Trying to decide where to go among Puerto Escondido beaches? In Puerto Escondido, located north of Huatulco Mexico and south of Acapulco on the Pacific coast of Mexico, there’s a beach for every day of the week and  mood.

Here’s the complete guide to the seven best Puerto Escondido beaches to suit your travel style as well as the top spots from Bacocho to Zicatela beach to lay your beach blanket, go surfing, do some snorkelling or just chill out.

1. Carrizalillo Beach

Best Beach for Swimming, Lounging, Surfing

The name of this beach Playa Carrizalillo(Car-eet-sa-lee-o) might be difficult to pronounce, but scramble 167 stone steps down a cliff and you’ll be rewarded with Puerto’s prettiest (and most swimmable) beach. it regularly tops the lists of the best beaches in Mexico.

Gentle waves, turquoise waters and sheltered shores make these waters popular with couples and families with kids. Its also quite near Puerto Escondido airport – perfect if you want to hop off the plane and head straight to the beach!

Swim or learn to surf at this beautiful beach in Puerto Escondido

Perched on a cliff overlooking the beach is Villas Carrizalillo, the most secluded and romantic Puerto Escondido hotel. Cocktail hour at its Sunset Bar is a classic. Or, buy a dozen fresh-from-the-sea oysters for just $1.00 and you’ve got the perfect beach snack.

Many of Puerto Escondido’s best condos, apartments and B & Bs are located within walking distance to Carrizalillo Beach. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Puerto Escondido Vacation Rentals for resources, tips and listings.

Playa Carrizalillo is also popular for surfing seasonally and is a good option for beginner surfers. There are a few surfing schools nearby, the best known of which is Oasis Surf & Language School, where you can take Spanish classes ( in an air-conditioned classroom!) and learn to surf – the best of both worlds.

Along with Manzanillo Beach described below, Carrizalillo Beach offers the best snorkelling in Puerto Escondido if you’re wondering where to snorkel  from shore. There are coral reefs and the municipality is making effort to promote sustainable tourism and hopefully achieve Blue Flag status, a designation that recognizes environmentally responsible beach management practices.

For the best snorkelling on this stretch of Mexico’s Pacific Coast,  your best option is to head south 2.5 hours for snorkelling in Huatulco   where the visibility is better and there are more underwater formations.

2. Manzanillo Beach

 Best Beach for Lounging, Lunch, Snorkelling  and Swimming

Fish ceviche at Manzanillo Beach

This crescent-shaped Playa Manzanillo beach located near the heart of town shares the bay with the tiny fishing port of Puerto Angelito. It’s a favourite with local Mexican families who flock to picnic at the edge of the calm waters or go snorkelling among schools of bright-hued fish. If you’re going to go snorkelling it’s worth considering an eco-friendly sunscreen. Many beach destinations around the world have announced they are banning sunscreen due to the damage its chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate can cause to coral reefs and marine life. 

Along with Playa Carrizalillo, this beach is one of the best Puerto Escondido beaches for swimming. My favourite spot to sip a margarita is la Palapa de Carrasco, operated by restauranteurs Pablo Carrasco and his wife Isadora Rivero.

Their son, Pablo Carrasco, a friendly guy who also happens to be a  lawyer and real estate agent, is often on hand to welcome guests with a cool drink and the latest scoop on local happenings.  Lounge chairs come topped with pillows, rainbow-coloured serapes and big-shade umbrellas so plan to spend a full day.

Roving  mariachis singing romantic ballads and traditional ranchero songs add to the lively vibe at this beach.

There are fewer stairs to access Manzanillo beach than Playa Carrizalillo plus it’s possible to take a taxi to Playa Angelito and walk across the walkway to Manzanillo beach. This makes it a good option for families with small children, those with lots of beach gear or people with mobility issues. There are some large rocks in the water at Playa Manzanillo, but they can easily be avoided. No dogs are allowed on the beach. 

RELATED: Top Mariachi Songs to Request on the Beach

3. La Punta Puerto Escondido

Laid-back beach with surfing, budget accommodation and  loungers

Sunset at La Punta

Full moon parties, sandy streets and tattooed surfers toting custom surfboards create a laid-back vibe at La Punta, a remote stretch of beach at the southeast end of town named for the rocky point that lures sunset lovers, fishermen and photographers. It’s also a popular spot for Puerto Escondido surfing and boogie boarding and is a favourite with those who like outdoor activities. 

At nightfall, head to Osa Mariposa, a beach-bungalow hostel with veggie fare and a hip mescal bar featuring the potent artisanal liquor distilled from agave. La Punta is also tops among Puerto Escondido beaches for vegetarian and vegan cuisine at eateries such as  One Love Restaurant, an upscale hostel that also has great food. 

RELATED: If you’re tired of beaches but want to stay on the water, you can go birdwatching or visit Manialtepec Lagoon.  

4. Bacocho Beach

Best Puerto Escondido beach for long walks, seclusion and upscale beach clubs with swimming pools

Beach club at Bacocho Beach

Play castaway on this windswept beach at the edge of town. Interesting rock formations and an almost endless stretch of sand make Playa Bacocho one of the best Puerto Escondido beaches for strolling couples, nature lovers and fitness buffs. Pack water if you plan to make a dent in the 25-kilometre long expanse of golden sand. 

Or choose resort living for a day at Villa Sol Beach Club. With two pools (one a large freeform and the other for kids), a swim-up pool bar, Pez Gallo a new upscale restaurant, sprawling landscaped gardens and towering palm trees you’ll feel as though you’re at swanky resort. The cost? Admission is less than $5.

Happy Hour cocktails are served between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. It’s also a prime turtle nesting beach so you can often witness a sea turtle nesting or participate in a turtle release.

5. Playa Principal Beach

Best beach for Mexican atmosphere, fishing boats and convenience

A rare quiet moment at Playa Principal

Sun worshippers are drawn to Principal in the heart of town where the beach is narrower which means the water is just a few steps away.  Technically, The most Mexican of Puerto Escondido beaches, Playa Principal is  where pilgrims head for purification after visiting the shrine to the Virgin of Juquila, one of the world’s top Catholic shrines, and where the annual “Blessing of the Fishes” boat procession takes place each December.

Although this beach isn’t the cleanest in town, you can wind up your afternoon by browsing El Adoquin, a lively pedestrian zone of souvenir shops, beach bars and restaurants. It’s also quite close to the OCC bus station on Highway 200 which means you can easily walk to Playa Principal if you’ve just arrived.

6. Playa Marinero

Best beach for body surfing, bbq and live music  in Puerto Escondido

Playa Marinero is one of the best places to watch a spectacular Puerto Escondido sunset

Technically Playa Marinero and Playa Principal are one continuous beach but during the rainy season, a lagoon sometimes forms, separating them into two distinct areas. You can also access Playa Marinero from Calle del Morro via a walkway across from Hotel Santa Fe or between the rock formations home to the “hand sculpture” a popular photo-op

Marinero Beach scores high marks from body surfers and you can rent boogie boards from vendors right on the beach. There are also a few seafood restaurants where you can order lunch and enjoy the shade of a lounger. The best of these is Restaurant ARCIS, family-owned and operated since 2003.

At Brad’s Split Coconut, under a set of shady palm trees on Marinero Beach, grab a plastic chair and dig your toes into the sand. Then dive into a rib dinner from his “bone suckin’ good” barbecue menu. Live blues and rock music often happen in the evenings during high season. It’s one of the best places to watch the sunset.

7.  Zicatela Beach

Best Puerto Escondido beach for nightclubs, restaurants, walking, surfing and the “scene”

Corona girls on Playa de Zicatela Beach Credit: Jaclynn Campbell

If the Kardashians came to Puerto Escondido this is where they’d hang out and it is one of the most famous beches of Puerto Escondido. Playa Zicatelas is home to the epic Mexican Pipeline, an unforgiving wavebreak that draws surfing aficionados from around the world, it’s also the place to see and be seen.

But even if you’re not a celeb, you’ll find plenty to do on one of the most popular Puerto Escondido beaches. Downward dog it at a yoga class, relax in a temazcal (traditional sweat lodge) or lounge in a breezy Bali bed and watch the tanned and toned crowd.

Gnarly waves and a strong undertow make Punta Zicatelas dangerous for non-surfers. But depending on the tides, you can flaunt your new bikini in one of the shallow tidal pools without too much risk. The main strip, Calle del Morro, is packed with restaurants and you can party until dawn at nightclubs such as Barfly and Playa Kabbalah.

Like this post? Save it to Pinterest! 

Puerto Escondido Beaches Travel Guide

Disclosure: A Taste for Travel participates in affiliate advertising programs. Read more on our Disclosure Page. 

And that’s not the end of our travel tips and things to do in Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico! Read our Puerto Escondido Travel Guide for world travelers for more information on hotels, things to do, day trips and more in Puerto Escondido.

Like this Post? You Might Also Enjoy:

How to Get from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido 

Swimming in Puerto Escondido’s Bioluminescent Lagoon

9 Tips for a Perfect Romantic Getaway in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca City

Day Trip to Untouched Mexico

Food and Drink to Try in Puerto Escondido

Massage Therapy in Puerto Escondido, Mexico 

Day Pass ( Bring the Kids) to Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa  

7 Reasons to Love Mazunte & San Agustinillo