Rinconada Puerto Escondido: ULTIMATE Guide! (2023)

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Everything you need to know about Rinconada Puerto Escondido! This post includes things to do, where to stay, where to eat, where to party and how to make the most of your time in one of the best places in Mexico.

Rinconada is one of the most underrated places in Puerto Escondido. I bet until you started researching the area, you hadn’t even heard of it. We didn’t know about Rinconada until we arrived in Puerto Escondido – but were so pleasantly surprised.

If you’re unfamiliar with Puerto Escondido, it’s split into five main areas. These five areas are La Punta, Zicatela, Bacocho, Centro and lastly, the wonderful Rinconada.

Most backpackers will flock to La Punta, which is understandable. La Punta is known for its laid-back lifestyle, with a buzzing nightlife, incredible views of the sunset and chilled atmosphere. You’ll find most backpackers and digital nomads staying in La Punta.

But we can’t forget about Rinconada. When we lived in Puerto Escondido, we split our time between Centro, Rinconada and La Punta, and I’m so glad we did. I get it, it’s easy to get swept up into the La Punta bubble and never leave.

So why visit (or stay) in Rinconada? The restaurants, the beaches, the people, the atmosphere – there is so much more to Rinconada than it gets credit for!

I also think the busier Puerto Escondido gets, the more popular Rinconada will become (so get there before everyone else does!)

Other Puerto Escondido posts:

Playa Carrizalillo entrance — *Rinconada restaurant strip*

Rinconada Puerto Escondido: A Complete Guide

Don’t forget insurance!

Whilst you’re backpacking, you will always need insurance. We use SafetyWing, for the most flexible, reliable and budget-friendly options. They have the best cover for worldwide, long-term trips, and at the most affordable backpacker prices! You can check out their cover here.

About Rinconada Puerto Escondido

The ‘rinconada’ actually translates to ‘corner’ in English, and Rinconada in Puerto Escondido can be seen as just that. It’s a small area with lots of shops, bars, restaurants, delicious tacos and access to the best beaches in the whole of Puerto Escondido. It’s a little corner of paradise!

Nestled in between Bacocho and Centro, Rinconada is home to Playa Carrizalillo, Playa Manzanillo and Playa Angelito. These are three incredibly beautiful swimming beaches (with beginner surfing at Carrizalillo), and are popular with both locals and backpackers.

Rinconada isn’t big and is centred around a strip of restaurants. This strip has some of the best food in the whole of Puerto Escondido, with some of the most budget-friendly prices. This main strip is safe and easy to navigate, including at night.

It’s also close to Centro, which is the main area for locals in Puerto Escondido. So if you want a taste of what local life is really like in this epic part of Mexico, staying in Rinconada is the way to do it!

Where is Rinconada? + How to get there

Rinconada is located in the northwestern part of Puerto Escondido. It is close to Centro, the ADO bus station, the large Chedraui supermarket and Bacocho.

It is within walking distance of the main beaches in Puerto Escondido, including Playa Carrizalillo, Playa Principal, Zicatela, Playa Manzanillo and Playa Angelito.

From the airport, Rinconada is a six-minute drive. It’s also home to a few backpacker and digital nomad hostels, like Cafe Losodeli and Tower Bridge, making it ideal for budget travellers.

If you’re arriving in Puerto Escondido via the ADO bus, Rinconada is only a short walk away. Although if you have heavy bags and want to grab a taxi, it won’t cost more than 50 pesos as it’s such a short journey.

GETTING TO RINCONADA FROM CENTRO

The journey between Centro and Rinconada is short. They are neighbouring towns and are close together. That means you can explore both if you’re staying in either one!

Take a taxi for around 50 pesos
Board the colectivo for under £1 ($1)

GETTING TO RINCONADA FROM OAXACA

Getting from Oaxaca to Rinconada isn’t easy! You’ll need to board either a 12-hour ADO bus, a 6-hour local bus through the mountains, or an expensive plane.

I recommend the ADO bus when travelling between the two, but if you need more information, check out my post: How To Get From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido (2022 Guide)

NOTE: The ADO bus station is in Centro, next to Rinconada.

GETTING TO RINCONADA FROM MEXICO CITY

An easier option than coming from Oaxaca is to fly directly from Mexico City. It’s only an hour’s flight and should cost under £40/$50. You can also board an 18-hour ADO bus.

For all bookings and more information, check out: Mexico City to Puerto Escondido (Backpacker Guide).

Backpacking Mexico? Use the ADO buses!

ADO buses are the safest, cheapest and most convenient way to backpack Mexico. They’re clean, modern and even have toilets onboard. However, you always need to pre-book, as seats sell out fast!
Click here to check prices, dates and availability!

*Playa Carrizalillo sunset* *in Rinconada*

Where to stay in Rinconada

Looking for the best places to stay in Puerto Escondido? I’ve written a guide on the best areas in Puerto, as well as the best hostels.

But if you’re specifically looking for Rinconada hostels and hotels, here are some of the best places to stay!

Tower Bridge Hostel: Perfect for backpackers who want to party but aren’t staying in La Punta or Zicatela. It’s one of the most social hostels in Puerto Escondido.
Casa Losodeli: If you’re a digital nomad looking to socialise and get work done, I highly recommend Losodeli.
Cielito Lindo Suites: for couples on a budget.
Quinta Carrizalillo: if you want to be super close to Playa Carrizalillo, one of Puerto Escondido’s prettiest beaches.

Booking hostels?

Choosing the right hostel as a backpacker is crucial to how successful your trip will be. Always use Hostelworld.com for the cheapest rates, widest availability and most importantly – honest reviews from other travellers!
Click here to view the best hostels for your trip.

Where to eat in Rinconada

One of the best things about Rinconada is the restauants. There are so many options and different cuisines that you can choose a different place to eat every night!

There’s not as much live music in Rinconada as there is in La Punta, but you’ll often see buskers performing for each restaurant. Make sure to have change for tips!

Here are some of the best restaurants in Rinconada:

El Cafecito (£): This place will have queues out the door at any time of day. It’s one of the best places to eat in Puerto Escondido, with cheap prices perfect for backpackers. It has everything from homemade Mexican to pesto pasta and a hamburger and fries! True comfort food.

El Sultan (£): Middle Eastern healthy food with a fun atmosphere. Visit on a Wednesday for 2-for-1 falafel wraps!

Pinches Tacos (££): Some of the best tacos you will eat in the whole of Puerto Escondido. Order your filling, then go up to the toppings bar to build your own tacos!

ChupAlitas (£): The most underrated wings in the whole of Puerto Escondido. It’s a casual, low-key setting showing American sports (attracting a lot of Americans!)

Mediterraneo (££): Delicious pizza and Italian food. And the portions are huge!

Dulce Tierre (££): The best place in Rinconada for coffee and homemade cake. Get the Red Velvet cake if you’re feeling indulgent – it is incredible!

There are a few other restaurants in Rinconada, and you can walk along the strip to see which one takes your fancy. Just bear in mind some are more expensive than others, so check the menu first!

Want to know more about the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido? Check out my post: 25 BEST Restaurants in Puerto Escondido for Foodies! (2023)

Things to do in Rinconada

There are so many things to do in Rinconada (and across the whole of Puerto Escondido!) and here are just some of them:

Try surfing for the first time, or take a surfing lesson on Playa Carrizalillo with Oasis Surf School
Spot dolphins, whales and turtles on a boat tour from Playa Angelito
Relax on the beach, or climb on the rocks to go fishing or watch the sunset
Head to a bar in the evening
Wake up early to watch the sunrise
Drink a cocos frios on any of Rinconada’s beaches (the best coconuts are sold on the corner of Playa Manzanillo beach)
Go shopping in some of the many shops along the Rinconada strip
Catch up on some work in a co-working spot (the best Wi-Fi in Puerto Escondido is in Sabina and Losodeli)
Go on one of Puerto Escondido’s tours
Do the coastal walk on Playa Principal
Eat at one of the best sunset spots, Espadin restaurant
Walk down to Bacocho beach to release baby turtles!
Head to Zicatela or La Punta for live music and partying

These posts might also interest you:

Puerto Escondido in November — *Turtle Release Puerto Escondido*

Insider tips for visiting Rinconada

We lived in Puerto Escondido for nearly two months, and in Rinconada for almost half of this time. We absolutely loved it, but there are definitely some things you should know before you go!

Here are my insider tips for visiting Rinconada Puerto Escondido for the first time.

Spanish is spoken in Puerto Escondido, and not many locals speak English. It is so important that you have a basic level of Spanish before backpacking Mexico.

Cash is still king in Rinconada. There is one ATM on the restaurant strip, and the rest are in Centro. You can find out the best locations of ATMs here.

There’s plenty of parking in Rinconada, right in front of the restaurants (both for cars and scooters).

The best surf school in Puerto Escondido is located in Rinconada – Oasis. Check them out if you want to learn how to surf!

Eating and drinking on the beach in Rinconada is EXPENSIVE. Buy beer and snacks from the mini-mart on the restaurant strip before heading down to the beach.

The best time to be in Playa Carrizalillo is during sunset. Head to the beach an hour before for the best atmosphere and live music. Make sure you have cash for tips!

There are many, many wild dogs in Rinconada (which we loved). But if you’re not a dog person, could be a problem! But to put your mind at ease, wild dogs are friendly and tame. They won’t cause any harm, and if you don’t want them around you, show them little to no attention and they will leave.

Buskers and locals will perform in the restaurants. If you can, have some small change ready to tip.

There isn’t any crazy nightlife in Rinconada, so it attracts a calmer crowd. The restaurants are full of locals, families and young couples.

Is Puerto Escondido a party town — *Music and drinking on the beach is a regular thing during the sunset in Puerto Escondido*

Getting around Rinconada

Rinconada is entirely walkable. It’s only a small area, so you do not need a car or a scooter if you are only planning on staying in Rinconada. However, if you would like to explore other areas and beaches, taxis, colectivos and scooters are your best option.

And then there’s getting around Puerto Escondido as a whole. Again, it’s easy, especially by scooter, colectivo or taxi. It is possible to walk, but journeys like Rinconada to La Punta would take a couple of hours, and it’s HOT!

Need help getting to Puerto Escondido? Check out my post: How To Get To Puerto Escondido: EASIEST Ways!

centro puerto escondido — *The colectivo in Rinconada*

Where to party in Rinconada

There isn’t a wild party scene in Rinconada, and it all happens further east in Zicatela, Centro and La Punta.

If you’re looking for the best places to party in Puerto Escondido, you’ll find all the information you need here: Is Puerto Escondido A Party Town? EPIC Party Tips!

Playa Carrizalillo beach — *Playa Carrizalillo surfing at sunset*

Where to see the sunset in Rinconada

Seeing the sunset in Rinconada is one of the best places to be in Puerto Escondido!

Our favourite spot was Playa Carrizalillo. It’s one of the prettiest beaches in Puerto Escondido, with clear, blue water, a jagged coastline of cliffs and rocks, and an epic horizon view. Head there around an hour before sunset for a good spot.

Most evenings, there will be a busker or local singing on the sand with a guitar, drums or some kind of wacky performance. Take some beers from the mini-mart, and just soak up all the wonderful atmosphere.

Looking for more sunset spots? Find out more information here: Where To Watch The Sunset in Puerto Escondido.

Backpacking Mexico? Use the ADO buses!

Surfing in Rinconada

If you want to try surfing, I highly recommend doing it in either Rinconada or La Punta. Some of the other beaches in Puerto Escondido aren’t suitable for surfing, and the waves can be either too big or too small.

Backpackers, tourists and locals flock to Playa Carrizalillo and La Punta because of the waves, as well as the epic sunset views you can catch whilst out on the water.

Looking for a surf school? I recommend either Experiencia Surf School or Oasis Surf if you’re a beginner surfer.

Can you swim on the beaches in Rinconada?

Yes, you can, with some of the best swimming beaches being in Rinconada, but sometimes the waves can get pretty big. If you want to swim, use common sense. But if the waves are too big (and sometimes they can be on Playa Carrizalillo), stick to surfing or sunbathing on the sand. When the ocean is totally empty of swimmers, there’s a good reason for it!

Don’t swim if there isn’t anyone else swimming, and even if there are other swimmers, know your limits! You don’t know what skills the other swimmers have, so trust your own gut and intuition.

You’ll notice a lot of ‘no nadar’ signs around, but I’m not sure if they’re current or are ever monitored!

Check out my post; Can You Swim In Puerto Escondido? Best Swimming Beaches for more information about swimming in Puerto Escondido!

When to visit La Punta Puerto Escondido

Let’s talk about the best time to visit La Punta Puerto Escondido. This is always going to differ depending on your preferences.

🌍 Best time of year to visit Puerto Escondido as a backpacker: November – April. The rain has come to an end, hostels are full of life and partying, it’s continuously hot and sunny, and the famous Puerto Escondido sunsets from Playa Carrizalillo. Note this is the hottest time to visit Puerto Escondido, and most days your weather app will tell you it ‘feels like 45-48°C’. It is CRAZY hot!

💻 Best time of year to visit Puerto Escondido as a digital nomad: October through May for atmosphere, sunny days and blue skies.

💰 Best time of year to visit Puerto Escondido for the cheapest deals: May-August, due to the rainy season (but the waves are still great!)

👫 Best time of year to visit Puerto Escondido for avoiding crowds: May-August, again due to the rainy season.

🏄‍♀️ Best time of year to visit Puerto Escondido for surfing: Peak surfing season in Puerto Escondido is between April and September. This is when the waves are at their most consistent, and is the time when large surf competitions and events are held on Zicatela. The quietest surf time is in November.

Need more information? Check out the following posts:

Is Rinconada safe?

Overall, yes. Rinconada is a safe area for solo female travellers to visit in Mexico. There were very few times in Puerto Escondido that I felt unsafe.

People are friendly, the main streets are well-lit and taxis are safe to ride alone. Don’t walk down any dark or unknown roads at night, and stick to the areas you know.

Be kind, be aware, be ready and notify friends of your location. Keep them in the loop, and use your common sense.

Need more advice? Check out my post: Is Puerto Escondido Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice (2022).