Scuba diving is one of the most popular holiday activities in tropical beach destinations. But many visitors to Huatulco & Puerto Escondido aren’t aware that you don’t need a PADI card in order to get involved. Even if you’ve never before strapped on a tank to explore the deep blue, a Discovery Dive can give…
Traveling off the beaten path is a worthwhile endeavor. Avoiding over-developed “mega resort” towns means fewer crowds, a more authentic experience and lower prices for food, shopping and activities. But finding an affordable flight into Puerto Escondido or Huatulco isn’t always as simple as plugging in the dates and clicking “purchase.” In this guide we’ll…
1. Sunrise at the Beach Get up early folks, the sunrises here are even better than the sunsets. 2. Eat Authentic Tacos The real deal is nothing like what you order off the 99 cent value menu at Taco Bell. Tacos al pastor hot off the rotisserie at an authentic Mexican taquería is a truly…
Vacation is about going to new places and trying new things. But it’s also about relaxing. If you’d like to add a “Spa Day” to your Puerto Escondido holiday consider Temazcalli Spacio Medativo. Offering a wide range of services from therapeutic massage to facials, beauty treatments, temazcal (pre-Hispanic sweat lodge), guided meditation and more, this…
Open as of September, 2014, Club Vuelo Ventanilla offers visitors to Puerto Escondido the opportunity to see this beautiful part of the world like never before. Equipped with the two seat ultra-light trike he shipped to Mexico all the way from Italia, Captain Roberto Canton literally helps aspiring aviators fly like a bird. Even if…
Made from scratch salsas are the secret to taking your Mexican cooking skills to the next level and beyond. And this poblano enchilada sauce is one of the tastiest we serve at Gecko Rock. While it’s ideal for chicken molotes, this salsa is extremely versatile. It works great for both flavouring meats within your dish…
Reeling in a big fish is a quintessential Mexico holiday experience. From the rush of the fight to the smell of fresh Spanish Mackerel sizzling on the grill, a day out with Levi and Surf & Fishing Charters is a surefire recipe for an awesome day. Spending a few hours out at sea is one…
Like to skip the long lines at the baggage carousel and head straight for the taxi rank? This post is for you. Puerto Escondido Essentials: Don’t leave home without them. Believe it or not, plenty of people get all the way to Gecko Rock Resort to find that they didn’t pack their sunglasses! This might…
Part of the beauty of traveling overseas is collecting new and exciting experiences to plug into your memory bank. Here are eight activities you’ll want to get ticked off your Puerto Escondido or Huatulco vacation to-do list: 1. Enjoy a coco frío. Coconuts are super healthy and full of all-natural electrolytes. And nothing screams Tropical…
More often than not people come to Puerto Escondido to relax at the beach or sip freshly squeezed lime Margaritas poolside. When you’re up for a spot of adventure there’s no better way to get a taste of country life in Oaxaca than taking a guided mountain bike tour through the foothills of the gorgeous…
Renting a car for your Puerto Escondido or Huatulco vacation is a great way to see the best of the Oaxacan Coast while enjoying the freedom of the road. From mountain adventures to discovering seldom visited tropical beaches, having your own set of wheels makes it easier to reach destinations that are off-the-beaten path and…
If you want an authentic Oaxacan experience then a visit to Santo Domingo de Morelos on market day needs to be plugged into your vacation itinerary. Market day is every Sunday and Santo Domingo is easily reached from either Puerto Escondido, Mazunte or Huatulco. (We’ll give you directions at the end of this post.) Many…
When I say that Comedor Doña Guti is a hidden gem, I’m not exaggerating. It’s disguised as a rotisserie chicken joint! To find this delightful taquería you’ll need to look for the sign that reads Hermanos Rodriquez Pollos Estilo Ranchero at the crucero de Santa Elena, 28 kilometers east of Puerto Escondido on Highway 200.…
There are a million motivations to bypass the Cancun rat race and vacation on the Oaxacan Coast but one of the biggest reasons is that you’ll get a proper opportunity to practice your Spanish. Face it, you just don’t meet many locals at the Señor Frog’s bar! Here are six Spanish phrases you ought to…
Whether you’re there to browse, take photos, buy groceries or pick up souvenir gifts for friends and family that couldn’t make the trip, a great way to get a feel for the authentic Mexican culture of Puerto Escondido is to take a stroll through Mercado de Benito Juarez. Aside from dipping your toes in the…
When most people think of alcohol in Mexico the first image that comes to mind is a shot of Jose Cuervo tequila, a slice of lime, and a pinch of salt. But in the state of Oaxaca it’s all about the mezcal. Tequila and mezcal are nearly the same thing, but not quite. They’re…
Experienced motorcycle enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on the chance to explore paradise on a Ducati or BMW sports bike. It’s easy to participate from Gecko Rock Resort with tours departing from Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido. FMK Mexico offers voyages up the coast or into the mountains for day trippers, as well as…
If your holiday motto is “dance all night and sleep all day”, head straight for the open bar at Cancun’s Dady ´O. But if you’d rather bring home vacation memories that go beyond outwitting a hangover in paradise, then Puerto Escondido and the Oaxacan Riviera might be just the destination for your next Mexican getaway.…
Whether you’re a full-time expat or simply a backpacker on an extended overseas experience, it’s easy to miss the wide variety of foodstuffs available from the supermarket at home. While we certainly don’t have the same selection as what you’d find in Mexico City or Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido’s got a great selection of international…
If you wish to swill insanely overpriced drinks, served out of a pineapple in an overcrowded cheesy tourist bar, there are tons of direct flights into Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to buy yet another Hard Rock Café t-shirt and stave off your daily hangover with…
No Mexico beach vacation is complete without spending at least one day out on the ocean, and for total boat nuts and fun-loving travelers alike, the warm waters off the coast of Oaxaca offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to go scuba diving, sports fishing, or snorkeling, Deep Blue Dive is by far and…
The sleepy little fishing town of Puerto Escondido has got a beach for everyone. From monster waves for world class surfing to tranquil waters teeming with fish life for snorkeling, and everything in between. It’s all here. Compared to the chock-full tourist beaches of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, every beach in Puerto Escondido is going…
This photo of El Sultan is courtesy of TripAdvisor It’s a real shame that we didn’t know Ruben used to run a falafel kiosk called El Mono Loco in Puerto Escondido before changing the name and expanding to a larger location on the Rinconada. Not only is the falafel and hummus the best you’ll find…
Got a bucket list? Here’s an activity that needs to slide right into the number one slot: cheering on tens of thousands of sea turtles. Whether it’s the mums laying their eggs or the babies hatching and making their way out to sea, it’s truly an experience you’ll never forget. And there’s no better place…
I am honestly blown away by how many people, out of the endless choices of vacation destinations, choose Hawaii, California, or Florida year after year after year. I mean, it is not that these places aren’t beautiful, with great beaches and lots of fun things to do, but over time your holidays become safe, comfortable,…
Spoiler Alert: This blog post is a blatant advertisement for the boutique adult-only beach resort that we run. But…all this stuff is totally true! Go ahead and have a read and you’ll get an idea of why we decided to open our own resort, where personal service and knock your socks off food rule the…
Located mid-way between Gecko Rock Resort and Mazunte, Oaxaca is an off-the-beaten path tourist site that you might miss if you happen to blink as your car hops over the speed bump next to the “Iguanario” sign. The sign marks the entrance to the iguana sanctuary that runs just along the east side of the…
Just ten years ago Mazunte was a tiny undiscovered beach town tucked away in a corner of the backpacker circuit. Most of its visitors were budget travelers, looking to post up in one of the beachside hammocks that the simple thatch-roofed restaurants rented out for just a few bucks a night. Today Mazunte still attracts…
Anyone who has ever exited the arrival gate at a major Latin American airport knows all about the mayhem that can ensue when the local taxi drivers converge to try and woo your business. It’s quite the experience! Fortunately, both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco Airports are super chill. You won’t need to sweat getting hassled…
