La Punta Zicatela is the best-loved neighbourhood in Puerto Escondido: sand streets, surfing at dawn, speciality coffee shops and sunsets that bring everyone together on the beach. This is the guide to doing it well.
What to do
Learn to surf: the waves at La Punta are long and forgiving, ideal for beginners and intermediates. There are schools and board hire on the main street.
Yoga at sunrise: several studios offer open classes facing the sea.
Watch the sunset from the rocky point: the neighbourhood's daily ritual.
Markets and local shops: clothes, Oaxacan crafts and handmade jewellery.
Short trips: Manialtepec Lagoon for bioluminescence, Chacahua for mangroves and Mazunte for a day out.
Where to eat
La Punta has a food scene that is surprising for its size: Peruvian-Oaxacan cooking, fresh seafood, oven-baked pizza, breakfasts with high-altitude coffee and vegan options. Almost everything is less than ten minutes away on foot.
Getting around
It is the most walkable area of Puerto Escondido. To reach the centre, Carrizalillo or the airport, taxis cost little and take between 10 and 20 minutes.
When to go
From November to April the weather is dry and the atmosphere lively; from May to September, bigger waves and fewer people. September is the quietest month.
Where to stay
If you choose La Punta, Raíz Hotel Boutique is right in the neighbourhood: cafés, surf lessons and sunsets on foot, with close, personal attention. Message us on WhatsApp at +52 954 124 0793 and we'll tell you what the area is like day to day and which room best suits your trip.
Raíz is in the heart of La Punta: pool, artisan breakfast and architecture designed for the coastal climate. You step out of the door and you're already at the beach, the cafés and the main street.
