Travel Blog 24: Oaxaca’s Pacific Coast: Puerto Escondido

Taking a week off the road was always the plan for once I reached the Oaxaca coast. Five nights in Huatulco, five nights in Zipolite, and two nights in San Augustinillo/Mazunte brought me to the moderately large Puerto Escondido.

P.E. is broken into four sections in my opinion. I stayed in Playa Principal. The plan was to rent an Airbnb for ten days, but Hotel Las Palmas provided a deal I couldn’t pass up. I paid 200 pesos ($10) per night for six nights. My balcony looked over Blaze’s parking spot and the Pacific Ocean. Each night, the sound of waves nursed me to sleep and also provided a peaceful start to every morning. Behind the hotel was the night market seven nights a week. Sidewalks were covered in tables of gear. Some sold clothes while others sold souvenirs, but most all the options seemed to be pretty useless items. Where were the food options?

Up the hill from Playa Principal was El Centro. I’d walk there to buy groceries, exchange money, and wander the local streets. It was the most authentic version of Mexico this area had to offer.

Zicatella and La Punta had the best sunsets. Travelers would hang out in the beach bars, hostels, and relax during the heat of the day. Surfers waited patiently for the next wave to come. Night time brought on all sorts of activities. Some walked the beach while others hung in bars. I liked walking the streets with a beer, observing how other people enjoyed their time.

I met Jose at an Oxxo and he told me about opening a bar with three of his friends. Not only did I get to see the bar, ‘Punta Vida’ a week before opening, but they also invited me to cook tlayudas with them. Jose and I handled the grill while the girls prepared the ingredients. Wikipedia describes tlayudas, “Tlayuda, sometimes spelled clayuda, is a handmade dish in traditional Oaxacan cuisine, consisting of a large, thin, crunchy, partially fried or toasted tortilla covered with a spread of refried beans, asiento, lettuce or cabbage, avocado, meat, Oaxaca cheese, and salsa.” All I can say is I love them!!

A very special shout out and thank you to Punta Vida for welcoming me in and providing an experience I’ll never forget. The sunset view is spectacular!!