Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido (When You’ve Aged Out of Backpacking)
Puerto Escondido has been on the rise as a popular tourist destination in Mexico and that is not changing any time soon. There’s a reason I keep going back – I’ve been five times in the past two years and I plan to return more. It’s the perfect mix of surf culture and great people without the heavy price tag of other destinations like Tulum or Cabo.
I’ve stayed in multiple areas in both hotels and villas and if it’s your first in Puerto Escondido, and if you’re like me and have aged out of the hostel & backpacking lifestyle (ie. where you stay matters a lot), here’s where I recommend staying based on each neighborhood.
Zicatela / La Punta - The Surfing Beach
Zicatela is the famous surfing beach in Puerto. It’s pretty long at 2 miles and in my experience the vibe can vary a lot based on where you are on the beach. Heads up that because this is a famous surfing beach, the waves are really strong and not great for swimming or for beginner surfer lessons.
The northern part of Zicatela
Gorgeous sunsets, restaurants not so great.
On the northern end, you’ll see tons of restaurants, hostels, hotels, cafes, etc. along the beach. I stayed in this area one time in a villa with my girlfriends (pictured above), and truthfully, I didn’t LOVE it; it felt very backpacker-y and had a more young crowd than my old bones would like. Because the clubs here are open later, if you’re staying right on the strip, it may be harder to sleep at night. We had a few drinks and meals at a restaurant or two along this area but I didn’t really love any place we went. I think it’s perfect for a younger crowd but if you’re like me (mid-30’s, new knee pain, etc.), I recommend skipping this area when looking for places to stay. Great to visit, though!
La Punta is for the girls
Power went out before this but willed it back on!
My little sister in her Indy sunglasses heheh
My favorite skate bowle + bar + tattoo shop + pizza restaurant in all of Mexico!
La Punta, which is the southernmost point of Zicatela, is much more laid back. The streets are sandy and have tons of cute shops and restaurants. This area is much more my speed; at 35, I need something a bit less chaotic, something within more upscale options. Everything in this area closes around 11pm, so if getting good sleep is a priority, this area is great. You’ll find a great mix of cheap taco stands with amazing food all the way up to more Michelin star dining. Plus, I’ve noticed that a lot of newer and renovated hotels and villas are in this area, so you’ll have a lot of options depending on your budget.
I’ve seen online that some people note that La Punta and Zicatela are separate neighborhoods but really La Punta is within Zicatela, but I think that speaks to how much of a vibe shift you’ll see from the northern point to the southern point.
Recommended Stays in La Punta
Photo c/o Villa Macarena bc mine were all horrible and didn’t capture the vibe quite like this pic!
Villa Macarena Boutique Apartment Hotel – I found this on Airbnb and LOVED it. The room was an indoor/outdoor living style which I love in any space in the tropics. The bedroom AC was strong, as was the wifi, and my room came with a hammock, jacuzzi, and great views. The rooftop has another pool, workout area, a large communal working space, and a small cafe with great food options. The service and staff were also so great. Walkable to everything in La Punta but wear good shoes or just text their taxi driver, he was amazing.
Oceanfront Suite Airbnb - My friends stayed here and loved it! They said it was better in person. Free breakfast, pool, right on the ocean and walkable to everything. She has high standards and said this place was amazing for the affordable price!
Beyond Downtown – My Go-To Areas
If you want luxury and privacy, my true recommendations are to go just a bit outside of Puerto Escondido proper. You can get all the best beaches and services and stays without having the noise and hustle & bustle of downtown Puerto while being a short cab drive away.
Barra de Colotepec
This area is only a 5-10 minute drive to the downtown area of Puerto Escondido. Here you’ll find gorgeous beachfront hotels & villas as well as some located a little higher in the hills, which is where you’ll get those amazing views. If you’re looking for a bit of privacy while still being close to the action and plan to go into town frequently, this is your spot.
Recommended Stays in Barra de Colotepec
La Flia - I wish the chef here cooked me all of my meals every day forever they were sooooo good
La Flia - This is an ocean-front villa complex that has the privacy and space of a private villa with the convenience of a hotel. They have 3 villas in the back and 3 directly in front of the ocean; you can even rent a few together if you’re coming with a larger group (each villa sleeps 8+). There’s a front-desk staff for the villa complex as well as a beachfront bar that’s only for the villas. You have a private chef making meals for you daily; the services are included, you only pay for the food. The food was DEFINITELY a highlight for me, that and the pool that directly overlooks the ocean. I would recommend this spot to larger groups and families staying in Puerto Escondido for the first time because they make it so easy to have a great time.
The pool overlooking the ocean at Villas Alebrijes
And another view from the reflection of the door hehehe
Villas Alebrijes - Located in the same area but a bit more east, these villas are perfect for couples or small groups of friends. They’re located on a hill overlooking the ocean, which is going to give you great views while still being a 10 minute walk to the beach. They even have little donkeys you can feed in the morning! While they don’t have a chef on-site, they give you all of the info for a local restaurant that we ordered from a bunch. They helped us with everything we needed and for the price, this place was a genuinely great stay.
Los Naranjos / Playa La Ventanilla
Only a 15-25 minute drive from La Punta, Los Naranjos and La Ventanilla is one of the last untouched beaches close to downtown Puerto Escondido. You fall asleep and wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. A great area to stay in when you want to spend a lot of time at the hotel, beach, or Airbnb you booked.
Laguna de Los Naranjos is located in this area – for all of those animal lovers out there, this is where you’ll find crocodiles, birds, reptiles and more! I haven’t done a mangrove tour here yet, but I’ve heard they’re great!
Recommended Stays in Los Naranjos / Playa La Ventanilla:
A hotel so great I went twice within 5 months lol ILY CASA YUMA
Casa Yuma – One of my favorite hotels EVER. I’ve stayed here twice and I will surely be back. Both times I stayed here, I never left the hotel because there’s really no reason to. The food in the restaurant is delicious, the drinks from the beach bar are SO good, and the rooms are so romantic and cute and have everything you need. They even have a coworking space. Each time I’ve gone there, I book a regular room and I get upgraded to the rooms with a rooftop. Great for couples and small groups of friends in different rooms. Go during the week and it will feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
Spent three hours touring Casa Del Mar and this infinity pool made me say “yep, I want to go back”
Casa del Mar – Located in a private gated community, this beachfront villa sleeps 18+(!) people and feels like your own commune. When I toured this villa I knew I would be back here someday either with friends or to host a retreat. The pool area is truly the highlight – they have gorgeous loungers that make you feel like you’re at a luxury resort, which, you sort of are. Chef and bartender services are included, you just pay for the cost of the food & drinks.
Plataforma
This area is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Puerto and really great if you’re looking for a remote escape but still want to see the downtown once or twice during your trip. The beaches are SO untouched and the villas in this area are a fair distance apart so you really have privacy here. In my opinion, the sunsets are better here than downtown Puerto. This area is perfect for groups of friends or families who want to truly escape and have their own paradise.
Recommended Stays in Plataforma
I’m telling you, if you want privacy, Casa Entremuros is the BEST option
Casa Entremuros – Hands down, this is one of my favorite villas in the area. We stayed here with 13 people and still had so much space. There are plenty of areas to hang and gather while still having 6 bedrooms with en suites to retreat to when needed. The villa manager, Mariano, is so awesome and helps with everything you need and the staff are INCREDIBLE. I’ll definitely be coming back here.
The Beaches Near Centro (Carrizalillo, Manzanillo, & Puerto Angelito)
Centro is definitely the more local area. You’ll find much more affordable stays here if you’re budget conscious and while it’s north of Zicatela (a 5-15 minute cab ride), the benefit of being in this area is being close to the swimmable beaches: Carrizalillo, Manzanillo, and Puerto Angelito.
These beaches definitely fill up during the day with everyone – local families, tourists, young and old people alike. This is definitely a more authentic beach area than Zicatela in my opinion.
While I haven’t stayed in the Centro area myself, there are beautiful villas that overlook the bays and I’ve been lucky enough to tour one in particular.
Recommended Stay:
La Gema - Truly the GEM of Puerto Escondido. This place is even better in person.
La Gema & Casa Nopal – This incredible ocean-view villa and adjoining casitas are somehow more gorgeous in real life. They received accolades from Vogue, AD Mexico, and more for a reason. The owners are so sweet and the concierge, Diego, will help you with anything you need.
P.S. If you want to join a pilates retreat here this winter, I’m hosting a fully-inclusive retreat in November. Check out Do Not Disturb Retreats for more details!
Bacocho
This is a quieter part of Puerto, just north of the beaches mentioned above. While I haven’t stayed there myself, my friend who lives there and likes the more chill, peaceful lifestyle prefers this area to Zicatela. There’s a beach club there called Club Bacocho which is one of the more upscale beach clubs in Puerto.
Taking advantage of golden hour and also my tan
I love puerto escondido!!
No matter where you stay in Puerto Escondido, you’re going to have a great time. The energy there is palpable and it attracts the right kind of tourist – open-minded people, chill surfers of all ages, solo and group travelers, and anyone that wants to have a great time in this amazing town.
If you’re looking for every place I’ve stayed, explored, eaten and drank at, check out my Mexico Google Map Guide HERE. And let me know what you think of each neighborhood and your favorite places to stay!
