Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido: Best Hotels + Areas
Many travelers book a hotel in Puerto Escondido based on the most popular areas to stay and end up somewhere that’s not quite right for them.
I did exactly that. My first time in this surfer town I booked a place to stay in Zicatela. But I quickly realized it wasn’t for me because it’s not near a swimmable beach.
What I wish I’d known before booking is each neighborhood has a completely different personality. La Punta is known for its social scene, great food, and surf-hippie vibe. Zicatela has raw surf culture and nightlife. Rinconada is a quiet neighborhood near the most swimmable beaches in town. And that’s just the start.
Your place to stay in Puerto Escondido will shape your whole experience, so I created this guide to help you figure out where you belong. Since that first visit I’ve stayed in all of these areas, some multiple times.
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Short on time? Here are my top picks for where to stay in Puerto Escondido:
- For a social scene and great food, stay in La Punta and splurge on a top floor suite at Casa Kuaa.
- For the best swimming beaches in a quieter setting, stay in Rinconada. The ocean view from Villas Carrizalillo is worth every peso.
- For Mexican beachtown surfer vibes, stay in Zicatela and book a room at Hotel Santa Fe to enjoy its multiple pools surrounded by tropical plants.
- For everything else: budget stays, digital nomad friendly areas and my favorite area to stay in Puerto Escondido — keep reading.
Best Areas to Stay in Puerto Escondido
The atmosphere these Puerto Escondido neighborhoods ranges of from a party scene to low-key family vibes. While all are within the city, they stretch along the coastline from Playa Bacocho to La Barra.
You’ll likely visit multiple places during your trip but spend most of your time in just one or two areas, which is why it’s important to first the best place to stay in Puerto Escondido for you.
Some areas are walkable but most of the time getting from one area to another involves taking a taxi or colectivo pick up truck, called a pasajero (more on the colectivos at the end).
La Punta
Best for: surfers, younger travelers, and anyone who wants to be at the center of the social scene
Boutique Hotel in La Punta: Casa Kuaa
This is a fabulous place to stay in La Punta on the beach. Suites have sleek wooden furniture and beautiful textiles under a grand palapa roof.
In the center of the property is a pool surrounded by tropical plants that make it feel like an oasis. My favorite part is the hammocks hanging in the shade under the palm trees just before you reach the beach.
Tip: Book an upper floor suite at Casa Kuaa for a more private stay.
La Punta has become the place to stay in Puerto Escondido and it’s where the social scene concentrates. Its sandy roads wind between beach bars, boutique shops, and some great restaurants — from Peruvian to Thai, and yes, tacos too.
In the late afternoon, locals and visitors gather on the beach at the tip of the point as surfers carve through the waves and the sun sets over the ocean behind them. The beach itself is long and wide, an extension of Zicatela. You can swim at La Punta, though currents can catch you off guard, so it’s not to be taken lightly.
It’s worth being honest about what La Punta is and isn’t. The crowd skews heavily toward foreign travelers and prices are higher than other areas in Puerto Escondido. The further it grows, the less it feels like an authentic Mexican beach town.
But it still has something genuine: a real surf culture. And underneath the beach bars and boutique hotels there’s a small community trying to hold its ground. If the social scene and easy access to great food are your priorities, La Punta is your place.
Best Places to Stay in La Punta
Hostel
$
Social hostel with a lively pool and bar, and co-working area with air conditioning
Zicatela
Best for: experienced surfers, nightlife, and travelers who want a wide open beach without the crowds of La Punta
Best Hotel in Zicatela: Hotel Santa Fe
Hotel Santa Fe sits right where Zicatela meets Marinero beach — a good position if you want to be close to both the Zicatela strip and Centro.
The property has genuine character: staff wear traditional huipiles from Oaxaca and the restaurant serves homemade food that’s better than you’d expect.
Three pools, a spa, and tropical gardens round it out. It’s not a luxury hotel but it has more soul than places that charge twice the price.
Zicatela is home to the Mexican Pipeline — one of the most powerful waves in the world and the reason Puerto Escondido is on the global surf map. There’s a raw, classic surfer beach energy here that’s genuinely authentic.
The beach itself is a long, uninterrupted stretch of sand where you can spread out, find a beach bar with room to breathe, and watch the dramatic waves. That said, Playa Zicatela is not a swimming beach. Every year people are rescued here and some have drowned, including experienced swimmers and surfers.
For surfing, this is strictly for experienced and professional surfers. Toward the end of summer and into early fall, professional surf competitions bring an electric energy to the beach. Zicatela was also recently designated a World Surfing Reserve — one of only 14 in the world.
Zicatela is also known for its nightlife. It’s the natural next stop after dinner in La Punta, and the two areas bleed into each other — La Punta is technically the southern tip of the same long beach with a small area called Los Tamarindos between the two.
One thing worth noting: walk up the residential roads toward the highway and you’ll find Mercado Zicatela, a market with incredible views and some surprisingly good restaurants. Most visitors miss it entirely by sticking to the beach strip.
Best Places to Stay in Zicatela
Rinconada
Best for: families, couples, and visitors who want to be close to the best beaches without the party scene
Best Hotel in Rinconada: Villas Carrizalillo
Villas Carrizalillo is perched above a cove beach with sweeping ocean views and, on a good day whales, which I’ve spotted whales from the hotel terrace.
The 12 villas and pool are connected by pathways lined with tropical plants. There’s an on-site restaurant that’s ideal for sunset. And a private staircase gives you direct access to my favorite beach.
Trust me, one morning on your private balcony overlooking the cliff and you won’t want to leave.
For first-time visitors looking for a quiet place to stay in Puerto Escondido, Rinconada is where I’d point you first. It sits above a stretch of small protected bays that are more intimate and scenic than the long open beaches of Zicatela and La Punta.
Rinconada is a small, low-key neighborhood that’s centrally located. You’re steps from a solid strip of restaurants that include some of the best places to eat in Puerto Escondido, close enough to walk to Centro, and not far from the highway when you want to catch a colectivo or taxi to other parts of town.
The nearby cliffs are some of the best places to watch the sunset. A short walk along the western edge of the neighborhood leads to Las Tortugas, a rocky cliffside that draws a crowd each evening.
But the real draw is Playa Carrizalillo, my favorite beach. It’s a small protected bay of turquoise water with fun waves just past the break. Heads up: getting there means descending more than 150 stairs and the bay gets very crowded by afternoon.
From Rinconada you can also reach Playas Manzanillo and Angelito, two more calm swimmable beaches that are also busy with families on the weekends.
Best Places to Stay in Rinconada
Sector Hidalgo
Best for: budget-conscious travelers, digital nomads, and anyone who wants to feel like they’re actually in Mexico
Best Stay in Sector Hidalgo: Puerto Bonito
Casa Puerto Bonito was founded by Julio, who went on a sailing adventure before returning to Puerto with a vision for a place where travelers could connect. That spirit made me wish I had stayed longer.
Casa Puerto Bonito has a variety of apartments with access to a pool and a co-working space with ocean views. You don’t need to be a digital nomad to appreciate it, but if you are, this is one of the best places to stay in Puerto Escondido.
You’re probably thinking Rinconada is my favorite place to stay in Puerto Escondido but the truth is it’s Sector Hidalgo. Yeah, I know the name doesn’t quite hit like Rinconada.
It’s a true residential neighborhood: small tiendas, local restaurants, and quiet streets without the tourist polish of Rinconada or the foreigner bubble of La Punta. The main plaza is here, which is where town fiestas happen. It’s also close to Centro and the highway, making it easy to catch a colectivo to other parts of town (more on those at the end).
Two beautiful beaches are on your doorstep: Playas Manzanillo and Angelito. They are also the most swimmable beaches in Puerto Escondido. Plus my favorite, Playa Carrizalillo is a 10 to 15 minute walk, much of which is shaded.
It’s not the most polished neighborhood in Puerto Escondido but that’s exactly the point. It feels like a real Mexican neighborhood that’s conveniently located, which is exactly why it’s my favorite area.
Where to Stay in Sector Hidalgo
Traveling to this beach town? Read my guide to the best things to do in Puerto Escondido
Bacocho
Best for: families and travelers looking for a quiet, secluded stay within Puerto Escondido
Best Stay in Bacocho: Hotel Suites Villasol
Hotel Suites Villasol is one of the most established hotels in Bacocho. It’s a large property with multiple pools, a beach club, and on-site restaurant just a short walk from Bacocho Beach.
It’s not a boutique experience and the rooms are showing their age, but it’s reflected in the price. For families who want a proper hotel with everything on site, book a room at Hotel Suites Villasol.
Bacocho has a different feel from the rest of Puerto Escondido: slightly more spread out, a little newer, noticeably quieter, and just upscale enough without feeling like a resort destination. If you want to step away from the social scene of La Punta or Zicatela, this is the place to stay.
Nearby Playa Bacocho is a dramatic stretch of coastline but too rough for regular swimming. What it is good for is incredible sunsets and the turtle release, which happens year round.
Nearby Playa Coral is calmer, tucked into a protected bay, and generally swimmable. But currents can get strongs and it’s a secluded beach without lifeguards, so go with caution and don’t swim alone.
Getting around requires some planning. The colectivo pickup trucks don’t reach Bacocho, so you’ll be relying on taxis or walking from the edge of Rinconada.
If you prefer a more remote, high-end option book a stay at El Origen Villas & Spa. It’s outside Puerto Escondido proper but one of the top beachfront resorts in Oaxaca.
Where to Stay in Bacocho
Bahía Principal
Best for: families and budget travelers who want calm water and a genuine slice of Mexican beach town life
My Pick in Bahía Principal: Casa Mia
Casa Mia stands out in this Puerto Escondido neighborhood — literally. The building has an unusual ship-like architecture that catches your eye. And the rooms that face the ocean deliver some of the best views you’ll find at this price point.
The Diamante suite in particular gets consistently strong reviews for its balcony and ocean outlook. There’s a saltwater pool, attentive staff, and a location three minutes from the beach.
Bahía Principal has the energy of a working Mexican beach town: brightly painted restaurants and hotels, the Adoquin street that runs parallel to the ocean, and a low-key vibe that doesn’t try too hard. It’s unpretentious in a way that’s refreshing after the more foreign-forward neighborhoods.
The beach is a wide, calm bay that’s not the most scenic in the area but good for families and anyone who wants to get in the water without fighting currents or crowds. In the morning you can buy fish straight from the fishermen who come in after a night of fishing in the deep sea.
Best Places to Stay in Bahía Principal
Centro
Best for: budget travelers and anyone who wants an authentic slice of local Puerto Escondido life
Best Hotel in Centro: Casa Losodeli
Casa Losodeli has mastered the work-beach balance by attracting the kind of travelers who take both seriously.
There are three coworking spaces and a large pool and both are where the community forms. Casa Losodeli has a mix of private and dorm rooms which adds to the social dynamic — everyone’s there to work and enjoy the beach, in roughly equal measure.
Centro is one of the most affordable areas to stay in Puerto Escondido. Hotels cost less, restaurants cost less, and Mercado Benito Juarez is nearby if you prefer to cook yourself.
Its busy streets give you the energy of a working Mexican town, making it a great place to wander but it’s not my favorite place to base myself. It’s also well connected so that you can easily catch transport to other areas.
What it lacks most is proximity to a beach. The walk to Playa Carrizalillo or Manzanillo takes 20 to 30 minutes and it’s not the most scenic route. Centro makes sense for budget travelers with one caveat: I’d always rather be closer to the ocean.
That being said, my favorite place to stay in Centro (Casa Losodeli) is actually below the highway which makes the beaches more accessible. It’s also a top spot for remote workers.
Best Places to Stay in Puerto Escondido Centro
La Barra
Best for: couples, experienced surfers, or travelers looking for a remote stay
My Pick in La Barra: Casona Sforza
Designed by renowned Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, the suites at Casona Sforza (adults only) are built around distinctive arched vaults that face a quiet stretch of private beach.
Some suites have a private pool, others have a sea-view terrace and handmade bathtub. The on-site restaurant La Bóveda uses hyper-local ingredients with global technique. This is the kind of place you book when you really want to escape.
La Barra is where you go when you want to unwind. There aren’t many places to stay, but what exists is some of the most luxurious hotels in Puerto Escondido — and the remote location makes it ideal for couples or as a solo retreat when you need to recharge.
Best Places to Stay in La Barra
Boutique
Hotel
$$$
Multi bedroom apartments with a bohemian chic style, ocean views, and a pool
About the Colectivos:
I love how easy it is to get between the different areas of Puerto Escondido without a car (once you know how). The pasajeros are the local way to do it: a covered truck bed with bench seating on either side. Here are my tips:
- The fare: most are 12 pesos, paid to the driver when you get off.
- How to find one: Flag them down on the main highway. To find a stop, look for a covered area, other people waiting, or a spot where vehicles pull over.
- How to get off: Press the timbre (bell) inside the truck — there’s usually one in the front of the cab and in the back. The driver will pull over at the next stop.
- When: Colectivos run until just after sunset. After dark I recommend taking a taxi. Here’s what to know about safety in Puerto Escondido.
If there’s no room inside, you may need to hang off the back. My advice: hold on tight and make sure your hat and sunglasses are secure.
There are also shared red taxis that depart from the Mercado in centro. I don’t see these nearly as often though, so I always catch the pickup.
Finding Your Place to Stay in Puerto Escondido
Choosing where to stay in Puerto Escondido is really about deciding which version of Puerto Escondido you want. Each neighborhood has its own rhythm — from the social energy of La Punta to the calm bays of Rinconada.
Once you make that decision, everything else falls into place. The hotels, the beaches, the food — it all flows from where you plant yourself.
