Where To Watch The Sunset in Puerto Escondido (2023)

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Looking for the best places in Puerto Escondido to watch the sunset? You’re in the right place! This guide has all the best-hidden gems for watching the sunset in Puerto Escondido.

Whilst we lived in Puerto Escondido in 2022, watching the sunset each evening was a ritual. And not just for us, most backpackers, tourists and even locals would head down to the beach to see the sky turn from a bright shade of blue to orange and pink. It was pretty special.

In the following post, I outline the best places to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido. From the well-known beaches to the hidden gems, these are the best sunset spots in the area.

Backpacking Mexico and want to visit Puerto Escondido? Don’t miss my complete area guide and a list of the best hostels.

Other Mexico posts:

Looking for the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido? I’ve got you covered! Check out my recent post: 25 BEST Restaurants in Puerto Escondido for Foodies! (2023)

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

Where To Watch The Sunset in Puerto Escondido

Contents

1) La Punta beach

The first (and my personal favourite) place to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido is La Punta beach. La Punta is a tiny beach town with a laidback atmosphere and a ‘hippy’ vibe. It’s one of the best areas to stay for backpackers and first-timers in Puerto Escondido, and is by far one of the most popular places in the area.

One of the main reasons La Punta is so popular? The sunsets! The view over the ocean is completely unobstructed, and as the sun sets, crowds gather to experience the magic.

As the sky swirls from blue to red, you’ll find local performers on the sand throwing fire, singing with a guitar, and small bands playing the drums. The atmosphere during the sunset on La Punta is unlike anywhere else in Puerto Escondido.

Oh, and look out for locals selling everything on the beach from espresso martinis, handmade jewellery, fresh pineapples and handmade muffins!

TOP TIP: If you’re looking for a more chilled vibe when watching the sunset, head right as you walk onto the beach (towards ‘Punta Vida’ / Zicatela beach). Or, if you want the opposite and want to experience the mezcal shots and live music, head left when you walk onto the beach (towards the rocks).

BEST SUNSET IN PUERTO ESCONDIDO — *Surfing in La Punta*

2) Playa Bacocho

Playa Bacocho is undoubtedly one of the best places in Puerto Escondido to watch the sunset. It’s a further out of town than La Punta or Playa Carrizalillo, so if you’re looking for a reason to visit, tie it in with a turtle-releasing experience (read more about that here).

The horizon on Playa Bacocho is completely unobstructed, and the beach is so big that it appears to be endless. It never gets too busy, and you can enjoy the experience in complete serenity.

I was lucky enough to see one of Playa Bacocho’s incredible sunsets on my 30th birthday, and it’s a sunset I’ll never forget!

ATMs in Puerto Escondido — *Sunset from Playa Bacocho*

3) Playa Carrizalillo

The sunset views from Playa Carrizalillo are some of the best in Puerto Escondido. As Playa Carrizalillo faces west, the sunset views here are unbeatable.

You can watch the sunset and change the colour of the sky from a bright blue to blood-orange and deep pink. It’s pretty incredible, and something you’ll want to see with your own eyes!

The atmosphere on Playa Carrizalillo is best at sunset, as both backpackers and locals gather to watch the sun go down. It does get busy though, so you’ll want to arrive at least 60-90 minutes before to get a spot!

The sunset on Playa Carrizalillo — *Playa Carrizalillo sunset*

4) Playa Coral

Playa Coral is another great place to watch the sunset, because it never gets too busy. It’s a little bit harder to access than any of the other beaches, so you’re likely to have the beach to yourself or with just a few other people.

Playa Coral is located right next to Playa Bacocho, in the north of Puerto Escondido. The best way to reach Playa Coral is by taxi, colectivo or scooter. If you’re getting a taxi, you can say either Playa Coral or the Villa Mexicana hotel.

Like I said, it’s a little harder to access as you either have to scramble across some rocks or pay via the hotel. You can find out more about Playa Coral and how to get there here.

best things to do in puerto escondido — *Sunsets in Puerto Escondido*

5) La Punta rocks

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can watch the sunset from the rocks at La Punta. Around an hour before sunset, you’ll see people walking towards the lighthouse to scramble on top of the rocks.

The view from the rocks is higher than the beach, so you’ll have a different perspective of the sunset. It’s an epic place to go with a group of friends and a couple of beers.

However, it does require a bit of scrambling, so make sure you’re wearing good shoes!

There’s also a hidden beach on the other side of the rocks, but we never made it that far. If you can work it out, it’s meant to have some incredible sunset views! (Let me know in the comments if you do!)

6) Espadin restaurant (Rinconada)

The Espadin restaurant on Playa Carrizalillo is another epic place to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido. As it’s situated on the edge of the rocks, you’ll get a completely unobstructed view from a high vantage point.

The downside? It’s an expensive restaurant! If you’re a budget backpacker like us, it might not be possible. But if you do have the money, or you want to splash out for a special occasion, Espadin is one of the best places to watch the sunset.

Espadin restaurant is located on Playa Carrizalillo, around a 10 minute walk from Centro.

Looking for the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido? I’ve got you covered! Check out my recent post: 25 BEST Restaurants in Puerto Escondido for Foodies! (2023)

7) Savanna Cafe & Mezcal (La Punta)

If you’d rather stay away from the sand but still want to watch the epic La Punta sunset, head to Savanna Cafe. Boasting the ‘best view’ in La Punta, their upper deck gives unbeatable views of the sunset.

It isn’t too expensive either, with daily happy hours between 6-8pm.

best sunsets in puerto escondido — *Savanna Cafe, La Punta*

8) Playa Zicatela

The final epic place to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido is Playa Zicatela. Playa Zicatela is a long stretch of beach with epic views of the ocean and a never-ending horizon.

If you’re staying in a hotel in Zicatela, check to see if they have a rooftop for even better views than the beach!

Zicatela is also known as the ‘party place’ in Puerto Escondido, so most bars will be hosting a happy hour during the sunset. Play pool, shot mezcal and start the party as the sun goes down.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido

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 short on time, here’s a quick summary:

🛏️ Best hostel in Puerto Escondido for backpackers: Book here

If you’re a solo traveller and looking to party in Puerto Escondido, I recommend this hostel in La Punta. It’s known for its wild events and activities, has its own pool and isn’t far from the beach.

Getting around Puerto Escondido is easy, and if you prefer one area to another, taxis are cheap and widely available.

Getting around Puerto Escondido

Getting around Puerto Esconido is easy, and most commonly either by scooter, colectivo or taxi. It is possible to walk, but journeys like La Punta to Bacocho would take a couple of hours, and it’s HOT!

If you need to know the ins and outs of getting around Puerto Escondido, check out my post: Getting Around Puerto Escondido in 2022: A Complete Guide.

When to visit Puerto Escondido

Let’s talk about the best time to visit 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.

Is Puerto Escondido worth visiting?

Yes! Yes and yes again. Even if it means taking an 18-hour bus from Mexico City! If you’re backpacking Mexico, make sure Puerto Escondido is planned for your route. It’s truly one of the friendliest, liveliest and best places to be in Mexico, and it is perfect for solo backpackers and digital nomads.

We loved Puerto Escondido so much that we lived there for nearly two months! This blog is packed full of Puerto Escondido information, so be sure to check it out!

Booking flights?

There are a few different websites I use to book flights, but I mainly use this one. This is because it compares the cheapest flights on the Internet, and always gives you the best deals! Check it out by clicking here.

Best travel insurance for backpackers in Mexico

If you’re visiting Mexico as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Mexico, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Mexico. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Where To Watch The Sunset in Puerto Escondido: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about where to watch the sunset in Puerto Escondido.

When you’re planning a trip to Puerto Escondido, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Mexico content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Jennie

TRAVEL BLOGGER

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

Where To Watch The Sunset in Puerto Escondido (2023)