Mexico is the most popular vacation destination for American travelers. But that popularity comes at a cost….and a significant hit to your wallet.
Popular resorts like Cancun and Tulum are often big-budget destinations. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
Enter Puerto Escondido. The new hot Mexican beach destination for travelers who have a tight grip on their purse strings.
Puerto Escondido is home to bucket list-worthy beaches, it’s the top-rated surfing destination in Mexico (and one of the best in the world), and boasts outstanding natural beauty, too.
Here’s the thing: Budget travel doesn’t have to mean inferior travel.
I reckon you can have all the same cultural explorations, white sand beaches, and epic local grub at a fraction of the cost of a resort vacation in Cancun.
And to prove it, here’s a breakdown of the perfect trip to Puerto Escondido and how much it will cost:
Things To Do In Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is located on the Emerald Coast of Oaxaca and is known for its beaches and its epic nightlife scene.
One of the best beaches to explore in the area is Playa Carrizalillo, which is a calm cove perfect for swimming and kayaking.
This is one of the few beaches in Puerto Escondido where you could take out a paddleboard too.
Or Puerto Angelito. This is a more popular spot with tourists which means it is busier and has a more vibrant atmosphere.
But it’s a great place to eat seafood and sunbathe on the soft sand.
I love nothing more than spending time on the beach, swimming, and riding my paddleboard, but as an added bonus, these are some of the most affordable vacation activities: they don’t have to cost a penny!
Many turtles come back to the beaches along this stretch of the coast to nest.
Visiting the Baby Turtle Release Centre is a great way to learn more about these incredible creatures, and you can do your bit for their conservation by getting involved in the nightly turtle release.
You can hold the baby turtle as you gently release it into the sea and experience the site of hundreds of these tiny animals scuttling toward the water.
You’ll be asked to make a contribution of $150 Mexican pesos ($8) per person to take part in this.
If you’re in Mexico’s surfing capital, you’re probably going to want to surf.
Surfers travel from all over the world to ride Puerto Escondido’s famous barrel waves.
If you’re an experienced surfer then the best and most affordable way to do this is to just hire a board and hit the waves.
If you’re new to surfing then it’s a good idea to take a lesson or two first. Puerto Surf has a great reputation and you can choose between private or group lesson options (with group lessons being the most affordable choice.) A group lesson will cost 750 MXN ($39) and a private lesson will cost 900 MXN ($47).
Getting To Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido boasts its own airport (PXM) Airport which is obviously the most convenient option, but you can’t fly here directly from the U.S. right now as it isn’t an international airport.
You’d have to fly to Mexico City and then take another flight from here.
The 2 cheapest airports to choose to fly this route in October are Houston and Chicago, at the time of writing.
From Chicago, from October 8 to October 15, flying economy class roundtrip, you can expect to pay $276.
This is flying with Vivo Aerobus, and as I mentioned above, you’d have a layover in Mexico City.
Or you could fly into Oaxaca (OAX), which is 131.3km away, with a range of transfer options available.
In October, you can fly directly to Oaxaca from Los Angeles, Dallas, or Houston. Flights from Los Angeles are currently the cheapest option.
Fly from October 7 to October 14 to secure an economy class round trip for $269.
You’ll fly with Volaris, and the flight time for this route is just 4 hours and 2 minutes.
There are flights with similar prices throughout October and November.
The drive time between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido is just under 3 hours if you want to hire a car or a private driver. (Fun fact! It took me longer to get to Tulum from Cancun airport via private transfer in May)
Alternatively, you could take a bus, which would take around 7/8 hours, but on the bright side, the journey costs less than $20!
Where To Stay In Puerto Escondido
Where I was most pleasantly surprised when putting this piece together was just how affordable accommodation is in Puerto Escondido.
There are hostels available in the city for as little as $15 per night, and these are popular with both backpackers and surfers.
A huge majority of these have great reviews. But as I wouldn’t stay in a hostel myself, I won’t list any here!
A 3-night stay in the 3-star Hotel Camino Del Sol from October 16 to October 19 would cost $189, based on 2 people sharing a superior king room. That’s just $63 per night, and the hotel has a pool, air conditioning, and is close to the beach.
If you want to splurge on a 4 star hotel then the Hotel DC Boutique and Spa is just 50 meters from the beach and boasts a rooftop outdoor pool, spa and wellness center, and on site bar and restaurant.
For the same dates this would cost $268 based on 2 people sharing, which works out at $89 per night.
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