Playa Carrizalillo

Playa Carrizalillo is one of the most popular beaches on the Puerto Escondido coast of Oaxaca. Located at the end of a bay of the same name, Playa Carrizalillo may only be roughly 100 yards in length but has the facilities much larger beaches would be proud of.

One downside is that the main access point to the beach is from the surrounding cliffs, with a set of roughly 150 concrete steps leading down to – and back up from – the golden sands. Hidden by the area’s verdant foliage, they limit accessibility for those with mobility issues or younger children.

However, the route down to Playa Carrizalillo is certainly worth the effort. As well as being able to cool off in the waves, visitors are able to soak up the sun’s rays with rentable sun loungers and umbrellas. There are also places to eat and drink beneath the thatched-palm huts, most of which have a minimum spend if using their tables and chairs. Their menus include fish caught by the region’s fishermen just a couple of hours before.

The relatively gentle surf has made Playa Carrizalillo a beach popular with beginner surfers, who can make use of the surf school to hone their skills around 50 yards offshore. The beach is at its busiest during the middle hours of the day, and at its quietest first thing in the morning and a couple of hours before sundown.