Many dream of being a Puerto Escondido digital nomad, but whatβs it really like? I visit Puerto Escondido every year from April to May and hereβs my digital nomad experience!
π¬ Hola Trisha, I love all your Mexico blogs! Thank you for sharing and giving valuable information. I followed your Oaxaca road trip on Instagram. I never heard of Puerto Escondido before but I was wondering if you can give some insights on how life is as a digital nomad there? I am looking for a one-month base for June 2020 and seriously considering Puerto. I just need to know what I need to prepare before my move there. If you can also connect me with your friends there, that would be great as I am traveling alone. Thank you for all your help!
β Marissa Robison, USA
Hey Marissa, thank you for reading the blog!
I am glad you are deciding to take a leap. Puerto Escondido is definitely a great destination for digital nomads but itβs also not for everyone. I was in Puerto Escondido last August to check out some new digital nomad base in the state of Oaxaca and I really loved PE because itβs super easy to make friends (especially if you speak Spanish).
In this guide, I will share my experience as a digital nomad in Puerto Escondido. If you have any questions that werenβt answered in this post or want to connect while youβre already here, please get in touch with me and Iβll try my best to answer all your questions!
Good luck and I hope you make it!
Xx,
Trisha
In a hurry? Here are my top recommendations for traveling to Puerto Escondido
βοΈ Puerto EscondidoΒ Trip Planning: I visit Puerto Escondido every year and I can help you plan your trip through a 1-1 chat. You may book a call with me here.
ποΈ Accommodations: Here's an awesome map of all the best hotels in Puerto Escondido near the ocean!
ππ½ Things to do: Use the code PSIMONMYWAY10 to get a 10% discount on all local activities inΒ Puerto Escondido!
π Rental Cars: It's easy to drive the whole Oaxacan coast! Book a rental car here for as low as $45 per day.
π Staying connected: Get an E-sim for Mexico for as low as $5 per day. It has great coverage in Oaxaca.
π Safety: Do not travel Mexico without an insurance. I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad trips and Ekta Traveling for short trips.
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Understanding Puerto Escondido digital nomad life
I visit Puerto Escondido twice a year (for periods of one month) but before coming here, I have to make sure Iβve done most of the work I needed to do for the month. Wifi here is really problematic! I am not saying itβs not doable because I know many Puerto Escondido digital nomads who make it work.
That needs to be underlined because it is important to know that choosing Puerto Escondido as your digital nomad base in Mexico depends on your work. Think about your daily tasks and set the Internet speed that you think will be enough for you to do your work efficiently.
With mine, itβs enough. The majority of my work focuses on uploading videos and we know very well that you need fast Internet in order to upload videos without wasting time.
I tried it many times, but it didnβt work with the level of productivity that I wanted to achieve. For example, I tried sitting down in many cafes in Puerto Escondido, hoping that my 10-minute YouTube video would be uploaded in 2 hours.
4 hours later, I was still sitting in the cafe four hours later and couldnβt stand up because the video upload was only at 80%. I canβt just leave because if I do without waiting for it to finish, I will have to do it over again and start the upload from zero.
First, you need to come to Puerto Escondido to understand if it works for you. I promise you it is beautiful. Then, when you are already here, you can try the Internet speed and see if it works for you.
I donβt know what you do, so it doesnβt mean that Puerto Escondidoβs failure to work for me as a digital nomad base applies to you, either. Moving on to another place is easy if it doesnβt work for you anyway.
Who knows? You might find other solutions that I wasnβt able to find, but I will keep updating this post as I constantly visit Puerto Escondido.`
Iβve had luck with some co-working spaces (I only tried 2, to be honest), but these come with an (extra) daily cost, as opposed to having high-speed Internet in your rental home.
They worked well but Iβve had challenges with taking Zoom calls as it can be loud sometimes. I usually warn my clients in advance that I am in Mexico and I canβt really control the noise and they understand. Itβs not like Puerto Escondido is the only loud place in Mexico β the whole country is always loud and lively!
Another problem I encountered with co-working spaces in Puerto Escondido is that they are very limited. As I said, I only tried two. Because of this, you will have to be first in line as soon as they open if you want to have the space to work.
Sometimes, co-working spaces will overbook their available slots and wonβt tell you until you find out yourself. Since these spaces are limited, expect to compete with other digital nomads. And honestly, one of the two co-working spaces that I am talking about is shitty. Technically, thereβs only one that is 100% reliable. I will discuss my experiences in the βco-working spacesβ section of this article.
Puerto Escondido Hotels near the beach
Puerto Escondido digital nomad experience
While most digital nomads are attracted to Puerto Escondido (PE), my assessment for the Internet connection is just βfairβ (slightly decent). Although that was when I was staying in hostels in Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondidoβs infrastructure development is underway β currently, Mexico is building the Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido highway that is set to be finished in 2022.
Since Puerto Escondido is still one of the most Mexican beach towns that have preserved its Mexicanism, many foreigners are attracted to invest in the area. I can see PE booming in the next 5 years but for now, you can still experience the real Mexico in this town.
As for the Internet speed, it really depends on what you do. For example, I do a lot of blogging [Wordpress] so in the hostel I first stayed in that had 15 MBPS wifi speed, everything worked out well.
However, if you are a Youtuber and uploading lots of videos like me, it doesnβt really work that well or if it does, you have to wait hours for a video to upload. For example, if I upload a 5-minute video on Youtube, it will take about 2 hours.
Thankfully, Zicatela in Puerto Escondido (where I stayed) is a walking town. You can easily go to coworking spaces or cafes for the Internet but not all restaurants have fiber optic.
π²π½ Dreaming of a new chapter in Mexico?
Iβll guide you through the essentialsβfinding your ideal city, securing a home, handling residency, and connecting with a welcoming community, so you can focus on what matters most: living the life you came here for.
Let's CHATDigital nomad scene in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondidoβs digital nomad population is mostly young adults. Since itβs one of the best surf destinations in Mexico, you will see lots of DN surfers staying here long-term.
Actually, those who have stayed in Sayulita go here during the low surf season (and vice-versa). Sayulita and Puerto Escondido seem to be sister destinations when it comes to mixing surf and working remotely.
The most common question I get from digital nomads: βAre there many Americans in Puerto Escondido?β I didnβt see a lot when I was there but please bear in mind that I also hang out with locals.
Most of my friends in Puerto Escondido are Latinos. You will see a big population of Argentines working in bars and restaurants. Iβve never seen that many Argentines in one area (outside of Argentina).
When I went to PE, there was also a big crowd of Mexican nationals, but they were not digital nomads but vacationers. Puerto Escondido is very family-friendly, so Mexicans like to spend their vacations there.
As I said, unlike other Mexican beach towns, PE still has that Mexican culture. The good thing about Puerto Escondido is its very inclusive vibe β you will feel like a local right away on your first day! People are very friendly and chatty, whether you are a foreigner or not.
Iβve connected a lot of readers of this blog to my friends there so if you are traveling alone to Puerto Escondido and want to make friends, get in touch with me via Instagram and Iβll introduce you to the best people!!!
Puerto Escondido Facebook groups to join:
- Puerto Escondido People: over 7,000 members and mostly in English
- Locals and Foreigners in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca: 6,000+ members and one of the busiest groups for expats
- Roomies Puerto Escondido: if youβre looking to share an apartment in Puerto Escondido but this group is in Spanish
- Casas en Renta Puerto Escondido: a group for looking for apartments and itβs also in Spanish
- Expats in Puerto Escondido: another group for expats but fewer members
- Expats and Locals in Puerto Escondido: a group that is focused on sharing news and current events. Itβs both in Spanish and English
π Compared to other destinations, Puerto Escondido is still very Mexican. Not everyone can speak English so learn Spanish before going to Mexico!
Internet speed in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has a 25 MBPS speed which is very good in Mexican standards. I think itβs one of the beach towns that I visited in Mexico that has a fair Internet connection and if you need fiber optic, itβs always available in coworking spaces.
However, for someone like me who does a lot of Youtube uploads, I always make sure that I have a portable wifi device for backup. I also used this pocket wifi during my Oaxaca road trip.
Mexicoβs prime mobile carrier, Telcel costs $200 MXN ($10 USD) per month for unlimited Internet and social media use. There are lots of Telmex packages you can choose from and you can also do a top-up online if you donβt want to go to a Telcel kiosk β theyβre not everywhere in Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondido cost of living
$1 USD = $20 MXN but if you are to exchange dollars in Puerto Escondido, they will give it to $17 MXN. You will see the $ all over Mexico but donβt be fooled β that is not USD. Mexico also uses the dollar sign but the currency is called the Mexican peso (MXN).
I find the cost of living in Puerto Escondido quite fair. You can have accommodation for a month for just $500 USD and thatβs already a great one. Eating out is also quite cheap, however, I didnβt see lots of street food in the Zicatela area, not even the beaches I visited.
For transport, I rented a motorbike that cost $250 MXN ($12 USD) per day but since I rented it long-term, I was able to get a local discount. I only paid $10 USD.
The thing with Puerto Escondido or Mexico, in general, is that cost of living is cheaper if you can speak Spanish.
You can haggle prices and if you know what you are saying, locals will never take advantage or increase the prices for you. The key is to be confident when haggling.
Again, if learning Spanish is not your thing, I can definitely hook you up with some of my local friends in Puerto Escondido so youβll have a support system when you arrive. They can also give you tips on how to rent cheap apartments!
π Where to find housing: Check out these apartments in Puerto Escondido for digital nomads!
Puerto Escondido cafes
I tried most of the cafes in the Zicatela area but not all of them have high-speed Internet. Although the food in these cafes is really good!
There is a big vegan/healthy eating scene in Puerto Escondido. Below are the best cafes with strong wifi that I found:
Cafe La Fe
Itβs a 30-minute walk from where I was staying in Zicatela and a 10-minute drive with my motorbike but I still came here because this cafe has the best Internet speed.
They donβt have a lot of food options but their drinks menu is super extensive! Cafe La Fe has nice seating arrangements and plugs are available everywhere.
Cafe Losodeli
This was also not so close to where I stayed but itβs really beautiful as itβs a mix of concept hotel, coworking, and cafe. The Internet speed is super fast and I love that they have lots of food options.
They also have a pool but I believe they are only for guests staying in their hotel. There is an outdoor working area at Cafe Losodeli, youβre going to love it! (see photo above).
If you search for Puerto Escondido Cafes, you will get a big list but please note that not all of these have fast Internet. Some donβt even have WiFi yet!
For example, I went to Cafe Binisa which is the number one recommendation for PE cafes. I saw down, ordered, and when I asked for the wifi password, they said βwe do not have Internet.β
So, there I was, wasting money on food when I canβt even work because the cafe did not have wifi. Itβs best to call the cafe before deciding to go.
They can speak English and can give you information about their WiFi connection.
Puerto Escondido Coworking spaces
The coworking scene in Puerto Escondido is slowly growing, however, I did not do the monthly subscription pass since I stayed in a digital nomad accommodation with fiber optic wifi. I will discuss that in the last part of this blog post. Here are the best Puerto Escondido coworking spaces:
Selina Puerto Escondido
This is also a hostel and they have free wifi in the cafe. However, their Internet router in the CoWorking space is not the same as the cafe β it is stronger.
I am not a fan of the Selina brand (they are all over Mexico) but I needed to see their space there as it looked attractive from the outside.
The Selina Coworking in Puerto Escondido is so small and what pissed me off was that I purchased a pass online, came to the cowork, and found out that it was full.
Itβs best if you visit and pay in person to make sure there will be a space for you. A day pass at Selina PE costs $10 USD per day.
Cafe Losodeli Coworking
Yes, Losodeli is on this list too! This is my current favorite and I always go here whenever I visit Puerto Escondido. Apart from the cafeβs tables and chairs, they also have standing desks for digital nomads. The day pass costs $10 USD per day.
Pros of being a Puerto Escondido Digital Nomad
Youβll be living in paradise!
Honestly, if the Internet wasnβt a problem in Puerto Escondido, I wouldβve moved here a long time ago. From living in Mexico since 2018, Iβve traveled a lot around here and Puerto Escondido is one of those (3) places that I truly considered living in.
There are so many beaches and the quality of life is super high for what you pay. I loved my daily routines whenever I traveled to Puerto Escondido even though I never integrated a lot of my work routines here (yet).
You can live an active and healthy lifestyle in Puerto Escondido
If you are into health and wellness (yoga, pilates, etc), Puerto Escondido is very big on this so itβs guaranteed that you will be surrounded by a healthy environment.
This is one of the factors I consider whenever I am basing myself somewhere. I feel like we digital nomads donβt really pay a lot of attention to our health but putting ourselves in that kind of environment somehow pushes us for a lifestyle change.
There are yoga practitioners everywhere. Although I do not have personal experience doing yoga in studios, Iβve participated in some beach yoga sessions and for me, these are the best ones!
Puerto Escondido is also one of the best places to surf in Mexico. Avid surfers from all over the world visit Puerto Escondido just to have a surf trip!
There are many other things to do in Puerto Escondido and youβll never run out of options. It is also super close to Huatulco, Mazunte, and Zipolite where you can go for day trips or short drives.
Puerto Escondido is still cheap
With the rise of digital nomads in 2020, many places in Mexico are becoming increasingly expensive every year. Iβve observed this increase in the cost of living in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita for almost 3 years of living in these areas.
It was mind-blowing to witness the price hike! RIGHT NOW, Puerto Escondido is still cheap and the costs will be discussed in this article as you read more.
Itβs so easy to make friends if youβre here solo!
Many people who plan to travel Puerto Escondido solo are worried about making friends. I tell them thatβs the least of their concern because this is a small area and you will bump into the same people!
Notice that the more you know people, the more a place becomes smaller. You suddenly see these people everywhere when you least expect it.
This only applies if you are a social person and by social, I donβt mean going out every night to drink and party. Chatting and small talks builds connection.
Even just saying βbuenos dias!β or βhola!β to people on the streets will give you the opportunity to make friends without even forcing it.
Everyone here is very friendly so youβll always have this sense of belongingness. Everyone is welcome to Puerto Escondido and that makes it a great place for solo travelers!
If you want to meet people, get in touch with me and I will introduce you to some of the cool kids.
Cons of being a Puerto Escondido Digital Nomad
Well⦠the Internet
I know I am becoming repetitive and you are probably discouraged about making Puerto Escondido your digital nomad base but think about your needs as a digital nomad in terms of productivity.
From there, you can weigh if the pros overrule this con. If I didnβt need the Internet to work, this is probably my first choice in Mexico. I really fell in love with Puerto Escondido!
Slow-paced lifestyle
Okay, this is my personal opinion (and experience). You might be wondering why I am putting this as a con but too slow is not for me. I work in a fast-paced environment (online) and I am always itching to get things done.
I also just function well when I am under pressure because this allows me to have 4 productive hours instead of 12 long working hours.
I know a lot of people who were enticed by Puerto Escondido because of the pictures they saw on the Internet and ended up not liking it when they were already there.
Puerto Escondido has a surfer and laid-back vibe which makes everyone move slow. Meaning, business transactions are slow too. If you try to work face-to-face with people, everyone, foreigner or not, has adapted the maΓ±ana habit but can you blame them?
If you have the opportunity to live super slow, why not? Check if thatβs an environment you want to be in, especially if you plan to work here in person.
You can get carried away by the nightlife
Most of the people who come to Puerto Escondido are young people but donβt worry, the nightlife here is not as crazy as Tulum or Cancun. It still has the pueblo vibes.
Of course, as I mentioned above, coming across the same people almost daily sorts of forces you to socialize but con gusto. What do I mean about that?
Letβs say you just went out of your apartment to buy bread from the supermarket. Then you see someone you know buying beers and are about to go to the beach to watch the sunset.
Itβs super hard to say no because of the vibe of the people. Youβll also feel mega-local when everyoneβs waving at you on the way to the tienda. Isnβt that a great feeling?
The next thing you know, you are already at some rave party in the jungle (and you brought the bread with you).
While this is depending on the person, it took me a lot of discipline to say NO to drinking and it starts with saying NO to βone beer.β I mean, how hard could that be if youβre living in paradise?
Mexico Digital Nomad Visa
Digital nomads are attracted to Mexico because of the generous 6-months visa. Upon entry into Mexico, you are automatically given 180 days to stay in the country as a tourist.
However, you canβt work on this visa. If you get caught by the police, donβt say you are working online.
Just say youβre on vacation because working online is not legal in Mexico. Otherwise, just keep off the policeβs crosshair so you wonβt have to discuss this.
If you fall in love with Mexico and decide to stay for an indefinite time, you can definitely apply for a Mexico digital nomad visa which gives you a one-year permit to live in the country.
The process is super easy but if itβs your first time, I recommend hiring a lawyer as thatβs what I did. I can definitely connect you to my lawyer if you are serious about this.
Best months to visit Puerto Escondido for digital nomads
If you are going to live in Puerto Escondido as a digital nomad, the best months are from November through April. During these months, youβll find clear skies, lower humidity, and warm (but not sweltering) temperatures. This creates ideal beach conditions for swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the town.
The sea is generally calmer during this period, which is especially great if youβre traveling with family or prefer a more relaxed beach atmosphere.
With predictable weather, youβre more likely to enjoy uninterrupted outdoor activitiesβfrom chilling on the beach and taking scenic walks to sampling local seafood at open-air markets. Fewer weather disruptions mean sightseeing, water sports, and day trips in the surrounding areas go smoothly.
Remember that these months are considered high season, so you might also experience higher prices and larger crowds at popular spots. Make sure to book an apartment in advance!
The steady weather in Puerto Escondido from November to April also makes logistics, such as transfers and restaurant reservations, more reliable, which can be a big plus if you appreciate a well-organized trip.
Worst months to visit Puerto Escondido for digital nomads
The worst months to visit Puerto Escondido are from May to October, especially September and October. The rainy season typically peaks from May to October, with September and October often experiencing the most intense rainfall.
Expect frequent showers, high humidity, and a greater risk of tropical storms or heavy downpours. These conditions can sometimes lead to rougher seas, muddy roads, or even temporary closures of outdoor attractions.
While heavy rainfall can add drama to the landscapeβand in fact, some surfers actually chase the heavy swells during these monthsβthis season isnβt generally ideal if youβre after calm beach days or reliable outdoor plans. The risk of interruptions due to sudden thunderstorms makes organizing day trips and leisurely outings more unpredictable.
If your main goal is to enjoy safe water activities, kid-friendly outings, or simply have a laid-back beach escape without constant weather concerns, the rainy season can be challenging. The unpredictable showers might dampen your plans or add stress to managing day-to-day travel logistics.
That said, if youβre into surfing and can handle a bit of uncertainty, the vigorous swells might be a drawβbut most travelers may find the weather conditions less than ideal.
Volunteering abroad is indeed such a great way to save money on accommodation.
Hi! Great post! Thank you so much! Do you thing it would be enough for doing zoom calls?
Hi! Great post! thank you so much for all the info! Do you think it would be enough for zoom calls? I’m in calls pretty much all day.
Hi!
Love your posts. They are well written and very informative.
Thanks
Dimitri
Great post! I’m heading to the area staying right on Zicatela beach in the fall – I’ve added you on Instagram & look forward to reading more of your tips!
Thanks π
Thank you for this excellent information on Puerto Escondido. I am considering going to stay here for a couple of months and would like to rent an apartment. Any advice on where to start my search?
Also, do you think internet in most apartments is strong enough to have Zoom video calls?
Thank you!
Steve