The Best Resorts in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

From Mexico’s own Grupo Habita brand – whose other properties include Downtown in Mexico City and the Robey in Chicago – comes Hotel Escondido, just outside Puerto Escondido town, in a secluded, privileged spot next to the Pacific. There are 16 cabins with traditional Mexican palapa-thatched roofs at this Escondido resort, all decked out with rustic wooden floorboards and their own terrace and pool. This laid-back yet luxurious place has everything you need at the tinkle of a metaphorical bell: from the pool sunken into the sand, to the two beach huts that double as the spa – offering massages to the sound of the waves.

High-end Hotel Rockaway is in the Zicatela Beach area, and ticks off the resort checklist with a choice of rooms and apartments, a restaurant, two pools, a gym and even its own parade of shops at the adjoining Rockaway Plaza. There are massages and the services of a beauty salon to summon – all an effortless flip-flop away from the sea.

Punta Zicatela Hotel is where the name suggests – right next to the iconic point of Zicatela Beach. Small in size, yet big in mindset, it has just 28 white and turquoise rooms, with hammock-adorned balconies overlooking the ocean. The pool is framed by a lush garden and leads out to the hotel’s very own beach club with loungers laid out on the sand. Tuck into fresh fruits and juices at the continental breakfast, or sip on a mint-infused grasshopper cocktail while watching the sunset on the rooftop terrace. This Escondido resort also offers yoga sessions and massages, with surf classes and turtle conservation offered as extras.

Eight miles outside of Puerto Escondido, on its own patch of beach, is the spectacular Vivo Resorts. Two colossal pools look out to the sea, surrounded by the hotel’s lavish oceanfront suites. Head out to kayak, stretch out with some yoga or horseback ride to hot springs during the day. When you return, the Senses Spa by Elaina offers citrus body wraps and eucalyptus massages for ultimate pampering.

Hotel Santa Fe resort in Puerto Escondido sits between the immaculate Zicatela and Marinero beaches, so you won’t be far from a strip of sand. The rustic rooms feature locally crafted Mexican furnishings and private balconies. There are verdant gardens surrounding the two pools – one for adults only, the other for families – and a pretty terrace with loungers that overlook the ocean. The open-air restaurant lies under a giant, thatched palapa roof and serves up fresh shrimp cocktail, delicious veggie dishes and coffee that’s roasted daily.

Posada Real Puerto Escondido is a laid-back resort, sitting oceanfront on Bacocho Beach. An all-action affair, you’ll never be at a loss for what to do here – whether it’s enjoying the ocean at Coco’s Beach Club, or getting active on the tennis court, taking up beach volleyball or trying your hand at mini golf. To reward your efforts, there are two pools for chilling out, as well as two bars and three restaurants to refuel at.

Villas Carrizalillo Hotel comprises 12 secluded villas that overlook Carrizalillo Bay. Nearby, you can experience the bioluminescent waters of the Manialtepec Lagoon on a boat trip, or try your hand at Oaxacan gastronomy with some cooking classes. On a terrace above the hotel’s pool area, you’ll find Restaurante Espadín where you can gorge on spicy shrimp tacos, freshly grilled snapper or chicken breast marinated in black mole sauce – all while sampling mezcal cocktails and looking out over the bay.

Samora Luxury Resort in Puerto Escondido is an exquisite collection of lavish bungalow suites on Cumana Beach. Swim some laps of the incredible 40-meter pool, or perch on the end and look out at the Pacific and serrated Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. The beach club is where you’ll be served a fresh, tropical breakfast each morning, and you can enjoy Med-Mexican fusion food on the beach. After all, here it’s all about the natural surroundings taking center stage.