Fly into Puerto Escondido (PXM) if you can and Huatulco (HUX) if it is cheaper, come for at least a week, and avoid mid-December to early January unless you have booked months ahead. The town is small, hot and informal, and most first-timers underestimate how much of it happens on WhatsApp.
When to go
November to April is the dry season: hot, sunny, reliably dry, and busy. December through Semana Santa is peak, with the last two weeks of December and the first week of January being the most expensive and crowded of the year.
May to October is the rainy season, which mostly means dramatic afternoon or night storms rather than all-day rain, plus green hills, big surf and far fewer people. September and October are the quietest, cheapest and most humid months. If you want the town rather than the crowd, come in late October or November, my favourite time of year, by the way.
Getting here
Puerto Escondido's airport (PXM) has direct flights from Mexico City, Oaxaca City and, increasingly, some international routes. It is fifteen minutes from town, which is a real luxury.
Huatulco (HUX) is the alternative, around two and a half hours by road, often cheaper, and worth it if the price gap is large. Arrange the transfer in advance rather than negotiating at the airport, especially at night. There are also overnight buses and vans from Oaxaca City on a road that is much better than it used to be.
How long to stay
A week is the minimum that makes the journey worth it. Ten days to two weeks is the sweet spot: enough for a couple of day trips, some surfing, and several days of doing nothing, which is genuinely what the town is for.
If you are considering buying property, budget more time than you think. Viewings move at local pace, and seeing a place in both morning and afternoon light, and hearing the street at night, tells you more than a rushed schedule.
Money and practicalities
Bring cash and expect to use it. Many restaurants, taxis, colectivos and small businesses are still cash only, and card machines sometimes fail in power cuts or run out of money during high season. Withdraw from bank ATMs rather than standalone machines and check the fee before confirming.
Get a Mexican SIM or eSIM on arrival. Almost everything here runs on WhatsApp: your driver, tour guides, your surf instructor, your landlord, property viewings, and me.
Tap water is not for drinking; garrafón water is delivered everywhere and most rentals provide it. The sun at this latitude is stronger than most visitors expect. Use reef-safe sunscreen and stay in the shade in the middle of the day. Depending on the season and location, mosquitoes are common, especially around sunrise and sunset, so insect repellent is recommended.
What to actually do
Watch surfers at Zicatela from the sand at sunset. Swim at Carrizalillo. Take a sunrise boat trip and see dolphins and turtles, and in season, whales. Do the bioluminescence tour if there is no moon. Spend a day at the Chacahua lagoons. Eat tlayudas late, drink mezcal slowly, and take an afternoon to do nothing at all.
One evening, walk the Adoquín in the old town, which is where Puerto Escondido was before the surfers arrived.
If you are coming to look at property
Tell whoever you are working with well in advance, and be clear about budget and purpose. Good properties here are not always listed, and arranging viewings takes lead time, especially for properties managed as vacation rentals, where visits may not always be possible on your preferred day and can take a few days to organise.
Stay in the neighbourhood you think you want to buy in. A week in Rinconada, La Punta or La Barra will tell you more about whether you would live there than any number of photographs.
Common questions
- Which airport should I fly into for Puerto Escondido?
- Puerto Escondido (PXM) is fifteen minutes from town and the easiest option. Huatulco (HUX) is about two and a half hours away by road and is worth considering when flights are much cheaper. Arrange the transfer in advance.
- Is Puerto Escondido expensive?
- It is more expensive than inland Oaxaca and cheaper than Tulum or Los Cabos. Eating at local comedores and taking colectivos costs very little; beachfront restaurants and high-season rentals cost roughly what you would pay in a mid-range European beach town.
- Do I need to speak Spanish?
- You will manage in tourist areas without it, but everything is easier with some. Outside restaurants and surf schools, English is not widespread, which is precisely why having someone who speaks both makes a difference for anything practical or legal.
Get in touch
Personalized real estate advice, due diligence, vacation rental management and concierge services in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, in English, Spanish and German.