Mexico – Puerto Escondido 10/11/16 – 13/11/16

Our bus left Acapulco at 8.25am and we arrived at Puerto Escondido at around 5pm. Yes this was a long journey and no we hadn’t bought the luxury tickets this time, but we will from now on. The journey took us through yet again magical scenery, with stunning jungle view points. It made half a dozen stops but the trip wasn’t too bad. The bus was half full and even though we had booked certain seats we had the freedom to swop seats as the scenery changed. It had a toilet on board, but did not serve food. Thank goodness we had pre thought this and bought a verity of snacks yesterday from the supermarket.
Once at Puerto Escondido we jumped into a taxi for the 4km drive to our tiny seafront destination of Zicatela, costing MXN 40, about NZ $3. This area as we read, has a more chilled out, relaxed ambience, and it wasn’t wrong. This time we booked a Cabana close to the beach with its own swimming pool and outdoor kitchen, through Airbnb. Once arrived we were shown to our digs and we were in awe. We walked a few steps from the roadside into a pretty little jungle oasis to our door and we were shown around its inside, and it’s external part. At the back of the Cabana was the quaint little pool surrounded by every known type of palm tree and cacti, some in bloom. It was really magical. Through the palm tree leaf tops high above us the sun shone and the sky was the most magnificent blue I’d ever seen.
Following a cool shower we headed out to the restaurants, which were around 50m away, along a sand covered road, with just the odd street light guiding us. Once we turned the corner the street came alive, with Latin music coming from the dozen or so bars and restaurants. It took us a whole 5 minutes to wander the village street looking at the bars, we finally chose a Thai restaurant, settling in for a curry and a few Coronas. This little place was an outside venue, under yet another palm covered thatched roof, lit only by candle light. It’s dining area surrounding it’s kitchen so you could watch the chefs cook your food. Tables were made from thick pieces of tree trunk, with the chairs made from smaller pieces. Each table had its own candle and fresh cut frangipani flowers and there were additional candle lit lanterns of every size and colour scattered around the restaurant. Absolutely STUNNING!
Next day we spent the morning on the long beautiful white sandy beach. The sea was warm but had a powerful under current so swimming had to be done with caution. Along the beach were several cafes offering cold drinks and snacks, we opted for cold chocolate milk shakes, a snip at MXN30 each. Very nice they were too. Then back to our digs for a swim in the cold pool and a relaxing day sunning.
We also took a taxi up the coast, for MXN 50, about NZ $3.50, to the more popular bay of Puerto Escondido. Great little seaside fishing village with great beaches, again however not so great to swim in the ocean as all the area is for surfers to do their stuff. On the same day we got there, there was a surfing competition, but we didn’t stay long enough to watch it as at lunchtime the temp had raised to 35’c with no breeze.
There’s a few organised trips from where were staying in Zicatela, but the lazy hazy sunshine, temperatures around 30’, clear blue skies and the warm ocean all mean you just don’t wanna wonder further afield. Everything is so relaxed calm and leaves you with a full sense of being totally chilled out. It not so crowded and the people here are very friendly and most speak great English.

However our last day was spent on a trip. We booked a days tour to San Augustin, a little bay about 2 hours drive from where we are.

This bay is stunning, picture postcard of a tropical beach, with palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, a few boats moaned up and crystal clear seas. What else to do here but go snorkelling, the Coral is only a few meters from the sea shore and the tropical fish, WOWZERS, beautiful, shoals of every kind with colours straight from the edge of a rainbow everywhere you look. This bay is quite rocky and when you swim over the embedded rocks, fish just come swimming right up to you almost touching your nose, spectacular and magnificent in every way. What a magical experience, we could have stayed there for months. At this bay we also had lunch at a great restaurant, and although it was relatively quite, our waiter was quite pushy with drinks and food, but still a great day.
So our time in Zicatela has come to an end and it’s been a pure blast just sitting and doing nothing. Just relaxing and chilling out by the pool and in the ocean. A great little find and a MUST COME TO PLACE if your ever in the area.