepec

🇲🇽 Mexico

25 km awayPop. 2,163

Santiago Cuixtla

🇲🇽 Mexico

25 km awayPop. 1,254

San Gabriel Mixtepec

🇲🇽 Mexico

26 km awayPop. 3,518

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence