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Mexico is the most popular vacation destination for American travelers. But that popularity comes at a price… and a big blow to your wallet.
Popular resorts like Cancun and Tulum are often budget destinations. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
Enter Puerto Escondido. The new hip Mexican beach destination for travelers who have a firm grip on their wallets.
Home to bucket-list beaches, Puerto Escondido is the top-rated surfing destination in Mexico (and one of the best in the world) and also boasts exceptional natural beauty.
Here’s the thing: Budget travel doesn’t have to mean inferior travel.
I think you can get the same cultural explorations, white sand beaches, and epic local cuisine for 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
Located on Oaxaca’s Emerald Coast, Puerto Escondido is known for its beaches and epic nightlife.
One of the best beaches to explore in the area is Playa Carrizalillo, a quiet cove perfect for swimming and kayaking.
This is one of the few beaches in Puerto Escondido where you can also grab a paddleboard.
Or Puerto Angelito. This is a more popular spot with tourists, meaning it is busier and has a livelier atmosphere.
But it’s a great place to eat seafood and sunbathe on the soft sand.
There’s nothing I love more than spending time at the beach, swimming and riding my paddleboard, but as an added bonus, these are some of the most affordable holiday activities: they don’t have to cost a cent!
Many turtles return to the beaches along this part of the coast to nest.
A visit to the Baby Turtle Release Center is a great way to learn more about these incredible creatures, and you can do your part in their conservation by getting involved in the nighttime turtle release.
You can hold the baby turtle as you gently release it into the sea and experience hundreds of these small animals rushing to the water.
You will be asked one contribution of $150 Mexican pesos ($8) per person to participate in this.
If you’re in the surfing capital of Mexico, you probably want to surf.
Surfers travel from all over the world to surf Puerto Escondido’s famous barrel waves.
If you are an experienced surfer, the best and most affordable way to do this is to simply rent a board and hit the waves.
If you’re just starting out surfing, it’s a good idea to take a few lessons first. Puerto Surf has a great reputation and you can choose between private or group lessons (with group lessons being the most affordable choice). group lesson costs MXN750 ($39) and a private lesson costs MXN900 ($47).
Transportation to Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has its own airport (PXM), which is obviously the most convenient option, but you can’t currently fly there directly from the US because it’s not an international airport.
You would have to fly to Mexico City and take another flight from here.
The 2 cheapest airports to fly this route in October are Houston and Chicago, at the time of writing.
From Chicago, from October 8 to October 15, if you fly round-trip in economy class, you can expect to pay $276.
This is flying with Vivo Aerobusand as I said above, you would have a layover in Mexico City.
Or you can fly to Oaxaca (OAX), which is 131.3 km 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 a return flight in economy class for $269.
You will fly with Volaris and the flight time for this route is only 4 hours and 2 minutes.
During October and November there are flights with similar prices.
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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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
