Puerto Escondido is one of those places where you get stuck. Not because you planned it and… to be honest, when I heard about it I thought to myself ‘Yeah come on, as if!’, but it’s true. Puerto Escondido has that effect. On everyone I know or have spoken to.
On the one hand, Puerto Escondido has an incredible number of different beaches, all of which are different. At the same time, there is a really big supermarket in the centre, shops, restaurants and so on and so forth. It’s like a city that happens to have a lot of beaches and is super relaxed at the same time. And you can feel this vibe everywhere in Puerto Escondido. It’s more pronounced in certain places than elsewhere, but basically Puerto Escondido is just a thoroughly relaxed and chilled place.

The first time I was in Puerto Escondido, I stayed in a hostel in the backpacker area where – no joke – the shower was a trickle of ice-cold water. Funnily enough, the icy cold was the lesser problem in this case, because the temperatures in Puerto Escondido are…. You know that heat that just automatically knocks your brain out? Where you can’t grasp any more thoughts, can’t concentrate and need a thousand times longer for everything and in the end just chill out because the warmth and relaxation have flowed into the last fibres of your being? That’s what Puerto Escondido is like.
Another tip: just try not to go out at 11 o’clock in the morning. Well, I mean you can, but even through flip-flops you’ll feel the heat of the sand and you’ll hardly meet anyone on the streets because it’s just too hot. And that goes on until 2pm/15pm. After that it gets busier again and in the evening everyone is out and about again. In the morning too, of course – if you’re surf crazy. The rest sleep off the previous evening or stay in the tolerable shade.

I call the backpackers area this because it is full of relatively cheap hostels that are simply populated by backpackers. There are one or two shop-like kiosks, a few bars and restaurants – some of which are very tasty, but the prices have been adjusted to suit tourists – lots of clubs and, of course, surfboard hire. The vibe is admittedly awesome. Very relaxed, very laid back, nobody is in a hurry, everyone is super relaxed and in a good mood. Just backpacker chillandia. That’s why it’s so hard to get away: heat + vibe = at least three attempts to actually pack your bags.
You can get there by taxi (35 pesos) or colectivo (I think it was 5 or 10 pesos). If you take the taxi, you’ll probably be dropped off in front of the hostel – I guess because I’ve only ever travelled by colectivo myself. With the colectivo, you have to ask the locals for the pick-up location the first time – to be honest, usually just join them – and once you’re inside with your bag and baggage, always keep a lookout outside, because: In this colectivo there is a cord that you have to pull (I think it was a cord) to ‘ring’ and signal when you want to get out. You have to get out at the first street that leads in. The second and third time you will recognise the spot. The first time you can simply ask a local. They know where you want to go 😉

Oh, and before I forget: Even if you’re not staying in the backpacker area… trust me and pay it a visit anyway. Especially in the afternoon/evening. The beaches are beautiful, the views are fantastic, there is so much to see and discover and the sunsets are just a dream!
To go or not to go: I personally think that if you want to experience the beach in Mexico, then you should go to Puerto Escondido. There’s simply no other beach resort that offers the whole package and so…. you’ll be so deeply relaxed 😀