12 of the Best Beaches in Oaxaca, Mexico

This post was written by Emily Becker, who is a Mexico-based freelance writer for BMTM.

Towering cliffs, secret coves, medium-grain sand, and crashing waves characterize the coast of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The beaches here, on the Pacific side of Mexico, are a far cry from the white sand and turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya, on the Caribbean side, which receives many more tourists than Oaxaca. I prefer Oaxaca’s beaches for a few reasons: there are fewer crowds, a more laid-back environment, and prime surfing.

Stay tuned for a tour of my favorite beaches in Oaxaca, where you won’t find huge resorts and you’ll get a taste of what real Mexican beach towns are all about:

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is the most touristy city on this list, but for good reason. It has quite a few beaches to choose from, each with its own unique character. Some are more frequented by locals, while others are hot spots for foreigners.

These are my favorite beaches in Puerto Escondido:

Playa Carrizalillo

I’m partial to Playa Carrizalillo because it’s the first beach I visited in Puerto Escondido. The beach is capped on either side by huge rocky cliffs, creating an idyllic cove where the water is calm enough to swim in, but you’ll also see surfers riding waves further out.

To get there, you have to go down quite a few steps. Then you can hang out at one of the shacks on the beach and sip a drink from a beach chair, grab some snorkeling equipment to check out the colorful fish, or take a surfing lesson.

Carrizalillo gets pretty crowded with both locals and tourists on the weekends and even on weekday afternoons, so the best time to go is in the morning during the week.

Playa Bacocho

Playa Bacocho offers a huge expanse of sandy shore, with volleyball nets and one of the best sunset views in town. This is also where conservationists set up shop to help sea turtles hatch in a safe environment before journeying to the ocean. To see the turtles, plan to arrive around 5pm. You can even participate in their release if you choose to, although I’m not sure how ethical this is for the animals.

The waves here were a little rough for a swim, but I also haven’t visited in the morning, so perhaps it would be safer then.

In any case, Playa Bacocho is a great place to bring a picnic to watch the sunset. If you’re a…