Puerto Escondido is the sort of place the place you wish to get misplaced for awhile. To neglect Zoom calls and day by day obligations for a bit and sink into the sounds of crashing waves and an easier life. All you actually need is a swimsuit and a bottle of sunscreen. I ought to know—this previous fall, bordering on burnout throughout one of many busiest durations I’d ever had at work, Adam and I stole away for a couple of days to this paradise on the coast of Oaxaca. Inside two hours, I’d forgotten that my electronic mail inbox even existed.
However let’s again up a bit. I’m guessing that at this level, a few of you might be asking: the place is Puerto Escondido and why ought to I’m going there? I first heard about it myself on our journey to Oaxaca Metropolis final 12 months. As I fell head over heels for this magical state in Mexico, I obtained interested by its many different areas (Oaxaca is Mexico’s greatest state, and it’s huge). Locals instructed me that I have to take a look at the laid-back port city within the south of Oaxaca referred to as Puerto Escondido.
How you can Spend a Lengthy Weekend in Puerto Escondido
It have to be stated: this Puerto Escondido journey information comes from a really particular point-of-view, protecting solely the a part of the coast that I actually explored. From our house base at Lodge Escondido, it’s a surprising stretch of seaside about 40 minutes from the extra bustling seashores like Zicatela and La Punta. As soon as we found the riches to be discovered dotted alongside this one lengthy (and very bumpy) grime street, we didn’t wish to go away. Unspoiled seashores with rocky outcrops, large waves, desert crops rising like loopy over each grime path and rock wall—it’s paradise.
So, with that disclaimer, right here’s what to do in Puerto Escondido on a protracted weekend journey.
How you can Get to Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has a small airport that’s a straightforward hour-long flight from Mexico Metropolis. Take a taxi from the airport (our resort had one ready for us outdoors the exit doorways able to make the 40-minute drive).
In case you’re planning to discover up and down the shoreline, you’ll wish to lease a automotive. Nevertheless, when you’re sticking to this information, you’ll have the ability to journey a motorcycle alongside the gorgeous grime roads round Lodge Escondido and Casa Wabi, and entry in all places that you must go.
What to Pack
Repeat after me: you’ll not be dressing up whereas in Puerto Escondido. It’s one of the carry-on pleasant locations because you’ll mainly be sporting the identical uniform the complete journey. Through the day, a swimsuit topped by a linen button-down and cutoffs. At evening, pair a light-weight shirt or simple sundress with flat sandals (bear in mind, you’re driving a motorcycle!). No heels, no hair dryer—it’s that kinda place. I used to be really shocked by how scorching it will get right here throughout the day, so plan to decorate as cool as potential and put on a hat always.
Professional tip: Deliver ear plugs. The jungle sounds outdoors our room had been loud. The primary evening, I used to be awoken a number of occasions by birds screams and frogs croaking.
The place to Keep in Puerto Escondido
There are some unimaginable Airbnbs in Puerto Escondido and I used to be taking notes for future journeys if we come again with the children or a gaggle of mates. Nevertheless, since this journey was simply Adam and I, we knew we wished to check out one of many beautifully-designed lodges on the stretch of street close to Casa Wabi.
Lodge Escondido
Lodge Escondido was our house base for the journey, and if I had to decide on, it might win greatest resort in Puerto Escondido (although the lodges under are shut seconds). It’s a real refuge within the jungle, and feels extremely restorative from the second you enter its rock-walled passageway that leads straight onto an unspoiled seaside. The resort’s restaurant serves unimaginable dishes all day, there’s a lap pool the place you may hang around and stare on the crashing ocean simply steps away, and the tiny spa provides all types of gorgeous providers. Professional suggestions: Friends at Puerto Escondido need to be at the least 16 years previous. And, borrow the resort’s bikes and journey them in all places.
Casa Sforza
Casa Sforza is a placing new resort in Pueblo Del Sol. Its modern cement construction is juxtaposed by furnishings made from native wooden and ceramics, and there’s a powerful give attention to sustainability and supporting the encompassing group. It’s an unimaginable expertise for any design-lover.
Lodge Terrestre
Lodge Terrestre is definitely Lodge Escondido’s sister property. As a result of it’s a three-minute bike journey away, we spent fairly a little bit of time indulging in its nice restaurant and exploring the distinctive Hammam expertise. With 14 villas overlooking the ocean, it is a wellness obsessive’s dream. The resort operates utterly off the grid utilizing 100% solar energy. Friends are inspired to disconnect from know-how and reconnect with nature, synchronizing their day with the cycle of the solar.
The place to Eat in Puerto Escondido
No Puerto Escondido journey information can be full with no part devoted to the unimaginable meals. My advice is to pattern as a lot regional fare as potential. Beneath, I’m naming the very best Puerto Escondido eating places from our journey. I do assume there are some first rate eating places in La Punta and Zicatela, however when you’re planning to stay across the Casa Wabi space, you may preserve your self splendidly nourished by the fish tacos and mezcalitas alongside this stretch of seaside.
Cobarde
A low-key spot that’s technically a mezcal bar. However when you think about your self within the know, then you definately’re ordering the nightly “chef’s menu” ready proper in entrance of you on the large cement bar. Although it’s nothing fancy—a couple of low tables and chairs strewn round below the palm timber—Cobarde has a wabi-sabi cool issue all its personal. Make a reservation by DM on Instagram.
Kakurega Omakase
A real omakase sushi menu set in a thatched roof treehouse within the Oaxacan jungle? Suffice it to say, this was one of the particular eating experiences I’ve ever had. Chef Keisuke Harada moved to the coast from Mexico Metropolis and his 10-course menu is a real murals. And because of the nice playlist and boisterous group, the expertise can also be actually, actually enjoyable.
Punta Pajaros
In case you’re not trying intently, you’d simply miss the wooden signal pointing the way in which to this palapa tucked into the palm timber. However when you did, you’d be lacking out on an genuine and scrumptious Oaxacan meal. The extremely contemporary elements are ready proper in entrance of you: guacamole (with or with out grasshoppers), octopus ceviche, tsayludas, and different specialties, washed down with a spicy cucumber mezcalita.
Lodge Escondido
If the encompassing spots hadn’t been so scrumptious, we might have simply eaten each single meal at Lodge Escondido and been completely comfortable. Huevos Rancheros for breakfast below the palapa, mezcal margaritas and ceviche on the beachside deck, steps from crashing waves—it’s laborious to beat. In case you solely eat one meal whilst you’re at Lodge Escondido, make it the battered fish tacos. Better of my life.
Lodge Terrestre
Simply down the street is the architectural stunner, Lodge Terrestre (sister property to Lodge Escondido). A equally scrumptious menu served in a placing brick and concrete setting, it’s the right strategy to combine issues up with out roaming too removed from house. In case you can, go for dinner on Thursday after they fireplace up the huge wood-burning oven for pizza evening.
Punta Pájaros
Subsequent door to Lodge Escondido is a extra tucked away however equally lovely resort referred to as Punta Pájaros. We stopped in for a scrumptious lunch beneath the palapa and feasted on shrimp tostadas and probably the most unimaginable mango mezcalita. As we wandered right down to the seaside, we realized that the resort additionally has unimaginable villas proper on the sand—and a palapa for yoga and wellness actions within the jungle (see extra on that under.) This can be a future house base on our subsequent journey to Puerto Escondido!
What to Do in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is made for exploring—making a free plan, then permitting your self to get sidetracked by a hidden path that goes right down to the ocean, or a palm-covered seaside bar that’s calling your title. Listed here are a couple of concepts to get you began.
Casa Wabi
Created in 2014 by artist Bosco Sodi and designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, this unimaginable artist residency is located on a distant stretch of Oaxacan seaside. An arresting principal constructing with a 312-meter-long concrete wall acts because the framework, surrounded by exhibition areas, studios, and bungalows the place the artists dwell. I’m unsure which was extra inspiring—the modern artwork on show, or the constructing and grounds themselves.
E-book a reservation on-line for a guided tour. It’s the one strategy to see the property, and effectively price a go to to see this “meditative group stuffed with introspection and connection.”
El Papelillo Sauna
On the finish of the lengthy grime street is a small signal that merely says “El Papelillo.” Simply contained in the picket gate is without doubt one of the most particular wellness experiences I’ve ever had. A distant sauna that’s actually tucked into the Oaxacan jungle, El Papelillo is meant to “join you to Mom Earth and take you again to our roots.” You pour water over the open fireplace contained in the sauna, lay on the wooden bench and savor the advantages of this detoxifying custom: boosting metabolism, supporting the circulatory system, and calming your breath. One factor I do know for certain: as I showered off after and drank an ice chilly cerveza, I’d by no means felt so utterly relaxed in each physique and thoughts.
Meridiano Gallery
Meridiano is an unimaginable stone and concrete house that includes experimental exhibitions of art work by artists working internationally and throughout disciplines. Based by Nicholas Olney
and Boris Vervoordt, it’s effectively price a go to if you end up on the stretch of street close to Casa Wabi. We had been fortunate sufficient to be on the town for the most recent exhibition, Joel Shapiro: 4 Bronzes, and it was a magical expertise viewing these works on this house below the celebrities.
Hammam at La Terrestre
I’ve by no means been to a real Hammam, and I actually didn’t assume the primary time can be in Oaxaca, however right here we’re. Within the middle of La Terrestre resort is a wonderful brick tower that homes 4 chambers that includes 4 conventional water experiences: a scorching jacuzzi, steam room, rain bathe, and chilly plunge. You guide an hour-long non-public session by which the hammam is yours to rotate between the stress-free experiences. The tip result’s a deep sense of well-being bordering on a coma.
Yoga at Punta Pajaros
Puerto Escondido is a spot that nourishes you, physique and soul, and I’m so glad that we squeezed in an energizing yoga session with our unimaginable teacher, Chia Cittadini. Chia teaches at Punta Pajaros resort in a wonderful palapa within the jungle. She led us by means of an hourlong session of flows {that a} newbie can comply with—however that may nonetheless problem an skilled yogi. To seek out out Chia’s group session occasions or guide a non-public, head to her Instagram and ship her a observe through WhatsApp.
Swim within the bioluminescent waters of Manialtepec Lagoon
One in every of nature’s best-kept secrets and techniques and solely present in a couple of locations on earth, Bioluminescence is a phenomenon the place tiny organisms within the sea make the water glow at evening. One such spot, Manialtepec’s Lagoon, is positioned about 20 minutes from Lodge Escondido. You may guide a driver on the entrance desk, and if you arrive, a non-public motorboat takes you out into the lagoon to expertise the magic.
Day journey to La Punta and Zicatela
As talked about, we stayed largely outdoors the principle seashores that draw extra vacationers, however we did enterprise into La Punta sooner or later to take a look at the thatched-roof seaside bars, eat some açai bowls, and wander round the principle road. It’s one palm tree-lined stretch of grime street, with hippie vibes and backpackers on repeat. Based mostly on mates’ suggestions, the very best eating places in La Punta are Fish Shack, Chicama, Lychée, and Ala Burger.
Surf (when you’re courageous)
Puerto Escondido is named a surfer’s mecca. Nevertheless, throughout the time of 12 months after we had been there (October) the waves had been a bit too aggressive for newbies (as in, we’d have died instantly). Nevertheless, when you head into La Punta or Zicatela on an excellent surf day, you may cease by one of many surf retailers and seize a board and an teacher to hit the waves.
Mezcal Manufacturing facility Tour
Mezcal is a lifestyle in Oaxaca. A centuries-old artisan custom, it’s revered in Oaxaca in a manner that feels virtually non secular. Household-owned farms and factories are discovered all all through Oaxaca state, together with Puerto Escondido. You may guide a automotive to take you to one of many factories within the space to see how mezcal is produced. And naturally, you’ll wish to style its numerous varieties.
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