Is Puerto Escondido Safe at Night?

Generally speaking, Puerto Escondido is safe at night. Like many other destinations in the world, you should always be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark. Criminals see tourists as easy targets and tourists so in order to avoid attention, it’s recommended to avoid excessive drinking and consuming drugs in Puerto Escondido. Most robberies in Puerto Escondido happen in poorly lit and empty streets. Always consider taking taxis rather than walking home late at night. If you want to avoid problems with the police, be sure to stay off of the beach at night as there have been a number of reports that the police have bribed locals and tourists for being on the beach after dark.

Is Public Transport Safe in Puerto Escondido?

Public transport is very safe in Puerto Escondido and there are two main options when it comes to transportation: Taxis: Taxis are very reasonably priced in Puerto Escondido although you should always find a personal recommendation for a taxi driver when possible. Every legal taxi has a paper in the front of their car, providing its legal taxi number, name and a picture. Also note that it’s common to see taxis charge more during late-night hours. Colectivos: If you speak a bit of Spanish or if you are feeling adventurous, you can choose to take a shared minivan also known as colectivo. There are a few colectivo routes that run from the market in the center to different parts of town in and around Zicatela. Every colectivo passes by Zicatela and the entrance of La Punta. The cost is 10 pesos and they are perfectly safe to use. You might also be interested in: Is there Uber in Puerto Escondido? (Explained!)

Is Puerto Escondido Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Is Escondido safe for solo female travelers? Absolutely! While Puerto Escondido is known to be safe for solo female travelers, women should always take extra safety precautions, especially at night. In order to enjoy Puerto Escondido as safely as possible, please be sure to use your common sense. We recommend avoiding the use of unofficial taxis and transport while in Puerto. The best way to find reliable and reputable transport is to ask for personal taxi recommendations in Puerto Escondido Expat Groups such as Locals and Foreigners in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca . Tip: Hostels make it very easy to make new friends. If you’re staying in more private accommodations and you’re interested in meeting like-minded travelers, you can try posting in a popular local Facebook group for women called Mujeres de La Punta Zicatela .

Is Puerto Escondido Safe for Surfing?

Puerto Escondido offers a variety of beaches for surfers of all levels of experience. If you're interested in learning more about surfing in Puerto, don't miss our Surf Guide to Puerto Escondido . Some beaches are better suited for beginner surfers while others are for the more advanced. What is most important is that you’re confident in your skills and you know your limits in order to avoid injury or worse. If you are dreaming about catching your first wave, it’s recommended to head to Playa Carrizalillo. Carrizalillo beach is tucked away inside of a small bay and offers perfect waves for beginner surfers and those who want to learn how to surf. The more experienced and confident surfers are found at La Punta and Playa Zicatela, both of which receive much larger waves and are home to major surf competitions each year. Playa Carrizalillo: Beginner Surfers La Punta: Intermediate Surfers Playa Zicatela: Advanced/Expert Surfers

Is It Safe to Drive from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido?

The drive from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is not recommended due to the treacherous and curvy route that winds its way through the mountains. The drive time takes anywhere from 6.5 to 10 hours depending on your mode of transportation. Note: There is a new highway which is currently being built between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido which has been estimated to cut the travel time between the two destinations by more than 50% . The new road connecting Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido is predicted to cause significant economic growth for not only Puerto Escondido but also to the rest of the coast of Oaxaca as it will drive tourism to the area.

Is Puerto Escondido Safe to Visit in 2023? (Safety Guide)

Q: What is the Safest Way to Get from Puerto Escondido Airport to my accommodations?

The safest way to get from Puerto Escondido Airport to your hotel or Airbnb is to pre-book your transportation in advance of your arrival.

Puerto Escondido is located on the southern coast of the state of Oaxaca and is one of the most popular, up and coming destinations in México.

In 2021, Puerto Escondido was named one of the Top 100 Extraordinary Places to Explore and a rising design destination by Time Magazine.

One of the more frequently asked questions that we receive: ¿Puerto Escondido es seguro?

A pesar de la reputación mediática de México, Puerto Escondido es uno de los lugares más seguros para visitar en todo México.

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Puerto Escondido es seguro para los turistas?

Puerto Escondido is a very safe destination for tourists due to the fact that many locals in Puerto Escondido depend on tourism and the money visitors bring to the city each year.

Considering that Puerto Escondido is a relatively small place, most locals and residents know each other.

This is yet another reason why Puerto Escondido crime rates aren’t through the roof.

That said, due to the rapid growth of Puerto Escondido, crime rates have been slightly rising for the last three years.

Numbeo recently stated that the Puerto Escondido Mexico crime rate is 49.40%.
En comparación, otros destinos como la Ciudad de México tienen una calificación de 69.07% y Tijuana de 71.16%.

Si bien Puerto Escondido es seguro, es esencial usar el sentido común cuando se visita, ya que la mayoría de los delitos contra los turistas son delitos de carterismo o robo.

Es altamente recomendado evitar mostrar artículos como teléfonos móviles, computadoras portátiles y joyas costosas.

Asegúrate de mantener tus objetos más valiosos fuera de vista o en la caja fuerte de tu habitación para evitar incidentes innecesarios.

¿Puerto Escondido es seguro de noche?

Generally speaking, Puerto Escondido is safe at night. Like many other destinations in the world, you should always be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark.

Los delincuentes ven a los turistas como blancos fáciles, por lo que para evitar llamar la atención, se recomienda evitar el consumo excesivo de alcohol y drogas en Puerto Escondido.

La mayoría de los robos en Puerto Escondido ocurren en calles mal iluminadas o vacías. Considera siempre tomar taxis en lugar de caminar a casa a altas horas de la noche.

If you want to avoid problems with the police, be sure to stay off of the beach at night as there have been a number of reports that the police have bribed locals and tourists for being on the beach after dark.

¿El transporte público es seguro en Puerto Escondido?

El transporte público es muy seguro en Puerto Escondido y hay dos opciones principales en cuanto a transporte:

Taxis: Taxis are very reasonably priced in Puerto Escondido although you should always find a personal recommendation for a taxi driver when possible.
Every legal taxi has a paper in the front of their car, providing its legal taxi number, name and a picture. Also note that it’s common to see taxis charge more during late-night hours.

Colectivos: Si hablas un poco de español o si te sientes aventurero, puedes optar por tomar una minivan compartida, también conocida como colectivo.

Hay algunas rutas de colectivo que van desde el mercado en el centro a diferentes partes de la ciudad en Zicatela y sus alrededores. Todo colectivo pasa por Zicatela y la entrada de La Punta. El costo es de 10 pesos y son perfectamente seguros de usar.

You might also be interested in: Is there Uber in Puerto Escondido? (Explained!)

¿Puerto Escondido es seguro para las mujeres que viajan solas?

Is Escondido safe for solo female travelers? Absolutely! While Puerto Escondido is known to be safe for solo female travelers, women should always take extra safety precautions, especially at night.

Para disfrutar de Puerto Escondido de la manera más segura posible, asegúrate de usar tu sentido común.

Recomendamos evitar el uso de taxis y transportes no oficiales mientras estés en Puerto. La mejor manera de encontrar transporte confiable y de buena reputación es pedir recomendaciones de taxis personales en Grupos de Expats de Puerto Escondido como Locals and Foreigners in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

Tip: Hostales make it very easy to make new friends. If you’re staying in more alojamientos privados y estás interesada en conocer a viajeras de ideas similares, puedes intentar publicar en un popular grupo local de Facebook para mujeres llamado Mujeres de La Punta Zicatela.

¿Puerto Escondido es seguro para surfear?

Puerto Escondido ofrece una variedad de playas para surfistas de todos los niveles de experiencia.
Si estás interesado en aprender más sobre el surf en Puerto, no te pierdas nuestro Guía de Surf Puerto Escondido.

Algunas playas son más adecuadas para los surfistas principiantes, mientras que otras son para los más avanzados. Lo más importante es que confíes en tus habilidades y conozcas tus límites para evitar lesiones o algo peor.

Si sueñas con agarrar tu primera ola, te recomendamos que te dirijas a Playa Carrizalillo.

La playa de Carrizalillo está escondida dentro de una pequeña bahía y ofrece olas perfectas para los surfistas principiantes y aquellos que quieren aprender a surfear.

Los surfistas más experimentados y confiados se encuentran en La Punta y Playa Zicatela, las cuales reciben olas mucho más grandes y albergan importantes competencias de surf cada año.

Playa Carrizalillo: Surfistas Principiantes
La Punta: Intermediate Surfers
Playa Zicatela: Surfistas Avanzados/Expertos

¿Es seguro manejar de Oaxaca a Puerto Escondido?

No se recomienda conducir de Oaxaca a Puerto Escondido debido a la ruta traicionera y con curvas que serpentea a través de las montañas.

El tiempo de viaje dura entre 6.5 y 10 horas, según el modo de transporte.

Nota: Hay una nueva carretera actualmente en construcción entre Oaxaca y Puerto Escondido que se estima reducirá el tiempo de viaje entre los dos destinos en más del 50%.

The new road connecting Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido is predicted to cause significant economic growth for not only Puerto Escondido but also to the rest of the coast of Oaxaca as it will drive tourism to the area.

What is the Safest Way to Get from Puerto Escondido Airport to my accommodations?

La forma más segura de llegar desde el aeropuerto de Puerto Escondido a su hotel o Airbnb es reservar su traslado con anticipación a su llegada.

Is it Safe to Party in Puerto Escondido?

Yes, the nightlife scene in Puerto Escondido is safe as long as you stay alert at all times and stay out of trouble. If you’re looking for a list of the best places to party in Puerto Escondido, don’t miss our Puerto Escondido Nightlife Guide.

Is there Cartel in Puerto Escondido?

Yes, there is cartel in Puerto Escondido and just about every other major tourist destination in México. Will they bother you? No. At the end of the day, the drug cartels are a business and if what they are selling something that isn’t of interest to you, you will likely never even notice their presence.