The Surfing Capital of Mexico

My parents always told me to be careful about what I eat and drink while traveling. I’m sure they wouldn’t have loved hearing that I tried homemade mezcal from a mom-and-pop convenience store on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Needless to say, I lived—and I developed a taste for mezcal. Oaxaca is known for its production of mezcal (imagine a smoky tequila), but did you know it’s also home to one of the top surfing destinations in the world? That destination lives in a laid-back, bohemian beach town called Puerto Escondido.

Although Puerto Escondido has its own airport, Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM), there are no direct flights from Boston Logan Airport. Our only option is to lay over somewhere in the United States and then again in Mexico City. It ended up taking Jack and me three full days to get to Puerto Escondido from Boston due to delays, unforeseen circumstances, and accidentally flying to the wrong city, but that’s a story for another time.

This was my first official time backpacking outside the United States, back in January of 2022, and Jack’s second time in Puerto Escondido. On our first night in town, Jack brought us to a local taco shop with endless topping options. As someone who loves Mexican food, I can honestly say these shrimp tacos were some of the best I’ve ever had. Trying the local seltzer, wine, or beer of a country is one of my favorite parts of traveling. Drinks of this trip included Pacifico and Dos Equis beer, and Sky Vodka Seltzers (I was newly 21 and hadn’t developed a taste for beer yet—don’t judge me too hard).

Playa Carrizalillo is often regarded as the most beautiful beach in Puerto Escondido, and it definitely lived up to the hype! The waves are gentle and perfect for beginner surfers. Located in the Rinconada neighborhood, this little cove is framed by tall cliffs and palm trees. If you work up an appetite surfing, don’t worry, there are plenty of local restaurants conveniently located nearby. Just know that the only way down to the beach (and back up) is a steep stairway with around 160 steps!

The last time Jack traveled to Puerto Escondido, he released baby sea turtles into the ocean through a sea turtle conservation at Bacocho Beach. Although we didn’t physically release turtles this time, we spent the day at Bacocho, a quiet, spacious beach, and watched the turtle release around 5 PM. It was so fun to see the turtles running into the ocean for the first time!

If you like nightlife, definitely add Puerto Escondido to your list. There are plenty of beach bars and clubs, and the nights start and end late. Most people eat around 8–9 PM and don’t start going to the bars until after 10. One of our favorite spots was Xcaanda’s beachfront club with fire shows. Just don’t forget to tip the performers!

If you’re a digital nomad, the internet is generally good enough for remote work, though some places are more reliable than others. The Selina Hostel had great Wi-Fi and coworking space, and we found solid service at local cafés. That said, power outages and limited A/C are part of life here, so make sure to check your accommodation details if comfort is a must for you.

We mostly spent our time eating incredible Mexican street food (the Mexican street corn was amazing!), snacking on coconuts, and relaxing on the beaches. If surfing is your vibe, Playa Zicatela, nicknamed the “Mexican Pipeline”, is known for its massive, barreling waves. There are also great beginner spots like La Punta (The Point) and Carrizalillo. If you’re lucky, Puerto Escondido sometimes hosts international surf competitions like WSL events and the Mexican Pipeline Pro, where you can watch some of the best surfing in the world.

Overall, if you love surfing, spiritual bohemian vibes, or you're a digital nomad backpacker, don’t forget to add Puerto Escondido to your travel bucket list.