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Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
Established as a port town in 1928 for coffee exports, Puerto Escondido has become a popular alternative tourism and surfing destination since the arrival of the Mexican coast highway 200 in the '60s. Known locally simply as "Puerto", the ports' Zicatela Beach is one of the prime surf spots on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
Puerto Escondido is serviced by bus from Acapulco, Oaxaca City and points southeast such as Pochutla (transit center for Huatulco and Puerto Angel) and Salina Cruz. Puerto has an airport with domestic flights running from Oaxaca City, and the Huatulco airport is only about 100 kms down the coast.
The town is small and perched on a rocky point overlooking the ocean
and Zicatela beach to the southeast. The centro, here called
the Adoquin for the cobblestones on the streets, offers a 
multitude
of crafts shops and boutiques, restaurants, small hotels and general
services and is highly walkable. The small beaches below town defined
by rock outcroppings include Playa Principal, Marineros, Manzanillo,
Puerto Angelito, Carrizalillo and Bacocho. A number of seafood restaurants
and some small hotels can be found on Playa Marineros and Playa Principal;
fishing boats are pulled up along these beaches and boat charters can
be obtained here. At Playa Bacocho to the northwest, accessible by road
or boat, are some of the larger luxury hotels. Playas Manzanilo and
Puerto Angelito are accessible via boat and make good snorkeling spots;
equipment is available for rent.
A number of downtown night spots such as Montezuma's Revenge and Son y la Rumba feature live music during the high season; there are also several other clubs and discos with DJ's playing a variety of contemporary pop, reggae and salsa.
Dining is good and wholesome in Puerto Escondido, designed to keep one's strength up for those long surfing sessions. Some of the favorite restaurants in town are the steak and seafood selection of Art & Harry's, the international specialties of the Cabo Blanco (with music on Thursdays and Saturdays during the high season), the fabulous fare (including vegetarian) a the Santa Fe and El Cafecito Pastry and Coffee shop, serving great snacks and meals - these all on Zicatela Beach - and in town, don't miss Maria's Restaurant with her daily specials, and Herman's Best Mexican and seafood homestyle cooking.
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Things to do besides Surf
Visit the beach communities of Puerto Angel and Zipolite, only 80 kms down the coast.
Learn all about the sea turtle at the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga in Mazunte, and visit the local natural cosmetics factory there.
See hundreds of green and black iguanas at the Iguanario at Barra del Potrero, on the Cozoaltepec River southeast of Puerto Escondido along Highway 200.
Take a sidetrip to the new development of Bahías de Huatulco, a resort area planned by Mexico's Tourism Ministry, consisting of a large hotel project interspersed in areas of ecological preserve.
Visit the Chacahua Lagoon, 67 kms to the west of Puerto Escondido, or the mangroves of the Manialtepec Lagoon, only 19 kms from Puerto, for birdwatching and nature tour sidetrips.
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