You may have heard that Puerto Escondido is an excellent place to stay on the Oaxacan Coast. What you may not have heard is that exactly where you stay within PE matters enormously!
My first time in Puerto Escondido I spent entirely in Rinconada. To be honest (and this will surely make me sound really stupid), I wasn’t even aware there was a whole other section at Zicatela and La Punta! When I came back to PE a year ago I was like, “whoa, this town is bigger than I remember”.
The different parts may as well be different towns. From Punta all the way to Playa Coral (about a 25-minute drive apart), the vibe changes with each successive beach. Depending on your travel style, you might have a strong preference for one area of Puerto Escondido over others.
Unless you have your own transportation, you are probably going to get a bit stuck in whichever area you choose, so it’s important to pick wisely!
Let me help you make your choice…
- If you’re looking for a social and buzzing place with a young vibe, stay in La Punta, for example, at Pacific Buddha or Raiz Boutique Hotel.
- For a quieter stay consider Rinconada, where you can find beautiful clifftop bungalow hotels such as the Villas Carrizalillo.
- For other options (including for long stays if you’re working remotely), read on.
Use the map view to find a place to stay in PE:
Best areas to stay in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is a large town with a population of around 30,000, which stretches along a wide sandy beach and then a collection of smaller bays. There are at least four different areas that are popular with tourists, each with a different atmosphere.
1. La Punta
Best for: backpackers, surfers, social travellers, & digital nomads
This hotel is built around the bones of an old family home. The space is super airy, with natural textures everywhere (wood, stone, woven fabrics), soft lighting, and a nice garden
Why I loved it:
- Just a short walk from Zicatela Beach and close to some great local spots
- The architecture is unique, with access to rooms via a small bridge
- It’s a few streets from the main road with bars and restaurants
La Punta is by far the trendiest part of Puerto Escondido. This area went from a fairly inconspicuous surfer haunt with dusty streets and bamboo shacks to becoming the place for nightlife, trendy restaurants, boutique shops, and co-working spots. You can think of it a bit as Mexico meets Bali, just on a small scale.
Despite a rapid proliferation of surf shops, Airbnbs, and beach bars, it retains a small village feeling. Punta has a super fun vibe, and you should stay here if you’d like to chill, surf, or watch the sunset from the lookout point.
The beach at La Punta is wide and stretches far, so there’s always plenty of space. The area does become a busy beehive of activity, especially in the high season (Dec-Jan). When people talk about the huge boom the town has seen in recent years, La Punta is usually what they’re talking about.
Many of the cafes advertise their free high-speed Starlink satellite internet, so this can be a great haunt if you’re working remotely, albeit with quite a few distractions around. The town has a young vibe and may not be the best choice for families or those wanting a completely quiet stay. There’s also a lot of construction work going on that can make it a noisy place at times.
Prices are higher in the gringo-oriented La Punta, but you do have many more options for cafes and restaurants, including vegan food, specialty coffee, craft brews, and international cuisines like Thai or Middle Eastern.
While La Punta was the original ‘backpacker hangout’, it’s been going upscale in recent years, and you’ll now also find many boutique hotels, apartments, and surf houses as well. Here are some of my favorite picks:
A laid-back, surf-inspired apartment located just 300 meters from Zicatela Beach
Incredible hotel with a jungle cabin vibe – in a quiet part of La Punta
Hotel with an amazing roof terrace and balconies with ocean views. Away from the busy part of La Punta, but within walking distance
2. Rinconada
Best for: families and couples looking for oceanview bungalows or apartments in a quiet area
Perched right above Playa Carrizalillo (arguably the prettiest beach in town), these villas are like an old family estate turned into a hotel. They’re built into the cliffside, and you can actually feel the calm, tucked-away energy.
Why I loved it:
- There’s a private staircase that leads you directly to the beach
- Many villas have terraces or balconies with great views of Carrizalillo Bay
This is my personal preferred area to stay in Puerto Escondido! Although the wide-open beaches of Zicatela or La Punta have their own appeal, the small hidden bays and coves around Rinconada are truly some of the most scenic spots in Mexico.
It’s a relatively calm part of town, and the rocky cliffs here create some sublime ocean views.
The only downside is that the beaches here have limited space, being hemmed in by cliffs or hills on either side. They can be packed on weekend afternoons, though I loved spending time here in the mornings when you can have them virtually to yourself. My favorite beach is Playa Manzanillo, which has calm waters (unusual for PE) where you can even do some nice snorkeling.
Rinconada has several resort hotels with cliffside bungalows with thatched roofs. You can also find plenty of apartments and villas in this area.
Cliffside calm and beach access in scenic Rinconada 
Playa Manzanillo
If you’re backpacking around Mexico and looking to socialize, then you’ll probably feel a bit secluded in Rinconada and might prefer to visit the beaches here on a day trip from La Punta. But if you’re looking for the most beautiful and laid-back area of Puerto Escondido, then look no further.
If you’re nomading, then check out Pauline Coworking for a beautiful spot to work from.
Gorgeous luxury villa with ocean views
Charming rooms looking out directly onto Playa Carrizalillo
Great budget-friendly rooms with access to the pool. Near the main restaurant street and 10 minutes from the beach
3. Centro
Best for: digital nomads, budget travellers, and those seeking local life
Simply put, digital nomads will love this spot. It has a dedicated co-working space with lightning-fast Starlink internet and a lively community setting where you can meet and greet.
Why I loved it:
- Chill, low-key space — not too busy, so it’s great for getting work done, but social enough that you’ll still meet people
- WiFi works great everywhere with up to 300 MBit/s
Away from the coastline, Centro forms the actual heart of PE, where locals hang out. Being almost the polar opposite of La Punta, this is where you should stay for lower prices and an un-gentrified vibe.
It’s only a 15 to 20-minute walk from here to beaches like Playa Manzanillo or Playa Principal. Unlike other areas where restaurants are mostly tourist-focused, here it’s easy to find truly authentic tacos, lovely coffee shops without hipster pretense, and a buzzing local market.
Several of the best hostels and co-works are located in Centro, including the excellent digital nomad-friendly hostel Casa Losodeli, where I’ve personally stayed twice. This hostel is easily accessible from the main road, situated on the edge of Centro but also a 15-minute walk or so along green fields to Playa Manzanillo. Not only that but you’re a stone’s throw from Benito Juarez, an avenue lined with nice restaurants with outdoor seating.
I highly recommend Casa Losodeli if you’d like a quiet garden space to work from, but also enjoy having social activities (like salsa or yoga classes on the roof deck).
If you’re going to stay in PE for a longer time (perhaps while working remotely), I recommend being based around here. It will allow you to have all the best local food options and conveniences near you. And if you rent a scooter, you can easily make it to all the other areas of PE and take a trip to La Punta whenever the mood strikes.
A family-run guesthouse with colorful, traditionally decorated rooms surrounding a lush central courtyard
Known for its relaxed vibe and rooftop area with hammocks and views.
A simple, clean hotel located just a short walk from Playa Principal in Centro Puerto Escondido.
4. Playa Zicatela
Best for: anyone looking for a quiet hotel or beach house stay
A cool, surf-inspired stay in the heart of Playa Zicatela, offering everything from shared dorms to private rooms—all tucked among lush gardens and swaying palm trees.
Why I loved it:
- Nice, spacious rooms with a balcony overlooking the ocean and the bay.
- Access to a yoga deck, co-working space, and organized activities like surf lessons and cultural tours
Even though it’s only a 20-minute walk north of La Punta, Playa Zicatela is far more subdued. You’ll find here a very spacious beach, some of the larger hotels, as well as many smaller beach houses and apartments.
For less bustle but more comfort, Playa Zicatela is the place to look. I recommend it either if you want to still be fairly close to La Punta but in an area that is not as busy, or if you are looking for a more upscale hotel or a beach house with a pool.
The sandy beach has ample space for sunbathing, but I should mention that the waves are notoriously intense here. In fact, this is a renowned surfer spot (for expert surfers only) that’s home to the famous Mexican Pipeline. The waters are not so great for swimming, but it’s perfectly suitable for just soaking up the sun, and I loved just watching the epic waves crash onto shore here.
The trendy hotel chain Selina Puerto Escondido is based here, though I would have honestly expected it to be at La Punta. A small boulevard is host to a variety of mostly 3- and 4-star hotels, having a slightly more upmarket vibe.
A beachfront hub set in the quiet area of Zicaleta Beach
A boutique hotel perfect for private stays with quick access to surf, dining, and nightlife.
A rustic guesthouse with 10 private rooms, located steps from Zicatela Beach
Other beaches to know about
There are a couple of other areas that are interesting to check out when you’re in Puerto Escondido, but are not among the main places I recommend for accommodation.
Playa Principal is, as the name suggests, the main beach in PE. It’s cool to check out the fisherman’s docks here, and the waters are fairly calm and suitable for swimming.
However, it’s quite busy, close to the main road, and cut off from Playa Zicatela by a river.
Hotel Rockaway is close to Playa Principal and accessible by foot or a short drive.
stay at Hotel Rockaway 
Playa Bocacho and Playa Coral are the wildest beaches in PE. They’re great for sunset views and witnessing some of the baby turtle releases here so they might be actually be a great addition to your Mexico itineray.
There are just a few hotels here though (mainly Posada Real Puerto Escondido and La Coral beach house) and with Playa Coral being known as a nudist beach, it has more of a niche appeal.
stay at Posada real pe 
Final thoughts on where to stay in Puerto Escondido
I hope this helped you find a cool, character-filled stay in the magical surf town of Puerto Escondido. It’s one of those rare places where laid-back beach vibes, rich Oaxacan culture, and wild coastal beauty all blend into something unforgettable.
Personally, I’ve got a soft spot for Casa Losodeli—it’s effortlessly stylish and strikes the perfect balance between social and calm.