Published 2026-04-03

The author and a companion, Andrea, spent a day traveling between beaches near Puerto Escondido and Huatulco in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The account covers a jungle hike, local wildlife, a seafood lunch, and several beaches with contrasting levels of visitor activity.

Breakfast and Transport in Puerto Escondido

The group arrived in Puerto Escondido after moving from another town further west. They ate breakfast at a street taco stand. The author said the stand's popularity with Mexican customers indicated its quality. Compared with the other beach towns the author had visited, Puerto Escondido is more developed for tourism.

The group took a taxi for 10 pesos to reach a trailhead for a short hike toward a beach described as very attractive.

Huatulco National Park

The trail passed through Huatulco National Park, which the author identified as one of the well-preserved natural areas in Oaxaca. The park is known for its wildlife and beaches. Locals told the group that the beaches around Huatulco are the best in Oaxaca. The author stated that the group intended to verify this claim.

The area includes several bays, collectively called the Bahía de Huatulco. Locals reported that the region has more than 200 bird species.

Observations on the Trail

The group also encountered a small one-man farm, run by a campesino (a rural farmer). The farm had goats. The farmer had followed the group, asking whether they were going to the beach. The author said the group had not expected to find a farm in this area.

First Beach: Isolated Shoreline

The group reached a beach with a few shacks, a restaurant, and a dog. The author described the water as blue and green and the rock formations as striking.

The beach was nearly empty. Four older women were present, but they had arrived by boat. The group was the only party that had reached the beach on foot. The author described the beach as boomerang-shaped and said the group had found it while walking the full length of the shoreline.

The author described the beach as the best they had seen, citing its size, clear water, and lack of other visitors. The author attributed part of this assessment to the absence of loud music, litter, and crowds, which the author linked to other beaches in Mexico.

Observations at this beach included:

• Water conditions: Waves were stronger at the far end but still manageable. The author noted that the waves can pull swimmers out and push them back, creating danger for weak swimmers and children.
• Wildlife: Three baby manta rays were seen jumping near the surface.
• Sun protection: The author applied sunscreen and recommended protection.
• Nude sunbathing: The group sunbathed without swimwear.

The author said the beach is only reachable on foot or by boat and described it as part of the national park. The author also stated that the earlier beach was technically inside the national park boundaries.

Playa Mangue: Restaurants and Families

The group walked to Playa Mangue, which is within walking distance. This beach has restaurants, bars, boat tours, and many families with children. The water is calmer here, and the author reported that coral reefs make the area suitable for snorkeling.

Lunch

The group ordered two fish from a restaurant:

• One fish was prepared with garlic and butter (ajo mantequilla).
• One fish was prepared a la talla, with a house sauce. The restaurant did not disclose the recipe.

The fish was described as fresh and was reportedly caught at 4 a.m. that morning. The group also ordered Mexican Coca-Cola in glass bottles, which the author described as tasting better than Coca-Cola elsewhere.

The author noted that the food took some time to arrive but was worth the wait. Flies were numerous.

The author described Playa Mangue as a standard beach destination for families. The author said this differed from the earlier beach, which had no other visitors.

The author stated that Playa Mangue has emerald-green water and called it the only emerald-green beach in the region. This was presented as the author's observation.

La Huatulco Beach: Rock Formation and Quiet Coast

The group hiked to a final beach through the jungle. The trail included spiky trees and a dragon tree. The beach had a boat docked and a small number of visitors. The author stated that the beach on the other side of a nearby rock formation was the same beach visited earlier, and that this side had almost no people, restaurants, or loud music.

The author described the waves as strong enough to be dangerous to weak swimmers and children. The author also observed a local practicing yoga on the beach.

The author compared the beaches of Huatulco with those of resort areas such as Cancún and Los Cabos, stating that quiet beaches like these are rare in more heavily developed destinations.

The author and Andrea compared favorite locations in Oaxaca. Andrea preferred the quieter beach. The author named Agua Tinta as a favorite and noted that Puerto Escondido is better for nightlife.

Other Observations

• The author referenced Manuel Antonio National Park and stated that it has 291 bird species. The author also identified a red cardinal and a white-throated magpie-jay, known in Spanish as urraca cara blanca.
• The author noted a pond the author described as a water reserve.
• A timing exchange mentioned 2:30 a.m. in response to a question about arrival time. The recording does not clearly establish the context.

Final Stop: Hierve el Agua

The group ended the day with a final swim before traveling to Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca. The author described the location as the best in the state and said the author loved Oaxaca and Mexico. The water was cooler as the sun set.