Puerto Escondido or Mazunte? How to Choose

Choosing between Puerto Escondido and Mazunte is one of the most common dilemmas for travelers exploring the Oaxacan coast. Puerto Escondido delivers world-class surf, vibrant nightlife, and a full range of services, while Mazunte offers a quieter, more intimate beach experience wrapped in natural beauty and spiritual energy. The good news? They are only 67 kilometers apart, so you can easily visit both.

Along the entire Oaxacan Pacific coast, you will find beautiful beaches and magical towns. If you have a few days to explore, it is always better to base yourself in a larger town like Puerto Escondido and take day trips from there. For a broader look at planning your coastal trip, read our complete Puerto Escondido travel guide.

Where is Mazunte?

Near the surfer’s paradise, there is a town that is magical because of its size and energy. You will find it called Mazunte. According to legend, its name comes from the Nahuatl phrase “maxotetia” which means “please lay eggs here.” Only 67 kilometers from Puerto Escondido, this magical town has been used by sea turtles for generations to lay their eggs. If turtle conservation excites you, check out our guide to the Puerto Escondido turtle release. 

This Magical Town is 264 km from Oaxaca’s capital in the south, nestled between Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. The main attractions are the natural cosmetics made in the area, the beach, the Mexican Turtle Center, and its cliffs that offer breathtaking sunset views.

Mazunte can be reached by different routes from the closest and most popular cities.

Mazunte: how do I get there from Puerto Escondido?

Private transport

The first option is renting a car, which is easier but more expensive. It’ll give you more freedom, let you brake as many times as you want, and make you move more slowly. To get there, it will take you about an hour, and you can check out the different rental options here: Rent a car in Puerto Escondido | Pros and Cons

You can rent a scooter, which is similar to the previous one, but cheaper and a little more adventurous. In this area, you’ll see scooters everywhere. They’re cheap to rent, but you have to be careful because the roads are sandy or unpaved. Depending on how confident you are, it could be a great option since you can get places cars can’t. The trip can last between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours. 

If you want private transport, you could take a taxi. Depending on the time of year and the number of passengers, it can cost anywhere from $800 to $1100. While this option isn’t cheap, it saves you from renting a car and ensures you get there quickly.

A cheap way to get to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido

For those who don’t have enough cash to rent a car or take a taxi, and who prefer to mix with the local culture and have a more authentic experience, you can take public transportation to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido. It’s not so complicated and everyone you ask will know how to respond kindly, even if it seems complicated.

The first thing you need to do is head towards the main road. Afterwards, you’ll have to wait for the bus going to Pochutla. The cost varies depending on the season, but it’s around $20mx. As soon as you get on, you ask the driver when you’re supposed to get off for Mazunte. As a result, the bus won’t drop you off in the town because you’ll have to take another transportation. The bus will drop you off in San Antonio, which is the one that’s still running. You can take a taxi or wait for another public bus that goes to the town (approximately 10km). Depending on how much time you have, you’ll know which alternative works best. There’s no doubt the bus will be cheaper. However, if it’s a shared taxi, the price can be the same.

Taking this last transport will leave you in Mazunte. If you want to go back, remember that public transport stops working after a while. Before planning your return, check with us so you don’t stay halfway back. When you drive your own car, this data doesn’t matter.

By public transportation, it’ll take you about two to three hours to get from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte. Remember that if you’re going for the day, you’ll want to leave early to take advantage of Mazunte’s magical atmosphere.

Getting to Mazunte by bus from Puerto Escondido

Getting to Mazunte by bus requires a bus ride from Puerto Escondido to Pochutla. Choosing ADO will give you the most comfortable ride, but Alta Mar offers trips for less than 100 MXN if you don’t mind sacrificing. Once you get to Pochutla, you need to take a taxi to Mazunte beach.

In Mazunte, what’s the best thing to do?

When you get to your destination, there are some things you can do. Getting lost in the small streets is the best way to discover a new place. Get pleasantly surprised by the little cafes, the murals, and the local plants. When we flow with the pace of an unknown place, our curious nature comes out and we learn a lot about it.

Puerto Escondido or Mazunte — What’s the Real Difference?

There is a big difference between Mazunte and Puerto Escondido’s beaches. Mazunte is much smaller, and its water is calm and placid because it sits in a sheltered bay. This is a great spot for swimming, relaxing, and resting. Various palapas, restaurants, and umbrella rentals are available on the beach, so you will not burn. For a complete breakdown of Puerto Escondido’s beaches, see our 10 best beaches guide.

Punta Cometa

Take a stroll along the beach, enjoy the calm sea, and snack on some delicious coastal seafood before heading to Punta Cometa for an unforgettable sunset. There’s no better spot in Mazunte than this. This involves walking along a cliff for no more than 10 minutes until you reach a perfect point where you can see the sun go down. Your jaw will drop when you see the view. There are kilometer after kilometer of open ocean, beaches with a panoramic view, and the sun that’s always behind the water. The kind of experience that deserves a magical town. 

In the evening, you can choose from a variety of restaurants in the town and toast your happiness. There’s something to suit everyone’s taste, and a quality gastronomic offer. 

What’s the weather like in Mazunte

The beautiful and warm beach in Mazunte is located in a tropical climate, so there’s a lot of heat. There’s an average temperature of 21°C and 599mm of precipitation a year. Summer is the rainy season, which lasts from May to October. We estimate it takes 200 days a year on average.

It’s best to visit Mazunte between January and April or November and December if you’re thinking about it. You’ll find a warm climate without tropical storms during these times. For help planning around weather, see our Puerto Escondido weather guide.

Mazunte is most popular during Holy Week, September, and November, but we wouldn’t recommend visiting during these months. Mazunte’s weather in April is great for a vacation, but there will be a lot of people there for the festivities. That’s the same for September. As it’s still the rainy season in Mazunte, the weather isn’t great in September. In November and December, you’ll find the best weather, and these months are also popular for vacations for the national holidays and Christmas, but it’s not as crowded as April. There’s a chance of rain and bad weather in October, so you’d be better off waiting a few days and visiting in November, December, or January.