The 15 beaches of Puerto Escondido: how this guide is organized
In about twenty kilometers of coastline, Puerto Escondido packs everything from natural pools where the water barely reaches your knees to the heaviest wave in Mexico. This guide covers all 15 beaches grouped by zones: the swimmable bays to the west, the surf corridor, Bacocho, and the outlying beaches that call for a 4x4. If you'd rather decide by type of plan (family, surf, sunset), we have a beach guide by plan; this is the complete, uncensored inventory.
Golden rule
The Pacific here is not the Caribbean: a red flag means DO NOT enter, no matter how inviting the water looks. Closed bays are for swimming; the open sea is for admiring with your feet on dry sand.
Swimmable bays (1-4): Carrizalillo, Puerto Angelito, Manzanillo, and Playa Coral
The west side of town hides the protected bays where the ocean behaves. These are the beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and spending the day with kids.
The surf corridor (5-8): Zicatela, La Punta, Marinero, and Principal
Heads up
At Zicatela the shorebreak crashes right on the shoreline and rip currents drag you out in seconds. Walk on dry sand and keep children away from the wet shore.
9. Bacocho: long sunsets and turtle releases
The widest beach on the west side, with golden sand and open sea (swimming not recommended). Its star plan is the turtle camps: every day at 5 PM, from May to November, you can release a newborn olive ridley turtle in exchange for a small donation. Its beach clubs are also among the best sunset spots with a pool.
The 4x4 outliers (10-14): Tierra Blanca, Punta Colorada, Palmarito, La Barra, and Agua Blanca
Leaving the urban zone, the coast empties out. These near-virgin beaches have no infrastructure: bring water, some shade, and a vehicle with traction — the loose-sand tracks punish scooters.
15. Bonus: Chacahua, the full-day escape
Technically it's no longer Puerto Escondido, but no honest list leaves it out: lagoons, mangroves, a long left-hand wave to surf, and bioluminescence at night. You get there combining vehicle and boat; plan it as a full day.
How to move between beaches (and why walking is not a plan)
The bays are separated by cliffs and steep streets: walking from La Punta to Bacocho would take hours in thirty-plus-degree heat. On a scooter you cover the full urban route in about twenty minutes; for Tierra Blanca, Punta Colorada, or Palmarito you need the traction of an ATV or a 4x4 Jeep to avoid getting stuck in the sand.
“The best beach in Puerto Escondido changes with the hour: bays in the morning, shade at midday, and open sea for sunset.”
— KORU RENT
Note
Tell us which beaches you want to cross off the list and we'll suggest the vehicle and the most comfortable route for your day.