Where to Stay In Puerto Escondido Mexico : Complete Guide
Puerto Escondido is a beautiful surfer town on the Pacific ocean with so much to offer. I absolutely loved my solo trip here and would return in a heartbeat! This guide is to help you figure out where to stay in Puerto Escondido based on what you’ll be doing, your tastes etc.
Summary : Where to Stay In Puerto Escondido
When looking into where to stay in Puerto Escondido, there are three main areas to consider. La Punta is a bohemian neighborhood where you’ll find artists, dirt roads, lots of thatched roofs and a laid back atmosphere. It’s also home to the best beach break in Puerto Escondido for beginner surfers. Some of the best accommodation options here are Bonita Escondido hostel ($), the Nectar coworking hostel ($$), Casa Bicachi ($$), the Ennea resort ($$$) and Casona Sforza ($$$).
Punta Zicatela is where the world famous Puerto Escondido beach break and wave is, where only advanced surfers should be in the water. This is also where all the best nightlife is, along with restaurants and beach bars all along the shore. For accommodations check out the Secret Beach hostel ($), Selina hostel and coworking space ($$) which are both great for digital nomads, along with the Hotel Santa Fe ($$$) and Casa Joseph ($$$).
Centro is closest to Puerto Escondido’s most beautiful and swimmable beaches, and has the easiest access to conveniences, making it great for families or anyone with a car. The accommodations tend to be cheaper in the Centro area since it is less walkable, and the best to check out are the Losodeli coworking space ($) for digital nomads, Puerto Dreams ($), Oasis Surf Camp ($$), the Villas Carrizalillo Hotel ($$) and Posada Real Puerto Escondido ($$).
Lastly, if you’d like to visit the famed Casa Wabi and are okay with a little splurge, the private pool suites at the Hotel Escondido ($$$) or Hotel Terrestre ($$$) are for you.
Puerto Escondido Map : Get a better understanding of the area overall
View my complete Puerto Escondido map where you’ll find the most important places to know, for example where the airport is, where to exchange currency, etc. and also of course the best and most fun spots not to miss plus the best hotels.
How to get to Puerto Escondido Mexico?
The two main ways to get to this tropical surfing destination, which are either to fly into the local Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM) from Mexico City either at MEX or NLU, or to fly into the Oaxaca airport (OAX) and then take the two-hour bus ride.
Where to Stay In Puerto Escondido : Complete Guide
Puerto Escondido can be divided into three main areas, and where you stay will depend on what you’ll be doing on your vacation.
First A Few Quick Tips…
You should always keep in mind that a lot of Puerto Escondido hostels, hotels and vacation rentals won’t have some of the amenities you might be used to for example in other destinations, the United States, or larger towns.
My advice is to always confirm with your accommodation ahead of time that they have air conditioning, hot water and/or free WI-FI to avoid disappointment!
La Punta : Puerto Escondido’s Hippie Neighborhood
Best For: Artists, Creatives, Digital Nomads, Learning to Surf, Solo Travelers
La Punta is a hippie bohemian part of town on the southern end of Puerto Escondido with dirt roads, traditional thatched roofs, boutique shops, live music and art. This was by far my favorite spot in Puerto Escondido!
If you aren’t renting a car or scooter, try to get an accommodation relatively close to the main Alejandro Cardenes Peralta street, where most of the restaurants and shops are – which you can see highlighted on the Puerto Escondido map image below. All of the La Punta accommodation options I have in this blog are within walking distance to restaurants, conveniences etc.
La Punta bars and restaurants have to stop playing loud music by 11:00pm but until then it’s known as a pregame and dinner spot on the island, with live music, artists out and about displaying some of their best stuff, fun DJ music and a great atmosphere. Since the loud music stops early, La Punta is great for people who want the best of both worlds – a fun atmosphere and plenty of rest.
You’ll also find lots of coworking spots with StarLink in La Punta, along with Puerto’s best beach for learning to surf (although that will depend on conditions).
The only downside of staying in La Punta is that you’re farthER from the best and most tropical beaches, so if you plan to spend every day at one of these beaches then La Punta may be a little out of the way.
Best Puerto Escondido Hotels & Accommodation Options In La Punta
La Punta is home to tons of small boutique hotels, some of the best Puerto Escondido hostels and Airbnb/vacation rentals.
Nectar is one of the best places to stay in La Punta, offering a combined digital nomad paradise and coworking space, with a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzis and a really great dedicated team. For more of a party atmosphere, Bonita Escondido is a party hostel perfect for meeting friends as they have regular daily activities and events, and a really social vibe overall. It’s known as one of the best party hostels in the area.
Casa Bicachi is another Puerto Escondido boutique hotel that is especially great for couples, with air conditioning, great design and basic but beautiful rooms.
For architecture and art lovers, the Casa TO on the outskirts of La Punta is absolutely stunning. This place is next up on my list for where to stay in Puerto Escondido!
Speaking of architecture, the stunning Casona Sforza is known for its universally acclaimed architecture, designed by the Mexico City based architect Alberto Kalach. This is definitely for luxury travelers only, as the rooms are priced at over $500 per night typically.
Another choice for a luxury stay is the Ennea boutique hotel, with stunning views and nine different unique rooms. Make sure to book this one in advance so it’s not sold out.
The Casa De Olas Boutique Hotel is somewhere in between a hotel and hostel, with all suites for a really great price, but also lots of common areas and the layout of a vacation rental. Guests love all the games on the property like ping pong and darts, the outdoor swimming pool area and the beautiful design, which is reflected in the great reviews for this place all over!!
Playa Zicatela
Best For: Anyone (Zicatela is Central), Partiers, Professional & Pro Surfers
Playa Zicatela is the center of Puerto Escondido and home to the world famous swell. Although Zicatela Beach is THE beach for advanced surfers here, it’s not good for swimming and has really dangerous currents. Because of this, if you’re hoping to lay around the beach each day on vacation, Punta or Centro is probably better in terms of a place to stay.
All of the best nightlife in Puerto Escondido is in Playa Zicatela as well as tons of restaurants and bars right on the sand along the beach. Punta Zicatela is also conveniently in the middle of Puerto Escondido, so you can pretty easily get to La Punta, Centro and the airport from here. The central location is the reason I chose to stay in Zicatela during my last trip.
Top Accommodations in La Zicatela : Where to Stay In Puerto Escondido Zicatela
Selina Puerto Escondido is my choice for where to stay in Puerto Escondido, placed in the Zicatela area of town. Selina is a hostel and digital nomads paradise, right across from the beach and also close to the beautiful Playa Carrizalillo beach with really cool and unique tropical vibe. They have a coworking space, fast WIFI throughout the rooms and the rest of the hotel, an onsite bar and restaurant, two outdoor swimming pools and even Selina Surf for surf lessons.
It is a hostel but there are lots of different room types, so you’ll have your choice between a dorm room, small private room with a shared bathroom, a private room (including a private bathroom) and even a larger suite.
Secret Beach hostel is another great Puerto Escondido hostel in Zicatela which is a more low-key and budget-friendly option, part of the Pina by the Beach properties. The dorms are very nice and new compared to most of the other hostels in Puerto. They’re pod style with curtains and outlets.
If you’re in Zicatela to party and you’re hoping to meet fellow travelers, Straw Hat Hostel is your place.
Casa Joseph is closer to La Punta than the other hotels on this list, making it the most centrally located and convenient, with the nightlife of La Punta and Zicatela just a short walk away. This adult-only retreat is one of the best Puerto Escondido boutique hotels for sure. It has an exclusive atmosphere and is more on the upscale end, a spa, yoga classes, a delicious on-site restaurant and rooms that are beautifully decorated.
For a romantic getaway or a more luxury stay, the 4-star Hotel Hotel Santa Fe is the perfect place to stay. This boutique hotel in Puerto Escondido has beautiful architecture, a tropical feel with lots of palm trees and plants, and stunning design which feels unique to Mexico.
Hotel Rockaway is a boutique hotel on Zicatela beach and one of the bigger hotels in Puerto Escondido. The hotel has a more modern feel compared to a lot of others here, with on-site convenience store, garden, multiple pools and a fitness center.
Centro & Rinconada : Stay Close to the Best Puerto Escondido Beaches
Best For: Families, Beach Bums, People Renting a Car
The Centro and Rinconada areas are closest to the best things to do in Puerto Escondido including the best beaches, making this a great spot for families and beach bums. Carrizalillo beach is both the best Puerto Escondido beach for beginner surfers and the most beautiful, with crystal clear water, palm trees, lounge chairs to rent and a few small restaurants serving local cuisine. You’ll also be close to Playa Manzanillo, Coral and the popular Playa Bacocho beach, which is where the daily turtle releases happen!
Oasis Surf Camp is also right in town, which is the best place to learn to surf in Puerto Escondido, and in Rinconada you’ll find tons of amazing restaurants. Lastly, this area is closest to anything you need during your stay, such as the giant Chedraui supermarket and the banks in case you need to get cash, along with lots of other conveniences.
Best Puerto Escondido Hotels In Centro, Rinconada & Nearby
For anyone hoping to either learn to surf or improve your surfing skills there’s no better place to stay than at Oasis Surf Camp. I learned to surf at Oasis and although I didn’t stay on site, their two small hotels are great options for places to stay in the Centro area for an amazing price. Also you can read about my experience at Oasis here!
If you’re working remote or need a good internet connection during your stay, Losodeli Coworking Hostel is the best choice for you in Centro as it has some of the strongest internet connection you’ll find in Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Dreams and Tower Bridge are two other top rated Puerto Escondido hostels for a budget stay in paradise where you’ll find backpackers and fellow travelers to chat with.
Villas Carrizalillo Hotel is perched right on the mountain above Carrizalillo with private steps to the stunning beach. Some guests have said the service and facilities are lacking though, so don’t stay here expecting a 5-star vacation.
Posada Real Puerto Escondido is one of the only Puerto Escondido all-inclusive resorts, with the option for non-inclusive rates, and one of the top hotels according to Trip Advisor offering a private beach, huge outdoor swimming pool, restaurants, bars and free private parking. Although it may not stand up against a lot of Mexico’s other all-inclusive resorts in places like Cancun, Posada Real is clearly one of the best choices for a luxurious stay in Puerto Escondido.
A Luxury Stay Near Puerto Escondido At Casa Wabi
Farther from town you’ll find a few luxury hotels that are catered to the art inspired travelers visiting the stunning Casa Wabi art foundation. The luxurious Hotel Escondido is my #1 recommendation for a hotel stay in this area, which guests say is a 5-star hotel experience. It’s probably the most pricy option on this list but also the most high-class, with a spa, private plunge pools in each suite, an infinity pool, gorgeous architecture and interior design, all in a quiet and secluded beach. It’s really a destination in itself. Come here for a relaxing getaway and a splurge.
There’s also the luxurious Hotel Terrestre, offering stunning architecture, private pool suites and a very upscale and high class experience right next door to Hotel Escondido.
Last but not least, Vivo Resorts is another luxury resort about halfway in between Puerto Escondido and Casa Wabi. Vivo Resorts is an all-suites hotel, with apartment-style rooms that have kitchens and large spaces meant for longer stays. Guests love the spa, on-site restaurant with room service, pool and secluded beach.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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