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Puerto Escondido,
Oaxaca.
During the past
century, it was known as "Punta Escondida" (Hidden Point),
which at the time, was just a small fishing village with an important
commercial port from which aromatic coffee and precious wood was shipped.
When commercial activities starting fading, it became a fishing village
again. It was not until the thirties that this settlement became a real
town. The name was changed from "Punta Escondida" to "Puerto
Escondido" (Hidden Port).
During the sixties,
Puerto Escondido was aided greatly by the construction of a Highway
leading to Acapulco. Tourism started to flourish, due mostly to its
quiet nature and beautiful beaches, gently bathed by the Pacific Ocean.
With time, tourism
has increased, foreigners, for the most part, and a handful of adventurous
Oaxacan youngsters that have been visiting Puerto Escondido, despite
the treacherousness of the roads that lead from the capital city to
this beach site. A little later, hotels and resorts were constructed.
Small palapas (large, umbrella-shaped beach shelters), where fishermen
offered exquisite sea food specialities, have been disappearing, giving
way to modern tourist developments. Currently, Puerto Escondido is one
of the most important tourist sites on the Oaxacan Coast.
Since 1982, with
the construction of better roads and highways, Puerto Escondido has
become better communicated with the State's capital city, and other
important communities, helping it become an important tourist attraction.
Willingness of the Federal and State governments has helped promote
tourism in Puerto Escondido, and it is now one of the most important
attractions on the Mexican Pacific Coast. FONATUR (Mexico's tourist
development and promotion department), played a major role in making
this possible, through research and organisation of effective advertising
campaigns, aimed at promoting Puerto Escondido. Several key components
were developed, such as the construction of a luxurious resort, modern
residential zone, upgrading constructions in the downtown area, and
most importantly, the construction of a national airport, which was
formally inaugurated in 1985. This communicated Puerto Escondido with
the nation's capital, as well as a few other cities from abroad.
These beaches are
in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec, located by the sea, west
of the coastal region. Climate is humid, with an average annual temperature
of 82ºF (28ºC).
Puerto Escondido
is thought to be the oldest tourist attraction in the region, and the
centre of great tourist activity, both nationally and internationally.
To go to this little
corner of Oaxaca, means to experience its wonderful beaches, where one
participate in almost every water sport. Surfing is extremely popular
at Zicatela beach, with its enormously high waves. In addition to the
natural attractions this site offers, there is also a great variety
of cultural riches, and always cheerful and colourful folklore.
Due to the great
flow of tourism generated, Puerto Escondido has been reinforced with
outstanding service infrastructure, covering all tourist-related fields.
This allows visitors to feel pampered, enjoying a most rewarding vacation
experience, through the combination of natural and cultural attractions.
The Perez Gazca
trail has an excellent array of marvellous Mexican handicrafts, especially
Oaxacan. The most common handicrafts are textiles, typical clothing
like dresses, gowns, loose-fitting blouses, shirts, vests, wraps, tapestries,
handbags, bags, jackets and hammocks. Leather articles are also available,
and include handbags, wallets, hats, belts, sandals and machete sheathes,
among others. Sea shell articles, such as jewellery boxes, key holders,
ashtrays, pen holders and picture frames can also be found. Carved stone
jewellery is on display, including jade, malachite, mother of pearl,
river pearl, obsidian, and aquamarine necklaces and earrings, all with
beautiful designs. There are marvellous pieces of silver, brass, bronze,
and silver-plated jewellery. Some pieces, made of combinations of these
minerals and stones, are even more beautiful. These may be amber, obsidian,
aquamarine, and black or red coral. Some pieces worth mentioning are
necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, medals, chains, key-holders,
brooches, and many others.
Other materials
used are wood, palm, coral, tin, paper maché, and ironwood.
Since there are
countless handicraft shops, visitors are able to find an endless variety
of products, at convenient prices. This guarantees finding articles
to their entire satisfaction.
Beaches
Main
Beach
The Playa Principal Beach receives its name because it is on the far
side of the Main Bay in Puerto Escondido. It is approximately 1,640
feet (500 metres) long and 131 to 262 feet (40 to 80 metres) wide. The
clean, gently inclined sand is soft and grey. The warm water is greenish-blue,
and the waves are typical. More information
Zicatela
Beach
This beach is on the open sea. It is extremely long, and width varies
from 98 to 131 feet (30 to 40 metres). The smooth grey sand is steeply
inclined, and the greenish-blue water is warm and crystal clear. Waves
are as high as 20 feet (6 metres), making this beach an ideal spot for
surfing.
Puerto
Angelito Beach
This beach is approximately 328 feet (100 metres) long by 82 feet (25
metres) wide. The white, smooth sand is gently sloped. The shallow water
is warm, transparent, and greenish-blue. Waves are low and gentle.
Marinero
Beach
It is approximately 656 feet (200 metres) long. Width varies between
131 and 164 feet (40 and 50 metres). Water and sand are similar to Playa
Principal.
Manzanillo
Beach
This is quite a beautiful beach, approximately 230 feet (70 metres)
long by 98 feet (30 metres) wide. The smooth, white sand is gently inclined,
and the greenish-blue water is warm and transparent.
Carrizalillo
Beach
This beach is approximately 460 feet (140 metres) long by 98 feet (30
metres) wide. The gently inclined sand is smooth and white. The crystalline,
greenish-blue water is warm and shallow.
Bacocho
Beach
This beach is long, divided in three sections, among rocks that, with
the presence of palm trees, and thorny bushes bordering it, create a
very pleasant natural environment. The beach width varies from 98 to
230 feet (30 to 70 metres).
Punta
Colorada Beach
It is a seldom visited, pristine beach around the point at the far end
of Bacocho Beach. It consistently offers perfect tubes, left and right
a-frame breaks, one to two meters high. But because the water here is
shallow, it is not suitable for regular surfing, but it is a body boarder´s
and boogie boarder’s dream.
Hotels
Due to the influence
of tourism, Puerto Escondido has developed an excellent infrastructure
of tourist services. These services cover a wide variety of possibilities,
and preferences which will make the visitor's stay more pleasant. The
visitor will find and enjoy an abundance of beautiful and attractive
activities, both natural and cultural.
(52) is the international
calling code for Mexico.If you call from a city in Mexico, please dial:
01(954) + local number If you call from abroad please dial: 001(52)
954 + local number.
| Hotel
Surf Olas Altas |
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Av.
Del Morro # 310 Col.Marinero, Playa Zicatela C.P. 71980 Teléfono:
01(954) 58223-15, Tel-Fax: 01(954) 5820094 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
MEXICO Más información:
http://www.surfolasaltas.com.mx
Lada sin costo: 01 800 2219281 E-mail: reservaciones@surfolasaltas.com.mx
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| Hotel
Arcoiris |
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Reservaciones
Tel/Fax: 01 (954) 582-14-94, 582-04-32 y 582-23-44 Email: arcoiris@hotel-arcoiris.com.mx
arcoiris@ptoescondido.com.mx
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| Hotel
Suites VillaSol |
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Loma
Bonita no. 2 Fracc. Bacocho, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, México.
Teléfono al interior: www.hotelsuitesvillasol.com
Email: villasol@escondido.com.mx
01 (800) 221 8655 y 01 (800) 717 90 50 D.F. (55) 5517 1117 y 5517
8066 |
| Hotel
Santa Fe |
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Lada
sin costo: 01 800 71 270 57 Tel: 01 (954) 582 01 70 , 582 02 66
582 05 57 Fax: 582 02 60 info@hotelsantafe.com.mx
http://www.hotelsantafe.com.mx
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| Hotel
Bungalows Acuario |
Villas
y bungalows
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Calle
del Morro S/N. Col. Marinero Playa Zicatela, Pto. Escondido, Oax.
Tel: 01(954) 582-0357 y Fax: 582-1027 E-mail: bunacuario@hotmail.com
Web: www.oaxaca-mio.com/bunacuario.htm |
| Hotel
Aldea del Bazar |
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Tel/Fax:
01 (954) 58-205-08 y 58-214-69 Av. Benito Juárez Lote. No.7
Fracc. Bacocho Pto. Escondido, Oaxaca. E-mail: aldeadelbazar@hotmail.com |
| Hotel
Nayar |
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Av.
Pérez Gasga No. 407 Puerto Escondido, Oax. Tel: 01(954) 582-0113
y Fax: 582-0319
E-mail: hotelnayar@prodigy.net.mx
Web: www.oaxaca-mio.com/hotelnayar.htm |
| Hotel
Villas Carizalillo |
Villas
y bungalows
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Av.
Carrizalillo No. 125. Puerto Escondido, Oax. C.P. 71980 Tel: 01(954)
582-1735 http://www.villascarrizalillo.com/
Email: amy@villascarrizalillo.com |
| Hotel
Barlovento |
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Camino
al Faro. Calle 6a. SUR # 3. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
Tel. 01(954) 5820220 Reservaciones: anaedna@rincondelpacifico.com.mx
http://www.rincondelpacifico.com.mx
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| Hotel
Girasol |
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Av.
Oaxaca # 403 (Entre 3a. Norte y 4a. Norte) Col. Centro. C.P. 71980
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Oax. Tel: 01 (954) 582-1364
E-mail: bungalowsgirasol@hotmail.com |
| Hostal Shalom |
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Boulevard Benito Juarez 4082 Fracc. Rinconada
(en la primera entrada a Carrizalillo) TEL : 0 1(954) 58 - 232 - 34
amitai2000@yahoo.com /
http://puertoescondidohostel.com/ |
| Hotel
Zicatela Dorada |
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Av. del Morro S/N Col. Brisas de Zicatela. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
Tel/Fax: 01 (954) 582-3727 zicateladorada@hotmail.com |
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Si
usted esta interesado en anunciar su hotel, escríbanos
a ( ventas@oaxaca-mio.com
) o llene el siguiente formato:
http://www.oaxaca-mio.com/comentarios.htm
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Gastronomy
There is a rich
variety of fish and seafood that is delivered fresh daily to Puerto
Escondido by the local fishermen, which the visitor should indulge themselves
in at the various restaurants. The restaurants offer tasty seafood,
fish prepared in a variety of ways, lobster, pescadillas (a local specialty
of tortilla stuffed with fish), delicious seafood soup, or a good tuna
filet.
You can also enjoy
traditional natural fruit drinks prepared with oranges, lemons and limes,
and fruits of the season.
Or you may want to go to the mercado zonal (central market) and order
some tasty chicken tamales, mole (a famous Oaxacan specialty dish),
and corn on the cob, along with a glass of atole blanco (a corn dough
hot drink) or granillo (similar to hominy).
You will also find
restaurants and palapas (palm thatched "umbrellas" on the
beach) on most of the beaches where you can enjoy an exquisite seafood
dinner made with a special local seasoning recipe in the atmosphere
of a tropical paradise.
Restaurants
Restaurante
Mangos (Bungalows Acuario • Playa Zicatela PUERTO ESCONDIDO
OAXACA, MEXICO.)
Activities
Visitors to Puerto
Escondido will find a wide variety of activities to enjoy both day and
night. You will be able to enjoy anything from a spectacular sunset
to an exhilarating day of surfing and/or go sail fishing. Let yourself
be carried away by the magic of Puerto Escondido and its surrounding
areas that will fully captivate you. You will enjoy the warmth of the
costal people; they will be ready to give you a most cordial welcome.
Tours of the
Bays
Enjoy some recreational
boating and get to know the main beaches of the area. You will be able
to observe the golfina turtles, and with a little luck you will see
dolphins and whales that migrate through the area.
You can tour the
bays with confidence and security. Each boat has life vests, G.P.S.,
marine band radios and complies with the regulations of the Port Captain.
DON’T FORGET
YOUR CAMERA, SUNSCREEN AND/OR TANNING LOTION, DRINKING WATER, HAT OR
CAP, AND SUNGLASSES. AND ABOVE ALL, A LOT OF DESIRE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!
Tours of the
Lagoon
A tour of the Manialtepec
Lagoon is recommended for those people who enjoy seeing birds in the
wild or for people who simply enjoy nature.
You will be delighted
by the spectacular and beautiful scenery. The lagoon is surrounded by
mangrove trees where migratory birds nest and live (e.g. pink birds,
ibis, herons, and other colorful native birds).
There is a large
variety of vegetation found in all of the various aquatic canals and
waterways.
At dusk, the lagoon is an unforgettable experience. You will enjoy an
enchanting sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
If the conditions
are right, you will be able to enjoy a luminous spectacle, because the
water is fluorescent because of the plankton, zoo-plankton, and marine
algae. It is recommended that you experience this phenomenon at night.
As the boat glides
through the canals you can see flashes of light in the water which are
fish swimming around. Even fishermen like to jump into the water because
they believe that you get charged with some special energy. Jump in
the water and you can see for yourself how your body is illuminated
due to the effect of the marine plankton.
We invite you to
experience the magic of the lagoon and its warm and friendly people
that offer these boat tours.
On the tour you
will find restaurants along the shores where you can enjoy great seafood
meals (fish, shrimp and shellfish), along with handmade tortillas. Some
of the restaurants located at the various shore side stops are “Las
Hamacas”, “La Alejandria”, “El Paraiso”, “La
Isla del Gallo” and the small community of Las Negras.
Surfing
You will be able
to see for yourself the enormous popularity of these sports on most
of the beaches of Puerto Escondido among the local youth. The imposing
and impressive Zicatela Beach is considered one of the best surfing
spots in the world because of the superior quality of its waves that
at times may be as high as 18 or 19 feet (6 meters).
All year long there
are international surfing contests. The two most important are the International
Surfboard Competition in August and The International Surfing Tournament
in November. Surfers from all over the world gather here to compete
and enjoy the waves and beautiful landscape.
Sport Fishing
Puerto Escondido
is an excellent place for sport fishing. Some of the common species
found in the area are sailfish, marlin, tuna and dolphin.
You will find sport
fishing contests on the international level during the months of February
and in November. The November sport fishing competition coincides with
the November Fiesta celebrations. It is an unforgettable and spectacular
experience.
Temazcals
In Puerto Escondido
you can enjoy this tranquil life-style with clean air and beaches surrounded
by exuberant tropical vegetation that invites you to indulge yourself
in relaxing and energizing your body through active meditation sessions,
medicinal temazcal baths, relaxing dancing sessions, meditative tours,
beauty treatments and reducing treatments.
We invite you to
experience these services and give yourself the opportunity to enjoy
Puerto Escondido in both body and mind.
Diving
Diving takes place
where the ocean is tranquil. In these places you will find a variety
of colorful fish. These places also abound with mother-of-pearl, lobsters,
parrot fish, moray eels and manta rays. There are rocky areas covered
with smooth surface coral reefs. They are worth visiting.
Some of the best
places for underwater diving are Carrizalillo, La Falla, Trichera de
Cocos and El Faro.
There are a variety
of dive shops that rent all the equipment you will need to dive and
photograph the marine life. You will also be able to find a diving school
that offers classes for the beginner up to the most advanced levels.
Buying Handicrafts
For those who like
to shop, Puerto Escondido offers a variety of attractive possibilities.
The andador “Perez Gasga” (it is a walkway blocked off to
the traffic) is an area where you find fine Mexican handicrafts, and
above all, handicrafts of Oaxaca. You will find a great variety of textiles.
They are mainly
clothing such as dresses, blouses, shirts, vests, and the colorful native
huipils. You will also find blankets, sarapes, purses, shawls, jackets
and hammocks. There are leather goods such as purses, wallets, belts,
hats, huaraches, machete and knife sheaves, as well other leather goods.
As far as seashell
items, there is a great variety of decorative objects such as jewelry
boxes, napkin holders, key chains, ash trays, penholders, and picture
frames. Gems and jewelry items such as: jade, malachite, mother-of-pearl,
river pearl, obsidian and aquamarine necklaces, earrings, and bracelets
with attractive designs.
Beautiful handicrafts
are made with silver jewelry and other precious materials such as: obsidian,
amber, aquamarine, jade, black and red coral. Outstanding pieces of
jewelry are: necklaces, earrings, rings, wristlets, bangles, medals,
chains, key chains and brooches, among others.
Besides these handicrafts you can also find fine articles made of onyx,
wood, palm, coral, tin, papier-mâché, and iron wood.
Given the large
number of shops, the visitor should be able to find a great variety
of items and prices. You will have a good chance of finding the gifts
and souvenirs that you are looking for.
A wide variety
of surfing products (surf boards, wet suits, swim fins, etc.) is available
in Puerto Escondido. You will find the top of the line brands recognized
around the world. Of course, you will find all the items related to
the beach and the sun, such as: sunglasses, bathing suits, original
wraparounds, and other accessories.
The local market
(Mercado Zonal) is where you will find a large variety of products of
the region such as: fruit, local food, sea food, fish, textiles and
handicraft products.
Horseback Ridin
There are a number
of places in Zicatela Beach to rent horses.
Zicatela Beach
is a long beach and is an ideal place to enjoy horseback riding. Whether
with a group or solo, you will be able to enjoy your ride along the
beach while enjoying the sea breeze.
Night Life
If you like the
nightlife, Puerto Escondido offers a wide variety of nightspots to suit
everyone’s taste.
El Adoquin (the
tourist walkway) offers music and atmosphere in the various centers
and bars, located along this long street.
In Zicatela Beach
you will also find restaurants and bars as well as a variety of shows.
Another option
is the Bacocho area where you will find discos for the young and young
at heart with lots of ambiance!!!!!
Year-round Entertainment
Throughout the year in Puerto Escondido you will find festivities and
surf events during the tourist holidays that complement the happy and
festive life of Puerto Escondido. All year long there are events on
the beach, open air concerts, and cultural events that make Puerto Escondido
a day and night festive place.
Surroundings
Not far from Puerto Escondido there is a variety of beautiful and interesting
places to visit. These places will complement your sight seeing tour
to this area where ecology and conservation of the environment are found.
Also, Puerto Escondido is surrounded by a number of typical native
towns that have interesting temples, churches and incredible ancient
structures that are worth visiting; places such as San Pedro Tututepec
and San Pedro Mixtepec, or the religiously important Juquila which attracts
pilgrimages from many parts of Latin America.
Festivities
Not far from Puerto Escondido, you find many small typical native costal
villages such as Chila, Santiago Jamiltepec, and Mixtepec, among others.
You will find in these costal native villages a lot of tradition and
culture that comes alive in their festivities and fiestas which are
celebrated throughout the year.
For many years Puerto Escondido has played an important role in the
world of surfing, hosting world level surfing championships and other
sports events.
The most outstanding fiestas in Puerto Escondido take place in November.
You will find many diverse festivities, activities and shows that you
will enjoy.
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