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You wern't kidding, all gone just like that. Wondering if anyone has seen Omar in PE this year??? I come from Northwestern Ontario Canada, the same place that Omar guides during the summer months (May - Sept).
Cheers
It has been a while since I have had a chance to spew forth as I had been in Puerto Escondido for a month. It was a hard trip down and I will share it with you now.
We made it down to Puerto Escondido but it was not easy. When we left SF there was a huge storm and we were do to take off at around midnight . Well, we got to the airport and they told us that we could not take the dog. As you can guess that was not an option. My wife made a big scene and after about 20 minutes they relented. They told us the dog could not go because there was not enough room even though we had less stuff than everybody else. You can imagine how that went over with us. Then they told us the flight was delayed for an hour. We got on the plane and sat there for 5 yes 5 hours. The storm got worse so they could not take off. 80 mph winds over the Golden Gate Bridge. So we sat and sat. My 7 year old fell asleep but we could only dose a little. The plane was rocking and bouncing and we were just sitting there. At 6 am the plane started to move but the weather did not seem any different at all. I think the pilots just got tired of waiting. We took off and it was the worse 45 minutes in a plane I have ever experienced. But we made it out of the storm. We were suppose to stop in Guadalajara for a minute to let some people off but when we got there we ended up changing planes and waited for 2 hours. Connection to Puerto Escondido missed for sure but they told us there would be another plane to Puerto even though there is only one flight a day to Puerto. Also remember that the dog was on the plane or somewhere. We finally got on the plane to Mexico city but as they were loading the baggage we saw them drive away with the Dog. "Hey that's our dog". They told us that he could not fly on that plane because the cargo hold was not pressurized. He will be on the next plane out and we will make our connection to Puerto. WRONG. We get to Mex city and there is no other flight to Puerto but there is a flight to Huatulco but where is the Dog? We don't know, they don't know and Guadalajara is not sure. Of course we will not go without him. They find out he is coming sometime soon. Meanwhile where are we going to sleep? At first they told us they would not put us up in a hotel because the storm was not their fault. After I explained that they should not have sent us 6 hours late if they knew we were not going to make our connection they seemed to understand. Cool. But we cannot fly to Puerto anyway because the plane that goes there does not have a pressurized cargo etc. (we found out later that was not true but who are we to argue at that point) Huatulco it was. Meanwhile where is our little boy's Dog. "Oh yea". He will be here. In the baggage area. Well 2 hours later with all the baggage personnel looking and running around and calling all over the world, they tell us he is here. He finally shows up. And he didn't seem to care one bit. He even seemed to enjoy the whole thing. I think he wanted to tell us about his trip to Guadalajara and the plane rides etc. He is definitely a stress free dog. So they gave us a hotel and 3 meals for each of us. Not the Dog though. We gave him our leftovers from the buffet. He ate more than us, needless to say. Ok, so we get to the airport and the lady asks us how we are going to get from Huatulco to Puerto. I had not thought to ask the previous day and told her so. At that time I was more concerned with getting a free hotel room. She took our tickets and left for about 15 minutes and came back with a voucher for a ride to Puerto. Worth about $120 US. if the fare is not negotiated down and the airline is paying for it. I saw the receipt. Cool. We get to Huatulco and guess what. The dog does not get off the plane. What? We saw him get loaded so this plane is not going anywhere until that Dog is with us. So they open it back up and sure enough they did not see him the first time. His box is only about the size of a Volkswagen. They thought it was funny. We didn't. And that is the story of the worse plane trip we have ever been on. Oh by the way we had a wonderful time in Puerto .....and so did the Dog. I will write about that later with a chapter about the plane ride home.
PB
Hi. We're flying into Mexico City on Monday, Feb 3rd at 8:00 in the evening and taking either an overnight UNO or ADO bus to Oaxaca. Does anyone know if it's necessary to make a reservation or can you just head over to the bus station? I've looked at the Ticketbus website but it's all in Spanish.
Also, does anyone know about the van service from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido. I've heard it takes Sola de Vega (approx 5 hours) instead of that horrible windy road but does anyone know where it takes off from in Oaxaca City and how often?
Thanks for your help. Joanne
Bill: I feel your pain. I have been in similar situations flying out of Toronto. Missing connections etc in Mexico City. I was young and under travelled to experience the joys of the Mexico City Airport by myself unable to speak spanish. i will keep looking at the thread to hear about your trip home. How is PE?? I am headed there next week for 17 days. Hope nothing has changed since 1999.
Cheers
I too will be there; landing in M.C. the 28th of Jan. Taking a bus the next day at 4.45pm( station Norte) on Cristobal-Colon $422peso's 15 hrs. Hope the web-site I found was up to date? If anyone knows differant, please post. I also would be interested to know what the weather is like as of late.( lots of clouds, ect.).
I am using new forum software and there are some new features. You can log on and create a user profile. This allows you to edit your own posts after posting, create a personal signature, and to change the menu language. Right now the default language is Spanglish. I think there may be some other features but I'm not sure what they are right now. I'll read the manual as soon as I get everything configured. :-) Logging on is optional. Expect some bugs with these new features.
[%sig%]
Cheers, We will be travelling from Puerto to Oaxaca (return) in February. We have heard the bus ride over the mountains is very beautiful, but uncomfortable? There are some issues with arthritis so we don't know whether to go the bus route or fly.
Any info regarding either method and costs would be greatly appreciated!!
[%sig%]
There is a Chevy Suburban that goes to Oaxaca and costs about $25 US I think. I am not real sure about the cost but it is comfortable and I remember the price as being reasonable.
PB
hola, When I was in PE in Nov someone gave me a copy of small Spanish/English newspaper. I think it was either a monthly or simi-monthly .It was very interesting. It had a calender of events, some articles of local intrest and best of all I think it was free. I would be more than happy to pay some fee & postage.I"m not sure but I think "Sol" may have been the name of it.If anyone knows an address,E-mail or otherwise I would very much appreciate it.
Don
Big Don:
Try:
www.elsoldelacosta.com
Saludos,
I.P.
Warren Sharpe is the publisher: elsol@escondido.com.mx from the US/Canada: 011-52-954-582-2230 great way to keep in touch with Puerto Escondido.
We are arriving in about weeks time for a month in PE. Can anyone recommend the cheapest and least painless way to get from the Hualtulco Airport to PE. I know I've seen it here before, but the old messages are gone.
Thanks [%sig%]
Are they necessary and any idea where to buy them in PE? How to you hang them? Thanks
On my last 3 trips to PE, my wife & I have taken walked outside the gate of the airport and got a cheap taxi going north. The walk to the gate is only about a 3 or 4 minute walk. You will most likely be greeted by a taxi driver even before you get thru the gate, offering you a ride. Otherwise, walk another 1 1/2 blocks to the Gas station and you will find taxi's there. For a ride to PE, they will usually start around $60 US. I've ended up paying $45.00 the last 2 times, and I let him keep the extra $5 as a tip. He took us right to the hotel which the busses don't. We stopped a few times for a cold Corona & Pepsi and the trip only lasted about 1 hr, 15 min. Nice ride, beautiful view of the countryside. You will hear other comments about taking a bus. May be a little cheaper but will take longer and the bus will not take you directly to your hotel. The alternative is to talk to one of the drivers of the taxis inside of the airport gate, (most of them are suburbans and have a set reate of aprox $110 to PE) and see if you can get a better deal.
I just got back from a wonderful week in Puerto. Thought I would share some of my experiences and impressions with the group.
I spotted an attractive last-minute airfare from Toronto to Huatulco direct for only $250 (all prices in US$). Couldn't resist, so on 2 days notice, I was off. The flight was full of package tourists heading for luxury all-inclusive resorts at Huatulco. I asked if there was anyone heading up to Puerto, but all I got were blank stares.
Walking out of the airport, an official taxi offered to take me for $100, but I knew a local one out on the highway would do it for half price. But after a15 minute wait, no taxi had passed, but a local bus for Pochutla came by. It was either 2nd or 3rd class - no, it must have been 2nd class because there were no chickens on board. After 45 minutes, it pulled into the Pochutla bus station and I immediately stepped into a bus heading for Puerto. Total trip took about 2 hours and cost $3.
In Puerto, I booked into my old standby hotel, the Rincon del Pacifico. The setting is the best in town, in my view, as there are hardly any hotels directly on the beach. The rooms are clean and simple with ceiling fans and large windows facing a palm-filled courtyard. Cost was $24 a single ($30 a double)
(Note: Old Paul from Montreal, who has been staying in the front unit every winter since the dawn of time, had fallen and broken his hip. They brought him back from the hospital during my stay, and he has 24 nursing care.)
One annoying thing about staying in this hotel: there is a group of conga drum players from Argentina who play for cash on the pedestrian street each night and they set themselves down right in front of the hotel. The sound pours through the courtyard and reverberates off the walls at an intense volume. Their show is good, if you are just passing by on the street, but most annoying for a couple of hours each night, especially if you are in search of peace and quiet! I thought about moving several times but stuck it out in the end.
There seems to be more litter - plastic - on the main beach, even though a squad of a dozen people sweep down the beach each morning. But the packs of wild dogs that I read about are gone. The story I heard is that a reporter from a Mexico City newspaper was there on holiday and got bitten. He threatened to expose the dog problem if nothing was done, and it was!
Carrizalillo beach is still the most beautiful I know. And surprise! A proper stone staircase has been built. 167 steps, count 'em. I don't miss the dusty old path at all. This is the place to settle in under a palapa to swim, read, drink cerveza and order a fine shrimp cocktail. Heaven!
There were virtually no bugs around. Usually the noseeums nibble at my ankles in the evening, but not this time. Never saw a mosquito. Anyway, the ceiling fan kept anything at bay. However, there were, for the first time in my memory, a lot of flies that appeared whenever food was put on the table.
There are internet cafes all over the place, making contact with home a breeze. They all charge $1 (10 pesos) for an hour. But the connections can be SLOW.
I took a few shots with my new digital camera. You can view them at http://members.rogers.com/46jnott1/ It was a great trip but too short.
Jimbo
Yes Omar is in Puerto. In fact we just talked to him on the phone. We are leaving for Puerto on Wednesday and we phoned to talk to our friends and Omar was at their house. His fishing season is going very good , catching lots of fish.
Great pictures!!!
A LOVELY report, Jimbo! Didn't you feel good saving that $97.00 on the trip from the airport? And just think about how widely you spread that $97.00 among the people in Puerto!
Nice photos, Jimbo. Can I use some of them on the web page?
[%sig%]
Omar operates out of Puerto Angelito. He has a truck now, and picks you up where you are staying, about 6:45 AM. You're on the water shortly after 7 AM. His current rates are a flat fee of 1500 p. He can take a max of 10 "tourists", or 4 serious fishermen(there are only 4 rod-holders in the boat). You are usually back by noon or so. I've gone out with him twice in the last 2 weeks - my interest has been seeing dolphins, rather than fishing.
On the first trip, we went out 19 km, about 12 miles. We got into a group of what Omar estimated were 400+ "spotted" dolphins. 3 of our group of 9, me included, got in the water with them. The faster I swam, the more I was surrounded by dolphins - both sides of me, in front of me, rolling just below my face mask. Incredible experience in the "deep blue". I brought a rock tied onto a rope to measure the visibility - it was 43 feet, or 13.1 meters. There was one "downside" - all the jellyfish! They were beautiful in the clear water, but they did "sting". I'd been "stung" by jellyfish numerous times before and knew what to expect, so it didn't really bother me. For me at least, a small price to pay for the dolphin experience.
Even Omar was amazed - in 13 years, he never had anyone want to get in the water with the dolphins(with the exception of one underwater photographer, who stayed right next to the boat).
The dolphins stayed with the boat for oven an hour(I was in the water with them for 45 minutes) - we left before they did. Our kids, hanging over the prow of the boat, got to touch them at will - a memorable experience for them. We were trolling lures, but not seriously fishing. We watched a sailfish batting a lure with it's bill, but it never took the hook. No fish caught. We saw several turtles on the way back.
On the second trip, I went for the dolphins again, but with 4 people who wanted to fish. We saw about 8 bottlenose dolphins, but they only stayed with the boat a few minutes, and I didn't get in the water. We didn't catch any fish on that trip either.
I've talked to several groups who have gone fishing with a variety of guides. I'd say fishing has been "slow". A neighbor of ours has gone out twice with 2 different guides(not Omar), and their group has caught one dorado(mahi-mahi), about 4 feet long on both ttips. Prices vary, but 300 p/hour with a 4 hour minimum seems to be an average. Omar speaks excellent English(he guides for a fishing operation in Canada during the summers), and he's well worth the few extra pesos.
Omar's cell phone number is 044-954-588-4075. You'll probably have to book him days in advance.
Hi Tom!
Feel free to use any of the photos you wish. Thanks for the great website!
Jimbo
Hola, I am going to travel to P. Escondido, I´d like to know where can I find a place where I can meet gay people, are there places in P. Escondido like bars, disco or something like that?... thanks for your help..
good luck!!!
A few questions about ypur camera??? We are leaving for Puerto on Wednesday and we also just got a new digital camera. Do you mind telling us what type of camera you got and any tips you might have when taking those picture of Carrizalillo. We have 30 days to change our mind on our camera, your pictures are so clear and the colour is fantastic. We are very beginner!!
This will be our fourth year in Puerto and we love it. We stayed in the white building in your pictures above Carrizalillo last year.
Thanks
Linda, The camera I use is a Canon Powershot A40. I use Photoshop Elements (which comes with the camera) to adjust the colours and sharpen the pics (they are a bit 'soft' in their natural state).
Enjoy your stay.
Jimbo
Thanks for th up date. I am leaving for PE next Wednesday out of Toronto.
Maybe we'll see ya there. If you are interested in fishing, let me know, I may be interested in a trip out.
Cheers
Hi. We'll be in PE for the month of Feb - really love it there and getting away from it all. BUT, I'm a huge fan of Survivor and it's starting on Feb 13. Does anyone know if Art & Harry's or any other bar has satellite and if so, have they shown previous Survivors before.
Thanks & take it easy.....
Jo
The January 2001 to January 2003 Puerto Escondido Visitors' Comments (minus the headings) are available in a 1.2 Mb html file at <http://www.tomzap.com/comments_escondido2002.html>
I plan on staying at the hotel Flor de Maria in Puerto the week of 10th. I was just wondering why it is not a link on tomzap, and if anybody knows anything other than what they have on there website. Thanks for the help.
Mike
We have never stayed there, but we do eat dinner there quite often. Every comment about the hotel on this web site has been good. The owners are charming and accomodating people.
I'm living here in Puerto, and I can pick you up in my Dodge Caravan and take you to your hotel. If you're interested, email me at the hotmail address.
Oops, the email address doesn't show up. Email me at casacare@hotmail.com if you want more info on pickup at the airport.
I have a business card which I picked up at the hotel last year. Their email address is: pajope@hotmail.com Phone: 011529545820536 Jimbo
try the local mexican jails they have your type im sure, maybe you can bribe a guard to let you in for a night [%sig%] Post Edited (01-21-03 20:44)
take uno the seats turn into beds ,its the only way to go i took ado in jan. an couldnt take the uncomfotable seating. since uno has only 25 seats compared to ados 40 yes it would be very wise to reserve
Nice place, genial and friendly owners (Canadian, I believe), good restaurant, wonderful roof-top bar and pool area (small pool). Not directly on the beach, but easy access to Playa Marinero and Zicatela. Haven't stayed there but have eaten in the restaurant and checked things out. I'd stay there.
There've been times in Puerto I wished I had one. Most places have hooks above the bed for hanging them. Haven't seen them in town but haven't really looked either, they have to be there somewhere, you can also buy 'em on-line. I use the slow-burning insect coils, called Raidolitos there, they're readily available and work well. The mosquitoes I've encountered in Puerto are pretty much invisible, more like the no see-ums northerners might be familiar with. They come out after dark and you don't know they're biting you until it's too late.
Did anybody in Puerto Escondido feel the Colima earthquake, 8:07 PM, yesterday, January 21, 7.6 - 7.8. An ABC News story is at <http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/mexico030122_quake.html>
Can anybody living in Puerto give us an update about the earthquake and if it affected Puerto
Does anyone know Omar's e-mail address? David
We did not feel anything here.
Dave <http://www.puertoconnection.com>
I took the trip from PE to Oaxaca City last summer on a (second?) non-first class bus. It stopped roughly every fifteen minutes to pick up passengers and stopped once for a food/potty break. If you have the funds take some of the nicer transports up to Oaxaca City.
If you can stomach it (literally), the views are breathtaking and beautiful. You will, however, have to put up with sharing seats, people leaning on you, etc. It is also really bumpy (depending on what class bus you take ... I think I took the non-direct bus as I remember now!) so if you have arthritis it can be a little troubling. Take Care, R
Has anyone had any experiences in visiting archaeological sites in and around Puerto Escondido? If so I would like to hear about them.
Thanks in advance! R
Since this site attracts a lot of surfie types, I am wondering if anyone can direct me to a Tomzap - style visitors forum for Tamarindo, Costa Rica. An offer that was too good to turn down {especially given the present Siberian weather conditions} has me leaving for Liberia later this week, and I would love to pick a few brains before I head out. Any sites I have found so far kinda suck, this is SUCH a good one. Any help much appreciated, Cheers, Sara
We just got back from Oaxaca last night. We took the van service from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca and it was very comfortable. The scenery was beautiful! The van was a 5 1/2 hr trip where the buses take the long way around and stop frequently. If you have a tendancy to get carsick, take dramamine, but it really isn't that bad. The vans leave at 9am 2pm and 7pm. and was about 130p per person. Also, you can reserve seats and apparently the ones in front (which we reserved) are more comfortable. We took the 2pm van as we wanted to do Gina's morning walking tour of Puerto Escondido which I can also heartily recommend.
We were going to fly, but Mexicana has cancelled all its flights from Hualtco to Oaxaca for the month of January. The flights from PE were frightfully expensive. Like $300. per person Canadian. Take the van. It's a beautiful trip.
We were just in PE and stayed at the Flor del Mar. It was great. Really, really nice hosts Paul and Joanne. Very clean, quiet rooms and the location is great. I think there are cheaper places to stay, but we had a great time there. Paul helped us arrange the van to Oaxaca when we were ready to leave and he also suggested the Eco tour of the lagoon with Mike Malone which was outstanding. Have fun!
hi, i'm seeking a 1-2 bedroom villa for a 1 wk rental in march. i have not booked any air travel yet, so any wk is fair game. pls email me asap at sianb_s@yahoo.com with any info. can't wait to get there!
Below I have pasted a report I wrote in October for another website, together with the reply from the webmaster, who helped me arrange my transportation. Hope it helps you.
In Reply to: Bus report posted by Paul on Octubre 22, 2002 at 08:34:31:
So glad you enjoyed it. I had not recommended Estrella Roja or Solteca from Oaxaca direct to PE, as most tourists seem to want only luxury and flat, straight roads in perfect condition. But really that route, via Sola de Vega, is much more beautiful because it is not so filled up with towns and other construction. So don't tell anyone about it, so that it will stay uncluttered (-:
By the way, the UNO bus betwen DF and OAX is perhaps even more luxurious than the Futura! Note for next time.
: Hi Maria
: Last month you advised me about bus travel between Mexico DF, Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido. We're just back and I'd like to tell you a bit about our experience. It was great! We choose the ADO GL bus from TAPO to Oaxaca. TAPO is very easy to get to from the airport and it was also easy to find the bus company. Excellent bus, clean and comfortable. Frequent service, our bus departed within 45 minutes of us getting to the terminal. (Joanne: I did not pre-book, the next departure had plenty seats) The ADO terminal in Oaxaca was close to our hotel, so it was very convenient. We really enjoyed Oaxaca and Monte Alban; really worthwhile the stop-over. As most buses like the Cristobal Colon and Estrella Blanca busses go either via Salina Cruz or Puchutla, we decided to be adventurous and take the Estrella Roja bus direct to Puerto. Fabulous trip. The mountains were awesome. The bus not quite as good as the ADO GL bus, but still very acceptable. By the way, we are a middle aged couple (almost 50), very used to our comforts at home. We did stop frequently to let passengers on and off, but that was only a minor inconvenience. The road was OK, just at a few spots in bad repairs, I think due to recent slides and the rain. At one point there was even a chance of imminent danger of further rockslides, the road was full of litter from earlier ones, but the driver negotiated that spot very nicely. Puerto was great, seems to look a little better each time we visit. On the way home we choose the Estrella Blanca (Futura) service via Acapulco to Mexico SUR. Fantastic bus, never seen anything like it, even in "prosperous" North America. The trip did take a full 13 hours, but due to the footrests that extended the seat into a full couch, it really was not tiring. There are several evening departures from Puerto, so depending on your flight time the next day in Mexico, you can pick and choose. (Joanne: the reverse direction Mexico to Puerto, also travels overnight) The bus did get stopped twice between Puerto and Acapulco. The first time a group of youngsters came on board collecting money from the passengers (voluntary, no arm twisting, honest) for a festival in their town. The second time we were boarded by two military officers; they visually inspected everyone, tried some bags, and left again. Both times rather unnerving, but nothing really happened. We were travelling relatively lightly, so we choose the Metro between SUR and the airport, which we found very doable.
In Reply to: Bus report posted by Paul on Octubre 22, 2002 at 08:34:31:
So glad you enjoyed it. I had not recommended Estrella Roja or Solteca from Oaxaca direct to PE, as most tourists seem to want only luxury and flt, straight roads in perfect condition. But really that route, via Sola de Vega, is much more beautiful because it is not so filled up with towns and other construction. So don't tell anyone about it, so that it will stay uncluttered (-:
By the way, the UNO bus betwen DF and OAX is perhaps even more luxurious than the Futura! Note for next time.
: Hi Maria
: Last month you advised me about bus travel between Mexico DF, Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido. We?re just back and I?d like to tell you a bit about our experience. It was great! We choose the ADO GL bus from TAPO to Oaxaca. TAPO is very easy to get to from the airport and it was also easy to find the bus company. Excellent bus, clean and comfortable. Frequent service, our bus departed within 45 minutes of us getting to the terminal. The ADO terminal in Oaxaca was close to our hotel, so it was very convenient. We really enjoyed Oaxaca and Monte Alban; really worthwhile the stop-over. As most buses like the Cristobal Colon and Estrella Blanca busses go either via Salina Cruz or Puchutla, we decided to be adventurous and take the Estrella Roja bus direct to Puerto. Fabulous trip. The mountains were awesome. The bus not quite as good as the ADO GL bus, but still very acceptable. By the way, we are a middle aged couple (almost 50), very used to our comforts at home. We did stop frequently to let passengers on and off, but that was only a minor inconvenience. The road was OK, just at a few spots in bad repairs, I think due to recent slides and the rain. At one point there was even a chance of imminent danger of further rockslides, the road was full of litter from earlier ones, but the driver negotiated that spot very nicely. Puerto was great, seems to look a little better each time we visit. On the way home we choose the Estrella Blanca (Futura) service via Acapulco to Mexico SUR. Fantastic bus, never seen anything like it, even in ?prosperous? North America. The trip did take a full 13 hours, but due to the footrests that extended the seat into a full couch, it really was not tiring. There are several evening departures from Puerto, so depending on your flight time the next day in Mexico, you can pick and choose. The bus did get stopped twice between Puerto and Acapulco. The first time a group of youngsters came on board collecting money from the passengers (voluntary, no arm twisting, honest) for a festival in their town. The second time we were boarded by two military officers; they visually inspected everyone, tried some bags, and left again. Both times rather unnerving, but nothing really happened. We were travelling relatively lightly, so we choose the Metro between SUR and the airport, which we found very doable.
You can buy mosquito nets at many places in town. Ask any native. They can direct you.
Once you take that 4 minute walk to the highway there are all kinds of little trucks with wood benches in back (collectivos) who stop along the way and pick up people and let them off. It's a lot slower than a taxi, but a lot cheaper too. You might have to change trucks periodically as some only go as far as the Puerto Angel turnoff. It's an adventure!
Just a suggestion. Have some light comfortable clothes packed so that you can easily access them if you are going to walk out to the road to catch transportation. The weather will seem hot and humid and some people dress differently for the plane than they would for walking to the hwy and catching a colectivo or bus or taxi. Walking with long pants or dress clothes to the hwy will bum you out. PB
Check our site to see if we have what you are looking for.
www.puertoconnection.com
Josua, I've never found a gay bar in PE - Guys like Chicago Frank will swear there aren;t any, won't be aware of the historically tolerant Zapotec culture, etc.
Smartest thing would be to find somebody in la ciudad de Oaxaca and ask them - there are plenty of gay bars in Oaxaca ... But tourist gay bars in PE - nope, not that I know of - Yo estare en PE Feb. 26-28. E-mail si quieres conocerme.
Thanks*NM*
Jimbo, Just wondering where you found the cheap airfare. Looking to go this winter out of Toronto.
Mike, I got my airfare off the Air Transat website:
http://www.airtransat.ca
Good luck, Jimbo
Your pictures are great. Just wondering do the steps down to Carrizillio beach have a railing ? I bet not.
Do I smell a potential lawsuit? PB
Not a lawsuit, it's difficult for older folks or people who are unsteady to navigate some of the steps, especially 168. Somehow Mexico in general doesn't think about people with disabilities. It sure would be nice to have railings to grab on to don't you think Puerto Bill ?
On the subject of airfare. I did alot of searching for flights to PE this year. In the past I flew Transat and it got me to Hautulco alright but usually 5 to six hours after I was supposed to be there. This year I am flying Air Canada, Mexicana, Areo Caribe. It was about $100 more expensive but I am confident that I will get there on time or close to it at least and maybe this year I won t have to wait for four days for my luggage to arrive. Once your luggage arrives in Hautulco it is a real challenge to get them to ship it to PE with transat.
I went through a travel agency in Toronto called Martours you can find them on the internet. Hopefully the flight will be better than the two hours we spent on the ground with no beer in Ixtapa with air transat.
Good luck
Jimbo, Fantastic pictures! I sent them to all of my friends just to make them jealous. I'm taking my 18 year old daughter ( What am I thinking????) to PE this summer. My mind is already there.
Gunter
Hello, I pulled this out of the archives to repost it as this is timeless, if you will, information and has worked for us and we hope it helps all who follow it enjoy a healthly and happy visit to the land we love so much. On our last two trips to Mexico, one of five weeks, five years ago, and the most recent, two weeks, last month, we have enjoyed excellent health. Part of the reason for this, I believe is the a week prior to departing we each took an acidophilus pill daily and continued to do during our time in Mexico. The theory being that acidophilus is probiotic and it develops healthy bacteria in your intestines which will then enable you to resist foreign bacteria that your system is not used to. That along with the normal precautions about eating and drinking has prevented us from having to engage in those not so enlightened conversations concerning the solidity of one's movements, which it is well known detract from one's ability to enjoy Mexico. We have also found charcoal capsules to be an excellent relief for discomfort. The theory here being the charcoal filters out poisons. Last month, In Puerto Escondido, my wife gave a couple to a young woman we had meet who, one morning, had that look of "let me die now, lord", on her face and by late afternoon felt that a rum and coke, would be "just fine now, thanks". A true testimonial! Anyway, these two items, acidophilius and charcoal capsules can be found at most health food stores.
Frank should shove his head back up his ass. This is no place for abuse of anyone. GROW UP.
You are right, Phyl. 168 steps is a lot and in the hot sun can be pretty difficult. I was only joking about the lawsuit beause such a suit would be fruitless in Mexico. And as we know the steps would not even be built here in the good old U, S. of A. because the potential for lawsuits and restrictions placed on the construction would make it prohibitively expencive not to mention the insurance costs involved. And Grambo, two hours in Ixtapa without beer could be grounds for a winable lawsuit in Mexico I would think. PB
For people who are not as agile as they once were, you can take a boat from Puerto Angelito or from Puerto Escondido main beach to Carrizilillo beach. They come and go constantly--kinda like water taxis. If you are eating at Carrizilillo, the only place with piped in pure water for washing dishes is Maria's. Maria lives above the beach and has her water piped down. The rest of the restaurants are using water from an open well at the bottom of the old path where dogs walk thru, people bath, and people wash their clothes when the town is out of water. Maria and Henry are great people. I have known them personally and have lived with them off and on for the past 30 years. I'd love to see the photos but can't find them.
Great pictures!
Thanks so much for the replies guys. Looking so forward to getting to PE and climbing those 168 steps at Carrizalillo!! Take care Jo
We stayed there for one week earlier this month. We all agreed that Paul and Joanne are wonderful, warm hosts. They are welcoming and helpful in every way. It is clean, quiet and charming. And the restaurant was terrific. We will stay there again when we return.
WOW...Great pictures, Another reminder that Puerto Escondido, truly is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Thank you for sharing.
Saludos, I.P.
Hotel Jardin Real has hookups for 5 RV's. This includes electric, water and sewer. Full use of hotel facilities is included.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com/jardinreal.html> [%sig%]
I've tried to find out about the mixtec site that gina the information goddess is exclusively giving tours of but never gotten any response whatsoever from anyone.It sounds like a major find that they are excavating and i would like to volunteer at but i can't find out anything!!!! try some of the sites around the city of oaxaca, monte alban is certainly worth going to see, as is mitla....good luck
Thanks for the info. I'm pretty familiar with the existing archaeological literature (Tomzap mentions Brockington's dissertation work) on the coast but have had a lot of trouble finding recent info stateside around PE. I am very interested in finding info on Chila.
I am going to be in PE very soon (as in the next two weeks) so it would be kinda cool to get linked up with people that know the area well archaeologically speaking.
As far as volunteering goes you may want to check out Earthwatch, although a lot of their work is in Belize..
Ryan
The site you are referring to sits in the foot hills of the Sierra Madres, aprox. 7 to 8 kilometers above Charro Seco. I was informed that the trail to the site is a animal trail and the climb is not for the faint of heart. The site also has a barb wire fence running through it. There is no legal excuvation going on at present and the community does not want any. Last year Gina did not offer that tour but did have pictures of that site. I would reccomend her as her prices are very fair and thats how she supplements her living. Gina is paid by the Dept. of tourism, very knowledgeable of the area, makes a meger wage and works long hours. I was also informed if you go to Charros village councel and tell them you would like to see the site that they will escort you for a nominal fee. Don't forget to take a interuptor from Puerto as the do not speak Spanish. I tried to visit the site last year but ran out of time trying to coordimate a translator in my alotted time frame
thank you thank you, at last some info.......muchas gracias i will do my best to find out more and if possible ask gina to help me get there
My Wife and I stayed there in December 2001
Great place. Run by a Canadian Woman and her hus. Rooms are clean. If your looking for a secluded quite spot during your trip, the rooftop pool is almost always empty. The hotel is one block from the beach and from there you can go botheways...to the Zicatella, or to the Main P.E. beach
Please feel free to email me for more.
Dave
mmmm, there's another site on the beach. Information is real sketchy, and there's some security, but I have heard about on small operator in Zipolite that was doing two-day trips for about a half-dozen people a week. I even had an article from the New York Times from about a year ago...there's things to do, but the information is hard to come by and it's certainly not for deletants nor the faint of heart.
AND OF COURSE, wash your hands before AND after dining; If you eat on the street, eat only where the person handling the food and the person handling the currency <a PRIME vector for undesirable micro-organisms> are NOT the same person; if you're going to have to ride a bus back to your gateway city, Lomotil is a readily available chemical cork; careful on VOLUMES of food and drink, as most folks increase their input of both and this can cause the problems...What have I left out? Lime juice, chili, and prayer sometimes work...
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am definitely going to contact Gina--she sounds like an excellent resource. I know a site was excavated around Zipolite (in a dissertation by Brockington called Sipolite) published in the 1960's which may be the sites that are on tour? I am not exactly sure though. Ryan
Great Pictures. We arrive in PE on Feb. 7th. Can't wait. Thanks for the boost!
Wow! Hi Katie ! I'm heading to Puerto on the Feb 6th & will be staying there & Zipolite till around the 18th. Where are you coming from? A friend & I are bussing from Houston.
Jon, We are heading to PE from Michigan (our annual two week vacation in the sun). We are staying at our usual location, The Villa Belmar. Have a great trip. Have to been to PE before?
Thanks for sharing your photo's they are wonderful. Brought back good memories.Planning on going down in March for 3 weeks. Can hardly wait. Is it March yet?
Surprise! The steps down to Carrizilillo do have railings. The problem isn't faling over the side, it's going down headfirst. They're not for the faint of heart or body though. Maybe someone who thinks that Mexico should have the same acibility and safety standards as gringoland should build an escalator. Now we just have to get electricity...
There are also 'direct first class' buses that go to Oaxaca through Sola de Vega for 90 pesos. (Estrela Roja and a couple of others) There are about 4 or 5 bus lines here, and a new terminal is under construction to replace the individual offices.
We have a beautiful front unit condo in Puerto Escondido; please see http://mailweb.pue.udlap.mx/~sobczyk/eg4.html
We have openings in March if you are still looking. Our web page address is www.ZicatelaProperties.com and our email address is zicatela_properties@yahoo.com.
[%sig%]
Regarding the steps down to Carrizilillo...take the water taxi! We went down the steps, spent the day at the beautiful beach and took the water taxi back to PE. A fun boat trip with two friendly boatmen, a little tour and I got to practice my Spanish. It was the same price as the land taxi from town and way more fun!
I've posted virtually the same message on the Barra comments board and am hoping to get some replies from there as well as from those in the PE area.
I am hoping to move to Mexico in the next year or two and am interested in buying a house in either the Barra/Malenque/La Manzanilla area or the Puerto Escondido/Puerto Angel area. Can anyone familiar with both areas provide some pros and cons of each locale?
From the real estate listings in the PE area, it appears that housing prices are less than in the Barra/Malenque area. Is that actually the case? How does one go about finding houses for sale by locals as opposed to vacation homes being sold by gringo snowbirds? I'm looking for something under $100,000 US.
I plan to be in Mexico for the month of August and part of September to check out the various locales. I will spend part of the time in the Barra/Malenque area and part in Puerto Escondido. Learning as much as I can before I go will help me make the best use of my time. So....help!! Please.
Also, if anyone who lives permanently in the PE area would like to get together in August/September, I'd be happy to trade an adult beverage for information.
Thanks in advance.
Karen [%sig%]
homo's aren't wanted in Mexico...
Sexual preference, like handedness, is genetically determined. I believe that sexual behavior between consenting adults, where harm is neither intended nor caused, is not open to public censure. In practicing tolerance of others, we increase the chance that we will also be tolerated. Hateful attitudes and behaviors are, of course, excepted from this policy; they cause harm. I'm grateful my children don't carry around such burdens of hate. It must be wearying.
A warning. Use the ATM's at banks. Free-standing ATM's often not only charge a fee but give an inferior exchange rate. The ones at the bank give the Interbank rate on the date the transaction clears your home bank. In fact, the easiest way to spot a machine in Mexico that will rip you off in this way is whether the transaction is offered in dollars or pesos. The "good" ATM's will offer peso figures only as the exchange rate is not fixed until the transaction clears your bank. If the machine offers information in dollars, they are charging you a premium to cover the "conversion risk."
We have some nice listings under $100,000U.S. in Puerto Escondido. One of our low end properties is $25,000 U.S. Our listings can be viewed at www.ZicatelaProperties.com. Send us an email if you would like additional information or photos. I am familiar with both areas you are looking at and highly recommend Puerto Escondido for year round living. My wife and I have been living in Mexico for 9 years year round.
[%sig%]
Check our site for many listings that meet your requirements. We also have a team of "locals" that can find what you are looking for, if it exists here, as well as take care of all the paperwork. Let us know if we can help.
<http://ww.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Check our site for many listings that meet your requirements. We also have a team of "locals" that can find what you are looking for, if it exists here, as well as take care of all the paperwork. Let us know if we can help.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Rick, Thanks for the info. I've actually looked at your website before. I'm afraid the very low end homes are a little too primitive for me and there seems to be a big jump up to the $147,000 type houses. I guess I'm looking for something somewhere in the middle.
I'd be interested in why you think PE is a better area to live year around. Why did you decide on it? I'll keep an eye on your website over the next few months and be sure to get in contact with you when I am there.
Thanks again for the info.
Karen
Enjoyed the photos and the report! How did you deal with memory? We are shopping for deals on compact flash memory, but it will take a lot. Your high resolution photos certainly did.
Internet connections too slow to download to our albums, I'm figuring.
We plan to shoot high res with our two digital cameras when we visit Puerto this summer.
Any ideas?
i'm just learning to surf - will i get killed in PE?
I've lived in both areas. The summers in La Barra can really be incredibly difficult. I LIKE hot and sultry, but the Costalegre was pushing it, even for me. Despite even closer proximity to the equater, something about the wind patterns makes the Oaxacan coast more pleasant.
Real estate IS cheaper in the costaesmeralda than in Barra/Melaque. But transportation costs are more going to and from "home." I expect you can find properties more in your niche when you are on-site and if you are patient. The best deal is never out there waiting for you. Nor is it probably ready-advertized.
You are planning to go down and talk with ex-pats during typically the worst weather of the year. If you check the historical data, well over half the anual rainfall is in September. That said, the weather will still be excellent. But you should try both wet and dry season before you put your money down.
Be sure to budget for a lawyer as well as the time of a good banker. You will need both in your endeavor.
The ex-pat crop in La Barra/Melaque/La Manzanilla is unsurpassed. The costaesmealda should be so lucky as to secure a Beer Bob! But the locals on the Oaxacan coast are the real selling point. Visit the small places along he La Ventanilla-Mazunte-San Augustinillo-Puero Angel loop while you're down.
The best place to learn is at La Punta. You will not get killed (probably) there anymore than most anyplace else you would try to learn. Learning to surf is difficult but if you stick with it, it will be well worth it. Just don't start "boogie boarding". You may get stuck in a bad rut and never take off the training wheels, so to speak. Then you will end up with an inferiority complex. You won't be able to look your SURFER friends in the eye. You will be excluded from many surf trips. The babes will think you are a wimp.I can't imagine what it would feel like to walk down the street carrying a boogie board. The humiliation. The disgusted looks from passersby. It would be very ugly indeed. Boogie boarding is for women and children. Sorry if this seems harsh but it is the feeling of 99.999% of anybody who has ever stood up on a surfboard. Remember you don't see SURFERS taking off their leash and putting on fins so they can ride a sponge. PB
I like to run up and down the steps in the morning to get a good workout--not. I was there this summer when they finished the project. It is a thigh burning experience in the heat of the day. The other path is also difficult but offers shade and flat portions to catch your breath. I can't wait to be there this summer with my daughter,. She wants to learn how to surf. Gunter from Texas
Dear Karen, I just sent you an email with some additional information. Let me know if you DO NOT receive it. We will look forward to a visit with you this summer. We will be here enjoying the rains. Regards and best of luck in you search. Rick [%sig%]
Link to a story about a study by the Mexican national environmental agency of contaminated waters at beach resorts. PE is specifically mentioned. http://www.enn.com/news/2003-02-03/s_2497.asp
Who runs the van service??
Thanks for the link - I've forwarded it to some people I know with Puerto Escondido interests... - "RAP" - I have some relevant info if you want to reply to me directly...
Katie, Nice to hear fellow Michiganders will be in Puerto Escondido in February. Al and I will arrive 2/14/03 from the frozen north (Paw Paw). We will be staying at the Rin Con del Pacifico. ( best bartender- Francisco and drinks in town ). Stop for happy hour if you get a chance. Have a safe trip. Peace
Chuck, Thought I'd check the visitor's comments one more time before we leave. We will make sure to stop in for happy hour. You have a great trip as well.
See you in Puerto Escondido!!!!!!!!!! Katie
Hello,
As above stated, my name is Tico. I am in search of a friend who moved there in the last Year & 1/2. I know this is a long shot, though I try any means possible of locating this gentleman. His name is Stefan. Pronounced in german. He bought a hotel somewhere in Puerto Escondido. He measures 5'8 - 5'10. He is a very energetic and driven worker.(CAN U SAY HI ENERGY) He owns his own cabinet making shop in Miami FL. He will own a giant suburban, that is what he drove all over Mexico to find this haven he now calls home. Does tend to travel frequently. Why, you may ask? I have an open invitation, to visit my hard to reach freind. If you do know him, and give this much thought please ask him of TICO. I assure you it will be met with a warm reminder of a damn good time! Any assistence is apprieciated.
TICO
I wonder if you could tell us more about the van service. Where did you go to reserve it? Did it stop for bathroom breaks? Thanks!
I'm wondering what it's like to get from the airport in Mexico City to the uno bus station (how you did it, what it cost, how long it took,etc.) and also how long the journey took and what it cost.
Thanks so much!
Has anyone spent the night at a Mexico City airport hotel on their own dime? Any suggestions, advice??
I've stayed at both the Hilton and Marriot in the airport, and the Aeropuerto Plaza just out of the airport. Was at the Hilton in early Jan. but the best rate was $120 US midweek, so stayed on Hilton points. the Marriot is comparable, within $10 per night. Weekend rates should be cheaper, check the web. The hotel home sites were cheaper than Expedia and Orbitz. The Aeropuerto Plaza is a nice property and was running about $85 a night. They run a shuttle to and from the airport, or you can walk it during the day by turning left out of the terminal, past the taxi rank to the pedestrian overpass. Go over the street and then right past Wings to the hotel. We have stayed there several times and recommend it. Any of the three are fine. Just depends on what time you get in and how anxious you are to get to bed. good luck.
On our trip back to Canada in January, we stayed at the Aeropuerto Hotel, which is next door to the Aeropuerto Plaza. It was clean, safe and cheap (I recall about $40.US) and also had a little restaurant. We travel lite so we walked to the hotel which I think is probably faster than getting a taxi. Go left out of the airport and cross the bridge which crosses the highway. Aeropuerto Hotel is on the left, Aeropuerto Plaza is on the right. I was amazed that you really could walk to the hotel given how big Mexico City is!
Since our Spanish is very limited, we made a reservation while we were in Oaxaca through the receptionist at the hotel at which we were staying. Phone #785-6928.
Have a great trip.
We reserved the van service with Paul at the Flor de Maria. 130p each. He phoned for us and asked for front seats. The van picked us up at his hotel. Ww stopped at a small bus stop near the main market and picked up everyone else.
Our van did not stop intentionally for a bathroom break. We did have some trouble with our breaks and stopped at the home of a mechanic. They had "outhouses" and a pop machine. Most of us gratefully used the facilities. I don't think we would have stopped if we didn't have brake issues. My recommendation would be not to drink much before you go!
It was a beautiful trip and other than the van being pretty crowded, it was very pleasant.
Thanks, Karen, for the additional info.
Does anyone know how and where you could reserve the van in Oaxaca to travel from Oaxaca to PE?? Ruth
I too have stayed at the Hotel Aeropuerto - it was just $25 a few years ago. I recommend that you either reserve in advance, or arrive early, because it fills up. Ask for a room on the back side, as the highway out front is very busy. The rooms were clean and modern. Amazing when you think that you can walk there from the airport in a few minutes.
We had a flight to catch at 2 AM, so we didn't stay the whole night. But it was a great alternative to 'hanging out' for hours on end somewhere else. We were eating in the hotel restaurant that evening when we saw a young German couple asking for a room and being told that there were none. We told them that we were vacating our room at midnight and they could have it. Promptly at midnight, they knocked on our door, paid us for half the cost and off we went into the night. A good solution for both of us! Jimbo
Hi Here is another option to consider. You can take an Exectutive class bus directly from the airport - they leave frequently (40 minutes) - to Puebla. It is about a two hour trip. You can catch a bus to Oaxaca from there or spend the night in Puebla and leave in the morning. It is about a six hour trip to Oaxaca from Puebla. Puebla's zocalo is worth seeing.
We will be flying into Mexico City and want to know the best way to get to Puerto Escondido. The flights are expensive and don't seem to run that often. Does anyone have a good suggestion? We'd appreciate it.
One idea is to fly into Puebla; there's great bus service into Oaxaca City and from there, you can choose between the scenic route and the one for those prone to motion sickness. From Mexico City, you can either go through Oaxaca or go through Acapulco. There are advantages to both routes.
I'm down here in P.E. right now. Landed in M.C. and took a busline Crisbol Colon from the Tapo bus station. It left at 5.15pm for $443.00 peso's. Nice but a very long ride 18hrs! Lot's of road construction going on just outside of Oaxaca city that slows things down. Better off the Acapulco route for now. People leaving P.E. can go dirrect via Acapulco to M.C. in 12hrs. for under 400peso's. Good luck. P.S. not a cloud in the sky for the last two weeks with no change in sight!
Had a great day fishing wednesday 12 feb. out of puerto escondido Two sailfish 8 to 9 feet long and Four dorado all over 4 ft long Went out at seven and back about one Saw a lot of dolphin and one whale.
I've heard great things about this hotel (and the owners' Peruvian restaurant in Toronto -- Boulevard Café -- is fab too!), but I have also heard that Oaxaca can be quite dangerous now. Since I've never been to Mexico, can someone tell me what safety is like around the area? [%sig%]
My wife Joan and I recently spent 4 days at the Hotel Flor de Maria in Puerto Escondido. While there, we learned from Paul Mader, the co owner, that a recent and anonymous e mail comment had gone through a long description of how terrible the owners of the hotel had treated "ANONYMOUS" and her husband. He apparently had gotten sick and they were not allowed to use the phone at night to call a local M.D. . "Anonymous" also reported that the staff had told them of how much they disliked and feared the owners.
This e mail report which was listed as Feb. 03 is either entirely vindictive or possibly done about 3 years after the fact. Paul and his co owner, Joanne Lombardi Simpson, bought the place about 3 years ago. I had heard from some longtime visitors to Puerto Escondido (not Paul and Joanne) that the prior owners were somewhat lacking in "people skills." In short, maybe "anonymous" did in fact have an unfortunate run in with the owners but it was with the prior owners.
Why do I spend time on this single point? Because we have rarely run into hotel owners or managers who are more kind and helpful to the guests than Paul and Joanne! They really knock themselves out to be available for advice and help. Also, from all I could see, the staff appeared to be very happy with their work. The anonymous e mail, in other words, was an entirely bad rap. Particularly bad because the charge is so hugely wrong in this case.
In sum, if you saw the anonymous e mail in question, forget it. This is a fine hotel in a fine place and run by good people. Sam.
Just want to let everyone know that we're giving away samples of the herbal insect repellant again in return for your feedback. See <http://www.tomzap.com/crocodile.html>.
We will be traveling to Puerto Escondido for the end of February. Who took you out fishing, what kind of a boat - how far did you go out? We really want to fish while we are there, but are novices.
Grambo, you mentioned Martours in Toronto, but I can't find them. Is that the correct name? Do you have contact info? thanks
I lived in Puerto for three years, moved to the city in Oct. I rented. I would strongly suggest renting first to see if you like it, also to get a good feel for the prices and location you would prefer.As you may know real estate is harder to do iin Mexico with agents, there is no multiple listing and all you know is the asking price which could bbe out of sight. You should definitely be able to get somethiing in your price range. A friend of mine from Belgium has her house for sale right now, asking price 800,ooo pesos, if you would like to know more details email me cbridal@hotmail.
Hi jeanne: Went out about twelve miles. Went with Ray out of the bay of angelito. Have fished with him for 5 years and condider him one of the best.
Are there buses that run from Puerto Escondido to Veracruz? How often? How long of a trip is it? And what is the cost? Thanks for your help.
You may have to route the trip yourself. PE to probably Tehauntepec or Salina Cruz; then accross the isthmus to Vera Cruz. Cristobol Colon is going to probably be your best bet for the first part, with either Colon or ADO for the later part. Try their websites, but I suspect that this may be a trip best planned on the fly.
It is either P.E-Oaxaca-Veracruz or as mentioned above P.E. -Salina. Cruz- Veracuz.T.
Thanks for your replies. Do you have the URLs to the transportation companies you mentioned - Cristobal Colon and ADO?
Try magicbus.com for some links. A routing through Oaxaca City would be worth while just to see Oaxaca City, but Salina Cruz and across the isthmuis would be much quicker.
Does anyone have any information about the "castle"? Its the big white house near Playa Carrazalillo. I stayed there this summer and wish to stay there again this summer, but can't find the phone number. For the uninitiated, the house has four room for rent surrounding a lovely pool and garden. I spent many siestas floating in the pool, distracted only by the seemingly constant whirr from the squadron of hummingbirds. Heaven on earth. My thanks in advance.
David
Here is there website: http://www.tbaytel.net/castillo/ Jimbo
Thanks a bunch.
We are planning our move.... Can we rent long term 2 bedroom ground floor Apt or house for $300(US) ? [%sig%]
I would say no. We are renting a one bedroom, which we are moving out of, for 260 pesos plus utilities, which brings it up to 3000. You can probably find something for the off-season, but the you'll have to look for something in October, when prices go up. Check the rental sites though, but I think 400 is about as cheap as you'll find.
Anybody knows where I can rent a surfboard? and What is the best way to get to PE? How far is PE from Cozumel? Any tips in how to get there?
Rent at Central Surf, there's a web link somewhere on the main PE pages.
Quite far !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can also rent from Dave at 360 surf shop on Zicatela Beach <http://www.puertoconnection.com/360.html> [%sig%]
When I looked into cost a couple of years ago it was actually a bit cheaper and less time to go via Oaxaca, the alternative was via Huatulco but not a fast connection. Its not usually a problem not booking in advance except for holidays like Xmas and Easter. If you prebook and miss your time you have to buy another ticket.
Hello, I have read many of the fishing posts on this board and have done some research on the internet as well. i am getting conflicting reports about the fishing during March. some reports say this is a slow time of year, others say it is peak season. which are correct ? I'm coming in Puerto the 10th of March, what kind of fish can i get offshore ? thank you for your help with my questions.
Help Please! I will be in Huatulco and Puerto Escondido March 12th through the 22nd with my boyfriend. We are 35 yrs. old and are interested in everthing offered in both cities; sunning, shopping, sightseeing, nightlife, tours. I have no idea what to pack. I've read in one of my guidebooks (I have 3 right now, I'm so excited to go!), that what is worn in the resorts is not worn in the cities. We will not be staying at the resorts, but in smaller hotels in both cities. If anyone could offer any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Also, we haven't made any reservations for any hotels. Is it possible to find rooms without advance reservations? Thank you!!! [%sig%]
It does not sound like you will be going to any cities so don't worry.You need hot weather wear. Light clothes. Shorts and light tops. T shirts and/or Hawaiian type shirts. Flip flops and maybe a pair of running shoes (no black socks) which you could wear on the plane. Maybe a sweat shirt or one long sleeve light shirt just in case but you will probably not use it. Long pants are not needed except for maybe the plane. If you think you want some sort of dressier clothes, that is what you can wear on the plane so that you don't have to pack them. Swim wear. A beach towel per person could come in handy and a day pack (small) could come in handy as well. Books. Bug Juice. Appetite.
As John Williams says "Half the clothes and twice the money you think you will need". You will have no problem finding a room. Have the airport taxi take you to Zicatela and stop at the Santa Fe. Check it out and if it is too expensive (as it is for me but the restaurant is a must. Check out the restaurant reviews on puertoconnection.com) leave your stuff at the front desk (it will be very safe I promise) and walk down the road until you see something you will like. Or you could start at one of these hotels along the beach: There is Acali, Las Olas, Arco Iris, Bungalows Zicatela, Aquario, Olas Altas, Inez, Rockaway, and a couple others. You can pick out any of these and if you find something else you think you would like better the next day or whatever you can move. It is very easy to do this. Takes about ten minutes. I know a guy who moves every couple of days, of course he is a little nuts. PB
Re clothes Puerto is casual. You might want to consider a hotel on the Adoquin side for part of your stay, like los tres Reyes up the hill across from Banamex or the Mayflower on the Adoquin or Rincon Pacifico right on the fishermans beach or Cocos across from the church...this way you could walk to Zicatela or also to the other quieter beaches like Carizalillo. Have fun.
Well, we made it over the mountains to Oaxaca. We booked a van from a location by a hotel & church with lots of roosters- I think it is above the Adoqin. You can see the highway signs for Oaxaca and for Puerto Angel etc. We were to leave at 6:00am, arrived 15 minutes early and waited...and waited...at 6:45 we figured this clown was not going to show and flagged a taxi into town to another van location.
The trip was "interesting" but after awhile you might prefer another method as the constant fast and tight turning throw you around like a rag doll. We chose to fly home vie Aerotucan- 30 minutes and very scenic.
Sorry noy to have the guys name, business number and telephone who stood us up but I promise to get back with this info. This type of occurance should be reported.
Thanks for all the advice! Pilgrim
hello there.
i have a 91 jeep. i am in zipolite. my pump is out. would any one know where i might get a replacement in the region? please write with info.
thanks a bunch derek hola: tengo un jeep modelo cherokee año '91 y se descompuso la bomba. ¿me podrían dirigir a donde podría yo conseguir otra? favor de escribir al correo electronici con informaccion.
gracias derek
I want to check out the real estate in PE. I have a few spare months this summer. What kind of place can i rent for $500 a month ( july and august)? [%sig%]
We have many places to choose from. Check the site and let us know if we can help you.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Second Bill. I throw in a nice lightweight shirt and pair of slacks in case I want to dress up for a good restaurant. But there are no restaurants in PE where you'll be required to dress up.
You could wear the slacks on the plane so that you don't have to pack something extra. And as RAP says there are no restaurants in Puerto that you need to wear slacks. In fact you may get strange looks if you do wear slacks. I have had a pair or two of nice long pants stashed in Puerto for a few years now and have never worn them. I just can't seem to find a reason to put them on when a nice Hawaiian shirt and nice shorts are so much more comfortable. Sometimes in the winter I put on a pair af sweats in the morning when it is a little cool (75°). Usually for no more tham 10-15 minutes though. It gets hot fast. Now in Huatulco that is another story. Some places can be weird down there but I think they are mainly the AI resorts. PB
I will be traveling with family & dont have a great deal of time so I thought I would take first class bus from Mex.City to Oaxaca hang out a few days than fly to beaches if its not to costly from what my research tells me its around 100 dollars R/T on Aero Vega, if anyone has any experience with this ,please respond. Also I am looking for a hotel in Oaxaca not a chain something with the charm of Mexico centrally located & a way to get in touch if possible so I can set a base to meet my traveling companions Thank you & happy travels! Patti
urgent. my brother just move to my house in the light house area . he lives next to Paulina and Pedro i thing their house is called casa el faro. My brother ,s name is Pedro Becerra .our mother is really sick and she is at the hospital in mexico citty. he needs to call his relatives in mexico city. 690-0853 or 642-2627 tio juan . please any one that knows Paulina or her husband Pedro .please deliver this massege.Thank .s Manuel becerrra
We have stayed in both Huatulco and Puerto. In Huatulco I recommend the Mision De Los Arcos in Crucecita: tel: (958) 702-65. E-Mail: losarcos@huatulco.net.mx Approximately $50 US a night for two. Very nice owners, speak English. We have stayed there for five years. Also, nice is Hotel Villablanca: tel: (958) 706-06. This hotel a bit more pricy but has a pool. We only stay one night in Huatulco as we love Puerto so much. It is just our stopping off point when flying in and out. This is the first year in seven years we will not be going to Puerto. Having withdrawal symptoms!! In Puerto, we have stayed at the Arco Iris and Olas Altas, recommend both, they have pools. It is not necessary to have reservations with any of these. We almost always go without and have no problem getting a room. Clothes are very casual. Us ladies do like to dress in long sundresses in the evening for dinner as it is more comfortable than shorts. Enjoy.
Comfy shorts and t-shirts for daytime or over the bathing suit, nicer shorts, skirts, tank tops and t-shirts for evening. Forget any clothing that are not lightweight or breathable. Sandles, thongs and walking shoes. At least two beach towels, 4 is better. I also suggest buying one of the multi-purpose sarongs while you're there.. they come in handy as a cover up, sunbathing mat, tablecloth, etc.
We stayed at the Castillo de Reyes up the street from the Adoquin. Simple but lovely. You must check out Playa Manzanilla. Its between Playa Principal and Carizalillo. For some reason not very many people go there, which makes it even more enjoyable and relaxing.
I envy you!
Just in case you get adventurous and decide to visit inland - say, Río Tonameca or Santiago Jamiltepec or someplace like that - take along a skirt so as not to offend the conservative sensibilities among some of the indigenous inland folk. Beach locals are used to tourists. Inland folks less so. Or you could blow it off and buy something while you're down there... Sunday by the river in Tonameca can be so much fun - enlightening as well...
We really enjoyed the Hotel Casomali in Oaxaca. It is between the ADO busterminal (where you will be arriving) and "downtown", within walking distance of both. Rates are good, owners friendly, hotel is clean. There is a brief write up about them in Fodor's (they have their own website too) http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=oaxaca@187&class=Hotels@20003&entity_id=41044&property=HOTEL%20CAZOMALLI@43179&sort=name&pg=1
Oops, spelled it wrong. It's: Cazomalli. website is http://www.mexonline.com/cazomalli.htm
hi, i am wanting to move to pe in the next few months. i am not going to have a job or a place to live when i get there...will it be difficult to find employment? could i work illegally like at a bar/restaurant or some kind of tourism business? how hard is it to find a place to live? is rent expensive? any advice would be great!! thanks
If you are looking for a real lousy salary - well, you may find something. T.
is that a fuel ,water or oil pump you need
sorry. water pump it was. got that taken care of. you have some sort of line on jeep parts?
THANKS! derek
Ana, I've managed to go broke three times trying to run businesses on the Pacific coast of Mexico, so I may be the last one you want advice from. But it takes a special mentality to successfully live in the peso economy after getting used to the norteño one. The hardest part is the way business DIES right after Eadter. You've got to learn to live a year on what you make from Christmas to Easter. There is a smaller peak during July and August, but it's largely domestic and there's not near as much money flying around. Best is always if you can get some sort of "dollar pipeline" coming to you from the states. I mean, you can live fairly comfortably for $500usd or so a month. But local wages tend to be more in the $5usd per day range for most workers. You do the math, as they say.
I stayed in pe nov -feb 91 to 97 you just gooooooooooo nowwwwwwwww I live near sf calif.John M Williams wrote:
> Ana, I've managed to go broke three times trying to run > businesses on the Pacific coast of Mexico, so I may be the last > one you want advice from. But it takes a special mentality to > successfully live in the peso economy after getting used to the > norteño one. The hardest part is the way business DIES right > after Eadter. You've got to learn to live a year on what you > make from Christmas to Easter. There is a smaller peak during > July and August, but it's largely domestic and there's not near > as much money flying around. Best is always if you can get some > sort of "dollar pipeline" coming to you from the states. I > mean, you can live fairly comfortably for $500usd or so a > month. But local wages tend to be more in the $5usd per day > range for most workers. You do the math, as they say.
Has anyone driven from Mexico City to PE. Is it safe to do with a family, what's the best route, what kind of road conditions can we expect. How long will it take. Is there any camping available along the way.
We have some rentals starting at about $300 U.S. per month. They can be seen on our web page at www.ZicatelaProperties.com. $500 U.S. per month can get you something quite nice in July and August. Give us a call when you get to town at 582-2495 or email us at zicatela_properties@yahoo.com.
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Bruce - the safest way is probably the tollway from MEX to Acapulco and than on to P.E. on the coastal highway. That last part should be done in daylight. There are campgrounds around ACA. If you do it in two day, it is a piece of cake. Dont even think about wild camping in Mexico. Always go to a safe place, especially with family aboard. T.
Just to reinforce what John said, Puerto has a very short tourist season which means no tourist related jobs for most of the year. High season is really only Xmas and Easter. Mexican tourists tend to be tour busses, families on a budget who dont patronize bars or restaurants or hotels. I lived in Puerto for 4 years, loved it but finally we had to leave for economic reasons, my partner is a musician, tourism is down every year and the few professional musicians left in Puerto are starving to death.
Dont want to be negative, but youre not moving to a big charter flight resort destination like Los Cabos or Cancun, so dont expect it will be easy to earn a living. I know some extranaras who work at Blum teaching English, the pay is good for Puerto, 75 pesos for an hour. The public schools pay 30 pesos an hour. For waitressing you can try the new Cafecito in the Rinconada, they want English speakers, also the Split Coconut on Marinero, US clientele. Re rents, expect to pay 800 a month for a basic cabana. You can find a rustic house for 1000-1500 but it takes a lot of looking. I would stay at the new hostel on Rinconada while you look around, Shalom, really nice, clean, economical, friendly. Good luck.
We're considering a year in Mexico. What are the school options for a Fifth Grader in PE? Thank you in advance.
Please send us your Puerto trip or surfing photos so we can add them to our photo page. We want to let everyone know the fun you had when you were here.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Looking for info on bus service to PE from MC. Can we get to PE directly from MC. It seems from previous posts that there are different levels of service available. What's the difference. Is it suitable from children ages 9 -14. Can it be done with a overnight stop over in Acapulco.
Thanx, B [%sig%]
Looking for info on bus service to PE from MC. Can we get to PE directly from MC. It seems from previous posts that there are different levels of service available. What's the difference. Is it suitable from children ages 9 -14. Can it be done with a overnight stop over in Acapulco.
Thanx, B
We will be driving down to PE from Nolgales and were curious what some of the gas prices are along the coast highway? Thanks T&J
Yes you can get to PE directly from MC. The bus leaves from the south bus station in MC. I don't remember the name. I just tell the taxi driver to take me to the bus station that has busses that go to Acapulco. For some reason the name does not come to me right now. There is a First Class bus that leaves at around 7:00pm I think and takes 12 hours or so. I am not aware of a morning bus. The First class bus is very comfy. Lots of leg room. Even videos. I think it is perfectly suitable for your kids.
You can also take the same kind of bus to Acapulco and those leave pretty much every hour. You can then catch another First Class to PE but they leave from a different station than the one that arrives from MC. The name of the station that the bus leaves from is named Ejido, I think. Again you can just tell the taxi driver to take you the station that has busses going to PE. PB
About $2.50 a gallon. All the way. If you are just trying to get to PE as fast as you can there is a better way to go. If you are going to take your time and explore, the coast route is great fun. PB
Just for the record- the name of the southern busstation is Tasqueña. T.
Primera Clase has a rest room, usually functioning air conditioning, video tapes on several monitors, and limited stops. Bus quality varies but is usually pretty darned good - certainly better than Greyhound in the states, in my opinion. Second class usually does NOT have functioning air conditioning and if there is a head, it's usually locked. But the busses stop VERY frequently, so you can always leap off for a moment to pee. After second class comes everything from retired school busses to a wooden bench in the back of a Nissan pickup and often involes the transportation of multiple species. But nearly EVERYone in Mexico travels by public transportation. You and the kiddos will be welcomed and as safe as can be while careening through the mountains with a macho madman at the wheel! Just kidding, MOST of the bus drivers are very skillfull. And drive fast.
[%sig%] Post Edited (03-18-03 12:22)
I'm thinking of taking a trip to mexico after I take the bar exam in July, but I don't have much money and am wondering how cheaply I sleep in PE? My guidebook talks about renting hammocks and cabañas for about 50 pesos a night. are these accommodations safe? will I get eaten alive by mosquitoes? what do people do with their luggage while they sleep outdoors? thanks for all your help.
For not much more than that we have rooms in the Zicatela Beach area with kitchenette. They are $80 to $100 pesos per night, safe, and close to the beach. Give us a call at 582-2495 when you get to town if you would like to see them or take a look at our web site at www.ZicatelaProperties.com. - "Casa Lion Cuartos" - in the rental section.
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Some cabanas have lockers, some have trustworthy owners or operators who will watch your stuff, and some are securely fenced. But in general you get as much safety as you pay for.... re: mosquitos, I'm usually in Puerto in March (alas!, not this year) and mosquitoes can be a problem then. Supposedly they're gone in April. If you encounter them, you should be able to buy a net to hang over your bed.
I'm planning on a trip to PE later this year, and am wondering about the availability of good cigars in PE? And if cubans are sold there?
Lots of Cuban Cigars. You can buy 'em buy the box, or even individually on the tourist strip from a couple of smoke shops. And you can smoke 'em in the restaurants!
Cabbie, Great!! Are other types available, like Dominican, etc.? And how are the prices? Thanks, Chris
IF ANYONE CAN GIVE STEPAN LARS A MESSAGE, PLEASE HAVE HIM CALL TICO IN MIAMI, AT 305 754 0186. OR 786 797 6917! TO ANY WHO RESPOND TO THIS AND WHO KNOW HIM I THANK YOU. BELTRAN L. QUINN (TICO)
All of the cubans in Puerto and most of Mexico that I have seen are fakes!!!!!! Go to Cigar Aficianado's website and check'em out.
Everyone's an expert. I've seen the hair from the thigh of the virgin. There are some really fine Mexican cigars that are cheap, and certainly not "fake." Buy Domenicans back home. And have a great time!
Chris: Read the thread entitled 'Dublin' in Huatulco Visitors Commments section regarding fake cuban cigars in Mexico.
Mexico and Cuba always had good trade relations. There is great cuban rum in Mexico. I dont see why there shouldnt be real cuban smokeware as well. However, P.E. may not be the place to find them, but the big cities and major tourist spots can provide almost everything. T.
Here is another link to more infor about fakes.
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,879,00.html I know I would rather smoke a nice Mexican cigar rather than spend money on a fake cuban. To each his own.
Has anyone made the long drive from California down to Puerto Escondido? I am considering going in late May and spending at least a month away from home... How long did it take? How dangerous could it potentially be...any banditos or corrupt federalis? Is roadside camping a bad idea? I have a 1994 Jeep Cherokee that I could sleep inside with locked doors if I have to...I plan on driving at night fairly often so my car will be less likely to overheat. On the lighter side what should I stop to see on the way? Are there surf spots all along the Pacific coastal road that I could surf most days? How friendly are the people and the experience? I am 24 years old and my spanish is fair but getting better quickly. I am interested in hearing stories and opinions about this type of trip......
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I am also planning to make the drive to PE this May from Oklahoma and would appreciate any advice. The US embassy in Mexico City has warned me about the drive from Acupulco to PE. Is it really that dangerous if I drive during the day? I'm driving a '96 mitsubishi with an American license plate, how safe will my car be if it is parked in a hotel lot in PE? Should I worry about vandalizism? Is there anything specifically that I should look out for or bring with me? My girlfriend and I are planning to drive the trip together, and we are both able to speak some spanish if necessary. I would also benefit from any body who had some advice about the drive the PE.
Good Day folks,
I have been traveling the pacific of mexico since 1981 and have never had a problem and i feel the key to this is
When in Rome do as the Romans do,
Go there poor and happy and be ready to live life the way they do, naturally, enjoy the people and their land , I feel the best way to have a safe time is to give out gifts to the locals as you go, they will remember you when you return and they will take care of you while you are there. and use the bus, thats the way they travel. brownsville boy
Driving in Mexico is not dangerous in general. If course sometimes things happen but there is always the odd chance anywhere. It can happen in Mexico or elsewhere. Just follow your instincts. Night driving however is more dangerous than travelling during daytime. Not only for the banditos. But there are unlit vehicles on the road, animals and people. And, yes, there may be the odd bandito as well who ambushes cars and busses. Roadside camping in a not protected and asigned area is strongly NOT recommended. All this is also vaild for the ACA - P.E. Road.
Hey, I always read these comment about dangerous Mexico. If you are that afraid of going abroad, you should consider staying home. A trip to Mexico is not like invading Iraq. T
Hola Okie, I too am from Oklahoma, Altus originally. I live in Corpus now. I drive down to Puerto Escondido in Jan and really enjoy the drive. You should not drive at night as a general rule, although I have done this often when I know the road and conditions. The quickest route is to go down the Gulf Coast and then cut over to Oxacca and then onto P.E. I have driven from Acapulco to P.E. and stupidly done it at night. No problems, but it can be dicey. Acapulco is just another large metro area and you don't want to go through Mexico City to get there. You will be paying the police bribes there plus you cannont drive your car into Mexico City on certain days that correspond with the last number on your license plate. Trust me it seems I have made almost every mistakes possible in Mexico while driving and hopefully i am getting smarter. Last year it cost me $155.00 in gas, $45.00 in toll roads and about $75.00 for 3 room nights to get down to P.E. I stayed the first night at the border in Matamoras, the next night in Tuxpan and the final night in Oaxacc City and then into P.E. I don't know if you are familiar but the gas in Mexico runs about $2.50 a gallon and could be more now with the war going on. If you want to sleep in your car or van the safest place is to stop at the Pemex gas stations where they have security and restrooms and usually something to eat and drink and don't mind you staying there. I manage a condominium project in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Padre Island and if you want to stop by here on your the way down I'd be glad help you out with info on roads and hotels and etc. I'll also get you a discount here at the condo if you need a night to stay before you head into Mexico. We are 2 1/2 hours from the border. Your gonna love P.E. But there is a lot to see on the way there too. Talk at you later, Russ in Corpus.
Jace,
Just returned from a 10,000 mile, 3 month round trip from the Chicago area to PE via the east coast in a '71 VW Campmobile. Did not go through Oaxaca but through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Avoided a whole lot of mountains & twisty-turnys. If your're interested in some info, drop me a line. This is the 4th time driving in the 15 years I've been to going to Puerto. Miguel Sucio
The gulf route is a good route but I don't think it is the quickest. I have not done that route in a few years so I don't know if it has changed much. The last time I did it was from the south to the north. I took the Isthmus as opposed to over the mountains through Oaxaca. The way I go now is (North to south) cross at Del Rio, Texas and head south thru Saltillo and spend the night in Matehuala. Hotel Las Palmas. A bit pricey for Mex. but they have a pool and it is nice. There other hotels as well. Next day is to Taxco. Hotel Loma Linda. We don't go thru Mex. City but go thru Toluca. It is a bit tricky but it sure is a whole lot better than Mex. City. When going thru Toluca follow the signs to Ixtapan del Sol. The Next day it is off to Puerto via Acapulco. We take the toll roads whenever possible and it is possible most of the way. On this route most of the way is 70 mph except in a few places. Aca. to Puerto for example is slow. About 7 hours. If you do not want to go thru any part of Acapulco, when you get to the end of the toll road to Acapulco take the toll road to Puerto Marquez. It goes toward the airport and you can get on hwy 200 from there and save about an hour of hassle figuring out how to get out of Aca. (There is a great taco stand right after you get on to hwy 200. Under the trees on the right hand side.) Also the hardest day is the last day. Each day is about 450 miles and we try to cross the border no later than 6:00 am. Our days start at 6:00-7:00 am end around 3:00pm, sometimes earlier (not much) and sometimes later. Last year we drove from San Miguel de Allende to Puerto in one day. It was hellish and we drove the part from Aca. to Puerto at night. I would not suggest this to anybody and I would not do it myself but I was not thinking straight. Plus it was sure nice to wake up in Puerto the next day and not have to drive another day. This way is recommended if your want to get to Puerto as fast as possible no matter where you are driving from in the U.S.A. It could be done in two days but that would include some driving at night and again I would not recommend that. Also, from Aca. to Puerto is tope hell. 189 of those things. Many of them camouflaged. PB
The fastest and easiest way is to cross at either McAllen or Brownsville, picking up the Sanborn's guides on the way through, and looseley following them. You go down the Gulf Coast, across the Isthmus, and to Puerto. You're only in mountains for a little while near Huatulco, and the roads are all good. If you want, you can go 70 mph or faster. You avoid all of the cities and most of the toll roads. Most of the annual returnees here use that route.
I have two questions that I hope someone can answer. How far is it to some whitewater to do some kayaking and does anyone in town go regularly? I am not looking for a guided trip but rather someone who knows the rivers. Thanks in advance
While I have never driven in Mexico I have spent the last two months about 2 hours west of Puerto. My advice is to be really careful in driving at night, or if you decide to go to Oaxaca City to use the bus or take the Isthmus route. On my way from Oaxaca City to Puerto I noticed washouts, etc. on the mountainous road that runs from OC to Pochutla (then to Puerto). I guess it is a matter of confidence. Personally, I trust the bus driver who drives the route every day versus my driving skills or lack thereof.
As far as banditos are concerned, I have heard of robberies off of Highway 200 but never on (around the Rio Verde on a popular night hangout for young kids at the dam). I think if you are worried about your car overheating you may want to take the bus from San Diego, etc. (then you will overheat...if you take the non first class buses).
All in all you will have a rad trip. Once in Puerto you will have a great time with great people.
Wendy, Good luck on the bar, tough stuff having just passed my own phd qualifiers..
As far as cabanas, they seem reasonable here in Puerto. I have heard of some incidents involving people stealing but it was another tourist. For that matter I guess anywhere with locks and the level of privacy you are used to would do the trick just fine. You can always stay at a hotel (like the mayflower or san juan--both under 15 dollars a night with showers, bathroom, etc.).
There are a couple of outfitters in Huatulco who do it all year long. It may be worth the side trip. The whitewater tends to be better during the rainy season, of course.
We were just wondering how you enjoyed your time in Puerto Escondido. What did you think of the area? Would you go back? Could you give us a brief synopsis your time there as we are thinking of going. Thanks.
Garth
Will ATM cards from US banks work in the ATM machines in Mexico (PE)? I don't use a credit card, just the ATM/Check/Visa 'debit' card that has Plus,Interlink,Co-Op, and Star connection. Chris
If mine from Canada worked I don't see why yours from the US shouldn't.
Yes it works.
There is a $ 2 US charge to use it and another $ 2 US charge if you check your balance. gg
I have used my ATM card from my US credit union down in PE for the last three years. I have never paid a fee for these transactions and have never had any trouble using my card. I have used the ATM at the Ahorrara and on the Adoquin and at the Bank. You get better exchange rates through the ATM too and don't have to worry about exchanging currency.
Try looking on ebay (http://www.ebay.com) I did a search and you can get 256mb of compact flash for $45. Good luck! [%sig%]
Thanks for the tip.
I have recently purchased a couple of 256mb's from Buy.Com on the Internet. With rebates they came to about $47 per. 128mb used to be the top 'break' price because of demand, but apparently that's moved up to 256mb. Just have to slowly collect enough for the trip.
If you have any more tips, we're still in the market. Bought my wife a Canon S200 ELPH. Great camera. So we figure we'll need at least 2gig's worth of memory.
If I hear of any better deals, I'll post them on a new message.
Thanks again, W
Can anyone help me; I want to take a bus from Zihuatanejo to Puerto Escondido - Would like to know - What bus or buses; do you have to transfer in Acapulco; length of time and the cost ? TX.
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I drove from Vancouver Canada to Puerto 4 years ago, the deal was it had to be a surfing trip for my driving companion, a friend of my sons. We also did all of Baja Calif. It was fantastic. He surfed early in the mornings and we drove only in the day because both of have had experience with night driving in Mex...you just dont see the topes, black cows on the road, lots of vehicles approaching with no lights on etc. We camped with a van and a tent but in campgrounds. If you want info on surf spots Ill get you Brendans address, I forget where all we stopped. It took less than 3 weeks and that included several 2 day stops and the ferry from La Paz. Ive also driven to Puerto via the east coast, nice drive with no problems, 3 ddays from Brownsville without pushing it, daytime only.
Yeh, you'll have to change busses in Acapulco. From there to Puerto, you'll probably be on Estrella Blanca. The run from Zihuatenejo gives more bus selection; maybe Primera Plus?
We have taken the bus from Zihuat to Puerto the last two years. Two years ago we arrived in Zihuat spent a day then went to Acapulco (4hrs), spent a night, then to Puerto the next day (91/2hrs). We travelled during the day; even though we were on a first class bus with air conditioning it was quite hot in the afternoon during the Acapulco to Puerto part of the trip. The trip wasn't that bad, but it was quite drawn out and we didn't want to do it that way this year. This year we arrived on Alaska Airlines around 4:00pm, made it to Estrella Blanca Terminal by 4:30pm (quickest we have ever made it through customs). Easily found out the next first class bus left between 7-7:30pm (can't remember the exact time), bought our tickets, stored our luggage, went to Playa Principal had a drink, snack and was back at the bus depot in plenty of time to catch the bus. We travelled the entire way on the same bus; in fact I never even go off, my husband got off in Acapulco just to make sure our luggage stayed on the bus. We arrived in Puerto around 8:00am, tired but excited to be there. Even though it made our first day very, very long it was much better then the year before. Make sure you take the bus from Zihuat to Puerto(direct), not from Zihuat to Acapulco, then Acapulco to Puerto. On the way home we left Puerto just after 8:00pm on a fantastic new first class bus, arrived in Zihuat around 9-9:30am. We spent the night in Zihuat and then flew back to Vancouver. This year everything went like clock work, but we realize this is Mexico and anything can happen. Last year on our way home we had planned to take a first class but from Puerto to Acapulco, but it never came so we travelled on a 2nd class bus. We look at it as an adventure and so far nothing bad has happened. If you need any more info just let us know.
I posted this on a different board and thought people here might be interested. DEET works great but but with all the warnings about who and how much you never know what your unborn kids or grandkids will look like. I have tried Skin So-Soft and thought it sucked - smelled bad, did not last long (about 4 minutes) and to this day (10 years later) every time I smell it I want to puke. I have tried 3-4 other different products that are suppose to be healthy. Most did not work well. One works (for me) very well. "Buzz Away" works and I think it smells OK but some people may think it is a little strong (perfume smelling). I buy it at a local health food store so it may be hard to find. But you are in luck as they have a website - quantumhealth.com. They charge a shipping and handling fee but I emailed them a couple years ago and they told me that they would wave the charge if you bought a certain amount or stood on your head and patted your stomach or something. By the way I do not work for them or anything. I just think this is a good product. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (04-07-03 14:25)
A MUCH better route, Robert! As usual, someone out there is better informed than I and I am so happy you responded. Thanx.
Thank you everyone for their input.
I stayed at the Hotel Flor de Maria two summers ago. It was a great experience, inexpensive, charming, excellent dining, and wonderful proprietors. The rooftop hammocks and pool were delightful too! I had initiatlly booked the "Best Western" in Puerto Escondido, but we had to flee during the night due to propane fumes leaking into the rooms. Susie
I stayed at the Hotel Flor de Maria two summers ago. It was a great experience, inexpensive, charming, excellent dining, and wonderful proprietors. The rooftop hammocks and pool were delightful too! I had initiatlly booked the "Best Western" in Puerto Escondido, but we had to flee during the night due to propane fumes leaking into the rooms. Susie
Hi All I am a travel agent in Toronto and those really cheap deals are few and far between. With regards to finding Martours you will have to go through a travel agent. Best time to find great deals are from when the charters start flying until the week before Christmas and then the last few charters at the end of March. We can't wait to go down this summer!
Friends had their 12 year old ddaughter in a private school called Blums. They did this because they offered computer and English instruction. The daughter just loved the school.I dont know much about the govt schools, but my daughter in law and her brother went to a local elementary school in Cuatla for 3 years while the family was living in Mexico, learned fluent Spanish and it didnt seem to hold them back academically...at that age content is not that much of an issue, their parents wanted them to fit in with the community, make friends in their neighbourhood and learn Spanish. I think this will be a great experience for your son/daughter.Im not living in Puerto at the oment so cant do any research for you re the schools, maybe Gina at the Tourist Office could help with more info.
Miguel, Regarding your VW Campmobile trip to Mexico....do you have problems with over heating on you journeys to Mexico?? I have a 70' bus as well and also a deisel Yoyota Landcruiser and am wondering which vehicle to drive down from Canada:) Thx for any help.
how easy is it to find ATMs in PE? can I pay for stuff with my ATM card (has a visa logo)? or should i get cash in DF?
thanks for the info! nice site Rick, maybe i'll swing by
ATMs are easy to find but I would not expect to pay for things with your card. Just extract cash from the machine. As you probably know you can only extract a certain amount a day $300US? PB
To me it is the best and easiest way to get cash in Puerto and the limit is about $300.00 a day US, depending on the exchange rate. You can get pesos at the airport in Mexico City and the exchange rate is very good. My atm card does not charge a fee either. It really is a bonus because you don't have to carry a lot cash and traveler's checks cost more money to cash.
I would really appreciate it if anyone could help me out. I am trying to plan a cheap (college) graduation trip for myself and about 5 others. They all want to go somewhere like Puerto Vallarta or Acapulco. This looks much better to me!! I am wondering about night life and if the beach is still good for swimming if you are not an expert surfer? Are there a lot of young people (college age) there or is it more retirement age? Where would be a good place to rent for about a week? Thanks for your help.
You should probably stay home and watch the travelchannel.You have obviously forgotten you are a GUEST in their country.By the way, have you even bothered to learn basic spanish?
PE is definitely cheaper than PV or Acapulco. However, it is smaller and more laid back, not as much "party" going on as other towns. There are lots of young people, mostly in the Zicatela area where the surfing is, and they gather at the Zicatela and Adoquin coffee shops and bars in the evenings. The thing I like best about PE is the wonderful choice of beaches. Zicatela for surfing, Marinero for swimming and people watching, Playa Manzanillo and Angelito for relaxed swimming, and Carizallilo to get away from it all.
Sharing the cost of a bungalow will make your trip even more affordable. I dont have any suggestions tho as I am only familiar with some of the hotels. You could also consider Zihuatenejo, which is probably my favorite of the Pacific Coast destinations. It is more expensive than PE and less expensive than PV. A good message board (once you get past the BS) is: http://www.zihuatanejo.net/wwwboard/ Enjoy! [%sig%]
thanks for the tips!
Is tap water really unsafe in Mexico? can I filter it myself with something like Brita portable bottles? or should i stick to bottled from the store? Thanks
Here's my proposed itinerary: 4 days - DF, with a day trip to Teotihuacan and maybe Tula too. overnight bus to Oaxaca City. 2-3 days - Oaxaca City, day trip to Monte Alban and maybe Mitla or Yagul overnight but to Puerto Escondido 2-3 days in Puerto Escondido. bus to Zihuatanejo 2-3 days in Zihuatanejo bus to Acapulco 2-3 days in Acapulco bus to DF, maybe a couple of more days there plane home So that's about three weeks, i may cut down to add to it as my plans for August firm up.
I'm trying to get back to DF for a return flight home without doubling back through Oaxaca - is there a better option besides Acapulco? Thanks! [%sig%]
I don't know about the Brita filter you are talking about, but whatever it is it will become ineffective with time and have to be replaced, recharged, whatever. Don't drink any tap water, buy bottled water. It's cheap, and the best/safest thing you can do.
Bottled water is to problem to use. They sell small bottles almost anywhere and you can get big 5 gallon bottles for your bungalow. 5 gallon (20 litter) bottles cost about 10 pesos. They deliver. Don't sweat it. PB
Agree, not safe. Brita and the like do not filter out bacteria and viruses unless you fit them with microbioligical filters by Pur, available wherever you buy the replacement filters. Bottled water would actually be a lot cheaper, unless you're there for an extended stay.
Compared to Aca and PV, PE has none of their glitz and glamor. But I far prefer it over them. It's a much more "real" place that attracts a polyglot of international vagabonds. You'll meet lots of young people, but it's highly unlikely they'd include any of the drunken whitebread frat rats or mall seekers that tend to populate resort-type places. Rather they might be Brazilian, French, or Portuguese wanderers who speak 2 or 3 languages and can party in many more. And of course a fair number of familiar anglos, especially surfers from the U.S. and Oz. Your money will go a lot farther in PE, and the beaches and the surf are world-class. Zicatela or downtown (they're close) are definitely the areas for you. Let us know if you need any recommendations on places to stay etc. And if you go, by all means please post your impressions here.
Let me be the first to say that the southern pacific coast of mexico is the garden of eden The first thing I noticed was the size of all the plants ,everything was huge , The second thing I noticed was how everything was so tranquil <no problems>. Stayed at bungolos Mainaros, owend by a dentist and his familly, it was super cool. I remember praying every night for the cool air to drop down out of the mountains, between 2 and 4 in the morning, my next favorite thing was this beautiful rainbow that formed over my head in the off shore spray everytime I broke through a wave , Surf there is intense , you havent lived till you get lip launched into the sandbar off of a 6 ft wave. Eat alot of watchanango eggs and papas , but the best part of PE are the people . I will never forget a young lady named Innocencia, I mean beautiful Huge round eyes and lips and a smile to die for.I would marry her today ,how i wish i could have brought her back, and yes I do remember Fidencio, Abusadora are you still there.
I love P.E.
Senor Salsa [%sig%]
thanks for the info. i drink about 3 liters a day at home, and i think with surf, sea and sun i'd need more!
Instead of doing Acapulco, go back to Mexico City from Zihua via Morelia. You will go a bit north to Lazaro Cardenas and then inland to Morelia. Then a side trip to Patzcuaro, one of Mexico's loveliest towns. This is high, cool mountain country - very pleasant! Also, I wouldn't bother going all the way to Tula. After Teotihuacan, it's pretty minor.
In Mexico City, get down to the southern suburb of Coyoacan, especially if you are a fan of Frida Kalho (visit her house). Jimbo
thanks for the suggestions - i'm going to spend some time with a map and figure out how much time (and money!) i have.
Hi Wendy, I'm envious of your trip. We were on the Oaxaca coast in January and are ready to go back. A couple of suggestions...If you're planning to visit Monte Alban, I would really suggest you hire a guide. We were lucky to hire a great guide named Raul. We hired him right at the gate and he gave us a wonderful tour. He was very knowledgable and his English was perfect. He offered us an hour tour but when he found out we were interested in spending more time, he doubled the time of the tour but kept the price the same. He took us to some smaller parts of the site, which were very interesting.
On another day trip, we took the second class bus out to Mitla. The bus ride is worth the trip in and of itself. We really enjoyed Mitla, not because the site is more grand, but because it is different and not as developed. It is amazing the way the city has grown up around the ruins and the way people casually use the old walls. The site has been a working city for eons and we really liked that aspect of it. They had a quaint market at the entrance to the main site. The bus drops you at the edge of town. It's about a 20 min. walk up to the site but taxis are there if you prefer. On the way back to Oaxaca we got off the bus again at Teotitlan to see the weavings. We got an impromptu tour of the process of dying, spinning, weaving at the home where we bought a wall hanging. A real highlight.
One more thing...while in Puerto Escondido, be sure to stop by and see Gina at the tourist information booth. She is a wealth of information about the area. We took her morning walking tour and loved it. She took us to a small cafe for a traditional breakfast and to the homes of women who grind corn and spices for the locals and to another place where they make tamales in the traditional way. Then we went up to the market and she bought wonderful exotic fruits, candies, etc. so we could taste some of the local goodies. She takes the money with which you pay for the tour and spends some of it in the markets. That way she spreads the money around in the local area and the vendors look forward to her visits with the gringos. Really a neat experience.
Have a great trip. You'll love it!
Hi, Just doing some ground work. I am curious if I should bring done a couple of my own boards, or are boards priced reasonably ( 200-400)new, seems like it`s easy to go through a few over a month or so in the summer.
The second thing, hows the fish (sharks) , are there many, is it the kind of place you go out with a friend to make it fifty fifty or is is easy on the nerves. Many sightings or attacks, just curious have had some runins in the past else where so just wanted to know what to expect, thanks adios.
In six years visiting there I never heard of any sharks, nor anywhere on this board. But then I'm not a surfer.Josh wrote:
Hi All: Have greatly enjoyed reading about this wonderful location and am looking forward to spending 7-10 days. However, my friend can only spend 4-5 and we'd like to know how best to structure our time.
We'd like to see Monte Alban, Mitla then if she has any time left, join me to either Huatulco or Puerto Angel. Can we fly directly to Oaxaca City from Los Angeles and San Francisco and then return from either of the recommended coastal destinations? I look forward to your suggestions.
Regards, Pedro
Mostly in the nightclubs. Lock up your daughters!
ha ha ! ya joker, peace out.
I hoping that some old PE/ Oaxaca residents might read this and possibly help out here. I spent spring '79 in Oaxaca and PE. Easter I spent in PE and watched the people flock in from the countryside for Easter. I had a room at Roca Mar, third floor so I had a great view of the crowd on the "then" sandy main beach drive. Super crowded but the best Easter that I can recall. I wonder how the view was this Easter from that same balcony? The Pope had visited Oaxaca that year and that spring a miracle occured in Oaxaca and I saw it myself. I'd driven to Oaxaca via Hwy 131 and the zocolo in Oaxaca was all buzzing about the miracle. Seems a geyser, of saltwater, had sprung up near Mitla, where the Pope had been earlier. Everyone was talking about it, saying it was a miracle and a sign from God. Deciding that this was a must see, I drove my VW down that way next morning. Sure enough, between El Tule and Mitla, a geyser of water was spouting away as I drove up. I've seen Old Faithful several times, and the Oaxaca geyser was every bit as impressive. A spout of water about 2 feet in diameter was spouting up at least 100 feet into the sky. It had been going like that for about 3-5 days, non stop. People, especially elderly Mexican women were collecting the water in buckets, bottles, clay pots etc. Many people were bathing in the small stream that had formed . The whole thing wasn't 100 feet from the highway. Buses and taxis were bringing people from all over to see, touch and enjoy the miracle. The water was cold and salty. It was clear and fresh as any water I ever saw, except salty. I went there 3 or 4 times before I returned home to the states. I heard that a well, being drilled had hit that saltwater, but I don't know if that's true. A small village of huts and roadside stands grew up over night to sell food/drink/trinkits to the people flocking in to see the miracle. I heard that later on, it turned to mineral water and it was now being bottled. I'd sure like to find out what really happened there and how it turned out. I can't recall if the miracle was before or after Easter, but it was in spring 79. I still have a faded Polaroid of Katy, who I met in PE, standing in front of that huge geyser of water. Does anyone know about this incident? Surely it was written up in the Oaxaca newspapers. I tried a computer search, but my computer is old and slow and so am I. So that's my tale of the old days. I hope someone can help me find out what happened to the miracle. And how was Easter in PE this year?
I just found an open jaws ticket - into DF and out of Zihuatanejo for less than a RT ticket to DF! so looks like my vacation will end on the beach. ahh, the beach! after the bar exam and snowy winter, i think i will really need it!
Can anyone recommend a bilingual attorney either in Puerto Escondido or Huatulco. I need a reasonably simple lease agreement in Espanol. It would be necessary to do our business via e-mail as I'm now in the States.
I have been trying to get in contact with Villas Carrizalillo and Hotel El Tabachin, Via EMail, for a week long stay at the end of July. Since I was never contacted I was wondering how the accomidations are. I also wanted to know if their are any other hotels next to Playa Carrizalillo because I heard the snorkeling was excellent. Thank You
Puerto Connection can make your reservations at either of these properties. Please contact us with details and we will take care of everything.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Snorkelling in Pto isn't really "excellent" anywhere....mostly rocks not much coral. It is probably better at C. than other beaches but not a main draw.
Josh, Long ago, in the seventies, my (now) husband and I went to P.E. 7 or 8 times for some longish visits. We stayed in various bungalows and grass shacks on the beach and were in and around the water constantly. We heard about a couple of shark attacks, which may or may not have occurred, but nothing ever while we were there. However, one time we walked to the end of zicatela and out onto the rocks to this shallow cavey kind of space to watch the surfers. We saw, very clearly,. a goodsize shark in the same wave with a surfer. Of course we screamed and of course the surfer did not hear us. He surfed safely in and we told him then. I saw little sharks a couple times (like three feet) while snorkling in the bay with the steep path. All could have been perfectly harmless as I don't know types of sharks. None of this kept us (or anyone else) out of the water. Judy
Sue is right, there isn't any great snorkeling around Puerto Escondido.
I have had a look at Carrizalillo and at the near end of Bacocho in the past. The water clarity is generally okay at C. but there isn't much to see. In my experience, the best snorkeling in the immediate area is around the left side of Playa Manzanillo at Puerto Angelito. Depending on the wind, one can fly along the rocks out around the corner towards the lighthouse close to the rocks. Visibility can be pretty good on calmer days - maybe as good as 30-40 feet. There is a small patch of coral (mostly dead) right off the beach by the rocks. Although it is mostly dead there can be lots of bright little fish in there. There are a couple of small coves out along the rocks that are more sheltered where there can be several varieties of fish, and lots of them. In two stretchs this past March we saw some some spotted rays, a couple of small barracuda and eels. In the past I have also seen a small green turtle on the other side of the bay. Even thogh it isn't the best, snorkeling there is fine way to pass an afternoon.
I've stayed at Tabachin but not the other place you mentioned. Tabachin is homey and the upper units have spectacular views of Zicatela. The rooms in the main building (3 floors) are larger, like studio apartments, with kitchens, fans and AC, and verandas. (May be true of the other unit as well, haven't been in those). Breakfast (excellent!) in the courtyard is included. The owner is American and has many interesting stories. It's located right behind the Santa Fe, a two-minute walk to the beach. No good snorkeling around there, it's the open Pacific. Great surf, though!
I highly recommend Tabachin. My wife and I stayed there last year and found it delightful. The breakfasts are great in the courtyard, one lingers and converses with the other guests, while enjoying the locally grown coffee. Also, the mandrian orange juice from the owners trees in Nopal is delicious. The owner, Paul Cleaver, is one of the original developers of the Santa Fe and has been in Puerto Escondido for more than 20 years. Naturally, he has lots of great stories of there and elsewhere and, to our taste, a wonderful attitude and feeling for the area he so obviously loves. He also will arrange for visits and over night stays at his hacienda in Nopal. We took advantage of this for a couple nights and enjoyed it immensely.
My fiance and I traveled from Puerto Escondido last December and had no problems. We were in a rental with Mexican tags but both of us are fair skinned with no chance of being mistaken for natives! The drive is somewhat long but incrediably beautiful! We even had a flat tire at dusk and were on the side of the road changing it without any problems. It took us approximately 10 hours. We are returning to Puerto in May and even considered flying into Acap. just to make the drive again. -laura
Wendy, have you been to the Zihuatanejo message board: http://www.zihuatanejo.net/wwwboard/ It's very informative. Have fun!
Thank you Lily!
D-O-L-P-H-I-N
I can´t find any comments on my favorite hotel in Pto...Hotel BuenaVista It´s clean, comfy, amiable and has the best location and the best view in town! The entrance is next to Merlins´store. There are some stairs but it´s absolutely worth the climb. Prices are excellent and some rooms have kitchenettes and hot water. What more can I say!!! [%sig%]
As you wish, Kris. We weren't fortunate enough to see any dolphins, but we did see giant sea turtles and very large mantas as well as a whale. We hope to come down next winter with our children to relive old memories and make new ones. Signing off until trip-planning time...Judy
If sheila Clark has time she can translate , but she is not an attorney! If you need a translation to be legalise call your consulate in Oaxaca city Mark Leyes has the power to help you and gide you ! Gina Machorro Ginainpuerto @yahoo.com
Call Hotel Tabachin (954* 5821179.
Easter since is getting big the beaches full with nice people your Hotel Rocamar has alot of view and the \Family Salinas stile roon the pleace. So come down Gina
Buena Vista is a good Hotel I hope they make some cards or any promotion to have some inthe tourist kiosk. Gina
Pedro, You have to go to Mexico city from thr Oaxaca city and the best way to come down the coast is fling with AEROTUCAN fromOaxaca city Any travel agency will help you , and then come and stay in PE from here you can visit in one day Mazunte , Pangel, and Zipolite, and be shure to come see me at the info Kiosk, Ill be happy to help you to get accomodation! Gina
Lady's. I love to help you PE has more nicer beaches to swim and there are great pleaces for the 6 of you to saty private Condo, Hotels and great cabanas wwere you will be close to every thing, walking distance to the night life and we have life music Salsa..., you can snorkell or just reead a great book if you dont have a good B we have a great library! be shure to let me know dates and witch caind of pleaces you will like ! GINA
I can help you with some schools options there are great local primarys who can take your 5 year old kid but with a registration inAugust if you like a private school pues any time is good the $$ is minimum! Gina
If you like some simple rentals and real state info come to see me Iam mexican and live here for more than 10 years.when you get here, there is slow seasson, so don't comet is better to see the rentals from here and then you will see all the options also for real state , there are some much market. see you here ! . Gina. tIf you like when you can stay in a inexpencive Hotel, Hotel Ben zaa 954 5820523 they speak english. Gina info kiosk. and they are close to beaches and the restaurants area.
We have Kayaking only in the lagoon Manialtepec , Yes And you can get agood Kayak here in the laggon with Lalo at las Negras rest, before raining seasson you can go up river but andale!! Gina
I hope you new or www.oaxaca-mio.com gina
I haven't stayed at the Buena Vista but did check it out once, it looked really nice. It's a small place, up on the slope just back of and overlooking the Zicatela strip near Cabanas Olas Altas. Great views of the beach and excellently situated for cooling breezes. When I saw it the stairs going up to it were steep, narrow and without railings, particularly at one spot where the stairs bridged over quite a drop; I thought, sheesh, if you were coming back to the hotel drunk you'd better crawl up that thing! Helped keep out the riff raff, I'm sure. Probably they've got that fixed now.
Kimberly, did you decide on PE? If you go, Gina is a great resource for the visitor. Very friendly and very helpful, be sure to drop by her travel info booth on the adoquin. She genuinely wants people to enjoy themselves in PE and won't steer you wrong.
Hi Gina, Thanks for the reply. I'm glad to hear that the Salinas family still runs the hotel. I always enjoyed my stays at their hotel. I will vacation in Puerto this fall/winter. I look forward to meeting you, Gina.
Kim, I have been to Puerto many times in the last couple years. I have never found a shortage of good places to party. (I am 24) I have gone with my college friends and we have all loved it. The crowd is so much more laid back and you can have a good time without getting involved in the whole wet T-shirt, get drunk until you puck your guts out thing. (unless you are into that) Another good idea would be to stay in Puerto for a few days, and then head over to Huatulco for a few days. It is only a two hour bus ride and this is what my friends and I usually do. Huatulco doesn't have the most active nightlife either, but there are definetely fun places to go to.
For $500 US a month you can be mayor of Puerto Escondido.
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As i recall it was 114 steps from the street to my room at the top.
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I personnaly witnessed one of the wading fisherman pull out two 6 foot sharks last summer down at the end of Zicatela-but apparently that was an isolated incident, given the reaction of the the restaurant staff.
David [%sig%]
Hi Kimberly - I'm planning a similar trip to take after I take the bar exam in july. go to Barnes and Noble and look at a book called Mexico Beach Resorts for Dummies. The book says that PE is the best value in Mexico. (the book also says Acapulco is better in the dark!)
Not really Mr. David. 500US$ in todays Mexico is nothing.T.
But you could live in the lap of luxury for that price. Am I not right my friendly traveler? [%sig%]
David, I agree as far as P.E. is concerened and provided you can spend 500 a month on accomodation. In P.E. you do get luxury living for that amount. I live in the big city -D.F.- and 500$ dont get you far at all there. T.
Acapulco is better seen on the Wide World of Sports when they do the cliff diving thing. Actually being there is not all that enjoyable.
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How about a nice clean Hotel room with a kitchenette, beachbreak view, hot water, maid service and short walk to all amenities!!! Hotel BuenaVista
I agree there is no place anywhere that can compare with the accommodation and the people at theBueno Vista Hotel
Like Judy, I stayed in PE for several long visits in the 70s and early 80s. Fisherman brought in sharks almost everyday but I never saw any caught on the beach. I never heard of any surfers that were attacked by sharks but I do recall that a California surfer had his Achilles tendon bitten by a moray eel. Shark fin soup was popular in the restaurants, as was turtle soup, and eggs. While sharks can be in any ocean, I'd worry about those waves if it was me.
I have a one bedroom apartment for rent on Carrizalillo Bay., Completely furnished. great view. Secure.
Did anyone hear what happened to the shark fishermen who went missing on an overnight expedition last year? Were they ever found?
And Paul's a pretty good drummer, too.
Hasn't anyone every heard of how Bruno's restaurant got its name???? Bruno, the shark at the Point??B.S., get it??
I have a place in Puerto Escondido.,over looking Carrizalillo Bay. Its a furnished, all-bills-paid apartment in a private walled estate, caretaker on site. Gorgeous ocean view. Its close to stores and restaurants. Easy access to beach and town..$450.00 a Month . If interested, you can E-mail me at: Puertoliz@yahoo.com
No.
I still don't know where I'll be staying and was wondering if it is necessary to reserve a room. If no, are the rates higher if you don't reserve. I will be there the last week of July.
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Hey Russ, I am originally from Corpus Christi and I live in Houston now. I am planning a trip to Acapulco,-P.E.-and Oaxaca (ruins) as well. I will fly from Houston to Acapulco and then take the bus to P.E. and I would like to know if there are other locations you might recommend. I will fly back out of Acapulco 10 days later. By the way, I drove down to San Miguel De Allende, GTO. last summer and I had no problems. Thanks, Joseph
Hi, You are coming during low season and reservations for hotels are not necessary. You can find anything you want just by showing up and asking around. rates are the same if you reserve or if you just walk in. However, if you would like to make reservations or if you are interested in a weekly or monthly rate somewhere, check us out.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com>
Hi all...coming to PE this summer surfing with my 16 and 6 year old sons....looking for a cool place on or very near Zicatela beach....Some place friendly to the 6 year old. A tv and pool would be extra plus's. A kitchen is required. A fenced yard, shade ie exceptional. Rustic, palapa type is ok. Staying for a month or two, depending on the vibe. Any info is mucho bueno...thanks Bob A
Hi there, I think with the time you have you will have plenty to see and do. The Monte Alban temples in Oaxaca and the zocalo there are very pretty and interesting. Just outside the city center of Oaxaca there is Dona Rosa's where they make Black Oaxacan pottery which i try to bring back as much as I can fit in my jeep. There are also weavers in Oaxaca that make very nice wool rugs and carpets. If you do buy a lot of goods there you can always ship it back through DHL which I have had great success mailing stuff back. I think the biggest thing will be enjoying the beaches of Puerto and the great seafood. Puerto Angel about 50 klicks South is an interesting lagoon but probably too much hassel if you don't have your own vehicle and have to take a cab. Huatulco just a little further South of Angel is a government sponsored tourist town which has all the 5 star establishments but very little feel for being in Mexico. Enjoy and if there is anything else I can help you with you can call me at work at 361-949-8166 at the Island House Condos. Russ in Corpus
Hello all, First of all I'd like to say that I've been researching PE pages for info for the last week and didn't find this page until today. I finally got here by typing "Puerto Escondido 2002" on Google. This site is definitely the most up to date one I've found.
Me and my wife are going to Mexico from May 10-24. We live in NY and my wife is a Poblana from Izucar de Matamoros, Pue. We are renting a car from the airport in DF and then driving down to Izucar to spend time with her family. On the 14th we'll get up around 5 or 6 am and drive down to PE; we plan to take her Mom and 2 sobrinos along for the trip. I'm thinking of reserving a master suite at Villasol for 60USD/night including taxes. I think this place will be good because it's modern, has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a seating/living area. We will return to Izucar around the 21st. I have a few questions for GINA and anyone else who might help: 1> What's the sand, surf, undertow at Playa Bacocho? 2> Is the Villasol to removed from the rest of PE?...remember we have a car. 3> What are the best places to eat real authentic Mexican food?...I like picaditas with slasa verde and the speciality from Izucar(BurritAs) 4> Where is the best place/beach to rent horses? 5> Do you have any better places than Villasol to suggest? 6> What activities can you recommend? This will be the first time my suegra and sobrinos(once y diez anos) are going to a resort.
Please check our site for additional info and options.
<http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
I'm driving from Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
Any idea on how long this will take and the best route to follow?
Two options: Izucar de M. on the Panamerican Highway (190) to Oaxaca and from there to P.E. or from Izucar via Cautla to Cuernavaca and then the tollraod to ACA and on the coastal highway (200) to P.E. Both are pretty. Personally I prefer the Panam highway to Oax and then either via Sola de Vega directy to P.E. or via San Jose del Pacifico and Pochutla to P.E. The 1st option can be done in one day the 2nd would take 2 days with a night stop in Oaxaca. There is still a 3rd option of going via Atlixco, Puebla and then on the tollraod via Tehuacan to Oaxaca. T.
I would like to get there in the least time possible. Which way is fastest? 1> The Panamerican (190) to Oaxaca, then onto the Sola de Vega (guessing 175) to PE. 2> Staying on 190 and going through Potchutla (then 200 NW I guess) to PE. 3> Izucar towards Cuernavaca and then taking the coastal highway 200 SE to PE.
What's the conditions on each for topes, windy-ness, elevation, average speed, cost and safety? I just thought it would take around seven hours at the most and didn't/don't have enough knowledge of the above variables. I'm pretty new to driving in Mexico and have only done Izucar-Veracruz and Izucar-D.F. Thanks for your help and additional comments.
my ticket arrived - i'll have three weeks in DF, Oaxaca City, PE and Zijua in August. how much rain should i expect? heat doesn't bother me (I'm from LA) nor does humidity (i've spent the last three years in DC) but I'm in desperate need of sunshine this summer. Will my quest be thwarted?
Out of personal experience I would quote following driving times: Izucar to Oaxaca 5-7 hrs depending on your stops. There are some interesting places to see on the way like Acatlan. Huajuapan de Leon and Yanhuitlan monestary. Its a mountain road and with lots of bends and turns. But let me assure you it is very beautiful. And Oaxaca-City is a MUST.
2nd: Izucar to Cuernavaca via Cuautla takes aprox. 1-2 hrs. Cuernavca to ACA is aprox 3 hrs and the Hgwh 200 ACA-P.E. takes around 5-6 hrs. The last time I took that route I paid around 35$ for the tollway Cuernavaca-ACA.
Probably less topes on the 2nd option. Dont know what kind of car your will be driving but your estimated 7hrs would be - chasing the devil-. Better count on 10hrs and you should leave Izucar early in order to get to P.E. before nightfall.
If you not experienced with driving in Mexico - dont consider a nightdrive. Have a safe trip. T.
Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla to PE? Hmmm. First, the toll road Puebla to Oaxaca City. That's the no-brainer part.Then, since speed is the issue, I'd take 175 to Pochutla. However, I've been TOLD that 131 straight into PE has been much improved, which I guess means that you no longer have to back up a dirt road in the mountains to a spot wide enough for the logging truck you met head on to get around you. It's been a long while since I've been on 131... Of course, if motion sickness is a factor, there's always Oaxaca-Salina Cruz and then on up HWY 200...
I was in puerto Escondido this summer and met a couple from Canada that runs a restaurant/board shop on Zicatela. I believe it is located in front of El Cafecito. Anyway, she was pregnant then but not yet showing. By my limited math abailities I have determined that she should have had the baby by now, or is experiencing an incredibly long gestation period. Query: What are their, the baby, and the restaurant's names. Thanks in advance. And one other item, who is the reigning champion of Frisbee golf now.
Gunter from Texas See everyone in June [%sig%]
Hi again, First of all props, kudos, agradecimientos, remerciements and kanawushkus to all that have helped so far. I've examined all the tips and have a tentative path to take from/to the above mentioned locations. Let's keep in mind that safe speed is the main priority, motion sickness is not a factor and Izucar is already 1.5hours SSE from Puebla, I don't think going the Cuernavaca route would be worth it. The wild card here is the topography. So here goes: Step 1: Izucar to Oaxaca on Rte. 190 for I'm guessing 250km. Is this baby a cuota highway? Is this flat and straight or curvy and elevated? I'm guessing about 3-3.5 hours? Step 2: Oaxaca to Pochutla on Rte. 175 for I'm guessing 200km. Is this baby a cuota highway? Am I right in thinking this will be the major up down curvy part of the trip? Another 3-4 hours? Step 3: Pochutla to PE on Rte. 200 for I'm guessing 100 km at the most. Is this a cuota highway? Should be flat and short...another hour to add at the most? Sorry about beating this issue to la mort but I've got one week of work left before I go and can't stop thinking about Mexico lindo.
Thanks for any chevere, chulo, bestial, brutal and netedo respuestas ;o)
John: THere is a new bypass that starts just a couple miles west of tehuantepec on highway 190. It by passes Salina Cruz and ends at 200. It saves quit a bit of time as it is all new and only a few cars when I travelled it. No Topes or any cross roads. I took it in april on my way back from Puerto to Mich. Jim C
I have stayed twice for a couple of weeks in the top room at the Buena Vista in 1999 and 2000.
Yes, there are 114 steps to get up there and you don't want to do this too often during one day. You try not to forget that you're out of ice or booze or cigarettes or whatever.
Once you're up there however, you never want to leave. Sunset on the balcony every night is just breathtaking. You really get hooked.
The height also means that you get more wind at night and sleep better.
One warning : it is situated very close to the army base at the top of the hill overlooking Zicatela (i.e. the gigantic Mexican flag) and every morning at sunrise you get to hear an horrendous trumpet wake-up call that will abrptly take you out of the most erotic dream.
For the rest, I remember the place as very well kept and very secure: a Mexican family lives on the premises. I would go back any time. In fact I tried to in February of 2001 but the place was packed.
I do not know how to get in touch with the owner but he is from British Columbia and, of course, speaks perfect English.
Have a good time.
François Leclerc Montreal, Quebec, Canada
I consider 131 via Sola de Vega the faster choice. The road indeed improved a lot and unless you hit bad rain or an earthtremor it should be the better of the two roads. But that of course would most likely affect 175 as well. Driving time Oax - P.E. on 131 is aprox 6hrs. T.
Hi, My husband and I want to take our 4 year old daughter for the winter to Mexico. He and I travelled down the Pacific Coast by bus from Puerto Vallarta down to Guatemala back in 1996, over a 3 month period. We didn't stop in Puerto Escondido but headed straight to Zipolite. Does PE have suitable swimming for a 4 year old? How easy is it to get around without a vehicle. We would like to stay for 4 months, how easy is it to find bicycles to buy/rent and possibly a child carrier as well. Should we bring our own child carrier down? We will probbaly just show up in November and try to find accommodation for the duration of our stay. Is a accommodation budget of $500 US per month adequate? Any advice would be great! We are selling our home in Penticton, BC, Canada to fund this trip and possibly relocate in time. Our friends and family thinks we are nuts!!!!!!! [%sig%]
hello, i was wondering if you could help me , i am going to be arriving in P.E in early june , i was wondering where was a good place t stay in a private room with my boyfriend , but in a happening place where we cold meet other travellers .David Gunter wrote: > Acapulco is better seen on the Wide World of Sports when they > do the cliff diving thing. Actually being there is not all that > enjoyable. > > [%sig%]
Lisa There are good beaches in the area that a small child can have fun in - Playa principal, Marinero, Manzanillo, Angelito, and on a calm day at La Punta on Zicatela.
For a three month stay you should be able to find something quite nice in that price range, more likely above Zicatela or in one of the condo comlexes around Carrizalillo. I think you should be able to find a place with access to a swimming pool.
If you look on puertoconnection.com you can see a good variety of places for rent. We booked a place through Dave and were impressed with the place and his service. Check the realestate listings on this site as well.
We stayed near the lighthouse and liked the location for easy access to the adoquin, bus to the market and beaches. Zicatela, particularly out towards the point is a bit far without a car but if you have a bike i wouldn't think its a big deal.
Our family stayed at the Buena Vista back in 1999 and planned to have been there back in March of this year but our son broke his arm snowboarding instead. I grew up with Paul, the owner and he's an honest guy and runs a decent place. The view is awesome, the place is relaxed and I'm biased but it was one of our most amazing vacations. Cant wait to get back..next year! Craig Burlington, Ontario, Canada [%sig%]
Let me do that again: 190 and 175 are NO cuota roads. Both are mountains with lots of bends and turns but extremely beautiful. Not flat at all but curvy. Izucar to Oaxaca at least 5hrs Oac. To Pochutla the same (very curvy) Pochutla to P.E. 45 mins (topes on road) If you want to avoid wild topo go via Cuernavca. It tollway from Cuautla to Cuernavca (almost) and from CUE to ACA.
Personally I dont like the tollways. I tend to fall asleept on them. But if you do not like driving in the Sierras take the easy tollroads via CUE-ACA. It is the most prestigious road in Mexico, well build and not very curvy compared to the others.
Now you have to take your pick. T.
buenavista101@hotmail
RUSS, ARE YOU A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER WHO TAUGHT IN TEXAS? WE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN MELAQUE AND PLAN TO STAY THERE, HOWEVER, I AM IN AUSTIN NOW AND WILL BE LOOKING TO BUY A SMALL AND INEXPENSIVE BEACH PLACE (HA HA) AROUND THE CORPUS, ROCKPORT, ARANSAS AREA. A FIXER-UPPER. I NOTICED THAT YOU OFFERED THE OTHER GENTLEMAN A DISCOUNT AT ONE OF YOUR CONDOS FOR A NIGHT, MAY I PLEASE HAVE ONE ALSO? I LEAVE HERE IN ONE WEEK TO GO TO THE COAST TO LOOK, ONCE I HAVE A PLACE, I GO BACK TO MELAQUE. WE DID SERIOUSLY CONSIDER PUERTO ESCONDIDO BUT WERE TOLD IT WAS A LITTLE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHER AREAS. WE FEEL TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY SAFE WHERE WE ARE, WE DROVE FROM TEXAS, DOWN THE WEST COAST AND AS FAR AS ACAPULCO, NO PROBLEMS BUT DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. MY THINKING IS THAT MOST PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ARE FROM ATTITUDE. OURS IS GOOD SO NO PROBLEMS. WE LOVE THE PEOPLE.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, NORMA
My husband and I are interested in shipping our motorcycle from Vancouver Canada to Mexico, then driving down to Peurto Escondito in Jan an Feb. does anyone have information about shipping your vehicle to mexico, and the drive down to PE? [%sig%]
Anywhere near Zicatela Beach, that's where the travellers tend to congregate.
My husband and I were in PE in March it is great!!!! People are really friendly and the beaches were great!!!! If you are looking for a party any where on Zicatela we stayed at the rockaway(cheap) great pool great food great bar mix of people of all ages.We also stayed at Villas Carrilizo,I wanted to stay there for ever,very beautiful very quiet!!!
Contact Neil Peart, drummer for the rock band Rush @ Anthem records. He wrote a book about such a trip called "Ghost Rider." He has the answers you're looking for. Tell him I sent you. Bruno
If it helps they are French Canadien.
dg [%sig%]
Hi again and thanks for all the help. I have been informed of another way to get to PE from Izucar. Maria says i could bypass Oaxaca City by continuing south on 190 libre from Izucar to Huajuapan de Leon and then taking Rte 125 and eventually Rte 200 to PE. How does 125 compare to 131 and 175. It seems that the Sierra Madre Del Sur maybe less high altitude wise by taking 125.
Yours sincerely, Carlos
But do you really want to miss seeing Oaxaca, one of the jewels of Mexico? Maybe you could return to Izucar by Route 125, making it a circular route.
Yep I agree. I will definitely make the trip back in 2 days and stay 1 night in Oaxaca!!
Has anyone made the trip from San Diego to Puerto Escondido by car? If so, what route would you recommend; where would you cross the border; can you avoid Mexico City? I have traveled all over Mexico by public transportation, so I am not looking for the most scenic route, but rather the route with the best roads and the least traffic. All opinions gratefully accepted.
[%sig%]
Charles, I know that road myself and was thinking about sugesting it. In fact you can do it 2 ways: You drive past Huajuapan for aprox 30 miles and take the right-turnoff for, Tlaxiaco, Putla and the cost. Or you go straight out off Huajuapan towards Juahuaxtla (spelling may be wrong) and you hit the same highway further down. I did not sugest this route because the last time I went on it, the pavement was in miserable condition. The road goes through the Oaxacan Mixteca region, is beautiful but still very windy and mountainous. Among the P.E. travellers it is probably the less used access route.
I dont know what others on this forum may say but my guess is: if you dont mind bendy curvy mountain roads: take 190 to Huajuapan and on to the coast or go via Oaxaca to P.E. If you want an easy drive with less work on the wheel, take CUE-ACA route. But JIMBO is right : Dont miss out on Oaxaca, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. T.
Is Mango Creek ready to go yet? [%sig%]
Yes. it's been ready for a few years. C'mon down and play. Bring your clubs. If you don't believe me, ask jeff. He has it advertised on his truck.
You will have to excuse me if I seem a bit skeptical, especially since I stayed at Jeff's place last summer. He lent me a seven iron and a pitching wedge and gave me a few balls to knock about, but the course was still in the planning phase. Is he really driving around with an advertisement on his truck? I hope it is ready. I'll be down in June to test its mettle.
Gunter [%sig%]
I'd say your best bet is to take I-10 to Texas. Much faster and cheaper than driving thru Mexico. I'd say cross at MacAllen or Brownsville and drive down the gulf side to Vera Cruz. You could then cross the Ismus and hit Hiway 200 and on into PE. However, take the trip to Oaxaca, see the valley, then drive over to PE either by Hiway 175 or, my favorite, 131. About 30 years ago, I drove from Yuma to Puerto, right down 200 the entire way. It was a long BRUTAL drive in those days. However, I did get to see alot of the pacific coast. Going thru Texas, down the gulf side will bypass mountains and most importantly, mexico city. Good luck.
We used to joke about a bowling alley in P.E., long before there was one. Golf will, like the bowling alley, find it's way to P.E. And when it does, we'll be seeing BIG changes. Wait for it. As long as you can.
You are right. I'll be content with practice on Bococho. Can't wait to get down there. Sorry to hear about Coco in Zipolite. Have we met? [%sig%]
In fact I think you should stay at least one whole day in Oaxaca. There is lots to see. T.
Joey, Happened upon you inquiry about Villas Carrizalillo while on this web site. I'm in fact the owner/manager of Villas Carrizalillo and would be happy to provide any information you might need regarding our establishment. If you would like a quick and easy reference please check out our website at www.villascarrizalillo.com. All of our units come equipped with kitchenettes, private patios and hot water (not that you'll want that in July). We do have direct access to Playa Carrizalillo via a path in front of the hotel. We are walking distance to shopping and restaurants and have some of the nicest sunset views in all of Puerto. For more information regarding availibility and rates, please contact me by phone at (954) 582-1735 or e-mail me @ edmitchell2003@hotmail.com.
Thanks for your interest.
Ed Mitchell Owner/Manager Villas Carrizalillo
Con artists have been known to employ props such as business cards, brochures, even t shirts and baseball caps. Now a 4X4....that´s saying something!!!! Over many years I have seen nothing but bad deals done by the owner of that truck and it´s a shame he gets away with it. Golf at Mango Creek? Don´t hold your breath!!! [%sig%]
I was wondering if anybody has made the trip from McAllen TX to PE and if so I would like to know about how long is the trip what bus line was taken and about how much it would cost thank you [%sig%]
first I would like to say how much enjoy reading "Visitors Comments on Puerto Escondido",I check it out pretty much every day.It seems to help me take a little trip there in my mind.We've made about a half dozen trips to mexico's west coast in the last 4 or 5 years the last two to PE. It would be very hard for me to go any where else now. PE's combination of great weather, fabulous beaches,low prices and the friendliest people,both locals and visitors, makes it feel like "My other home town".Unfortunatly , as pretty much every one knows the worst part of the deal is getting there.On our first trip I came by bus from Acapolco.We had overnighted there out at Pie de la Cuesta. The Hotel Villa Roxann, a very nice, spotlessly clean,reasonablely priced little place about a 20 min taxi ride from the bus station that goes to PE A 6 hour flight into DF, a taxi ride to the bus station there ,then a six hour bus ride, then another taxi makes it a long day.And still 6 or 8 hours from PE.When you consider the Meals , the taxis, and the wear and tear flying into Hultolco is probably the best option.From what I can figure out Mexacana has the only,reasonably priced flights.Unfortunatly they only fly once or twice a day{I think}I guess my question really is- If for whatever reason I miss my Connection at DF;can any one reccomend to me a nice quiet place with a pool and a good meal in the approximatly fifty dollar price range in Mexico City? I can't remember just how the taxi fares are priced.I know it goes by zones,I think it was about ten or twelve dollars to go from the air port to tasquenes station.That trip was about a half hour in a cab . That would be about right.If there was a bus straight to Taxco and then back in the morning that would be perfect but I think at two to three hour travel time it is probably out of the question. Can any one help me? Wolf
This past season 2002/03 the snorkelling at Carri has been epic. The water quality has been crystal clear on a regular basis. The sea has been full of life as well, in fact there is so much tuna right now the fisherman are chucking it back! Even the caneries in Acapulco have more than they can deal with.
I used to like Hotel ROOSEVELT on Insurgentes Sur. Its small and the rooms in the back a quiet. It is not far from the Pink Zone if you want to stroll out in the evening. It has no pool but a nice coffeeshop and restaurant. The Colonia Condessa - thats where it is located - has plenty of bistros, bars and restaurants. The price for a double should be around 30 $. Airport taxis are around 12-15$. If you take a free taxi it should be around 6-7$. That should be the best way to go back to the airport. The hotel will arange it for you and it is safe. Its a good place for a night. Phne-no from Mex-City: 52083606 / 52086813 / 52086916 and 52086976 Adress: Av.Insurgentes Sur 287 , Esquina Yucatan T.
As posts have been slow lately, I thought I'd relate a trip I took to Puerto by private plane. The fact that Carter was US president at the time, doesn't change the basics of the trip report. Three of us flew down the gulf coast in a Cessna 172. We crossed at Brownsville and cleared customs at Tampico. Next morning we flew to Vera Cruz and spent the night. Next morning we set out to cross the isthmus and fly up the Pacific coast to Puerto. Because of 40 mph headwinds, we stopped at Ixtepec for gas. We we told that Ixtepec military field had gas and we flew there. The base commanding officer was very pleasant about our stopping in. A couple of old T28s were sitting on the ramp, they didn't look like they'd flown in years. The base was a sprawling place that had at one time been a large US style base. Almost all the buildings were torn down and only foundations remained. We were told that the US Airforce had built the base during WWII to fly patrol bombers on both sides of the isthmus to scout for German U Boats. The colonel in charge told me that several hundred American flyers were stationed there during the war. It sure looked like an old American WWII airfield to me. We got gas out of 55 gallon drums that were in a warehouse some way from the flight line. We simply taxied the plane over to the warehouse and the mexican soldiers pumped in the gas with a hand pump. The winds had died down by 4PM and we took off for PE. We flew direct to Salina Cruz then turned west and flew right up the coast toward PE. We were never more that 500 feet high and often we skimmed the deserted beaches at 50 feet or less. The entire coastline was beautiful and almost completely deserted. We only saw a few small boats and isolated, tiny settlements. The Hualtulco bays were deserted, not a sign of life. Puerto Angel was a tiny (500 people I believe) fishing village. We flew over the turtle processing town west of PA, it stunk and thousands of gulls were feeding on scraps. Just before sunset, we arrived at Puerto Escondido. The airstip was a dirt road between the main beach and Puerto Angelito. It ran north/south and was 2500 ft long. Paul let me make the landing and we rolled out to a stop near a palapa where 2 Mexican soldiers were stationed. We tied down, and walked into town, which was only a few hundred meters away. There were about a dozen hotels along the main street which was behind the main beach. We checked into the Paraiso Escondido Hotel, run by a German man who had a Mexican wife. There was a small pool and airconditioning. Only a/c in PE! Price? $24 US. I later moved to las palmas, then to Roca Mar , both of which cost about $8-10 US. We stayed 3 weeks total. I was told that PE had a population of about 2000 in those days. Tourists were mostly Europeans and surfers, most from california. The most popular night spot was Hunto Al Mar on the west end of the beach. They had a jukebox and pretty fair meals and a great breeze in the evenings. Turtle products and black coral jewelry was cheap and plentiful. So was oaxacan pot and mushrooms from the mountains. Or so I heard. I met hippies that were staying longtime at the camp grounds on the beach in hammocks for 50 cents a day. They'd eat those mushrooms, washed down with lemonada, and lay in their hammocks and watch the Pacific. The PE police were pretty easy going and mostly left tourists alone. I heard that $20 would buy you out of a small pot bust. The military had an infantry batallion stationed east of town and were the real force in the area. There was always a few armed soldiers in town, usually up by the police station/ government building, but you almost never saw soldiers on pass on the beach. On the Marinero beach, there was one restaurant, and some bungalows that surfers mostly stayed in. From the rocks ( where the santa fe is now) to the Point, there was nothing on Zicatela beach. Nothing at all, except a few small shacks up near the coast highway. That was my first time to PE and it's when I fell in Love with the area. If you ever get the chance to fly into the Puerto area by small airplane, take it. I'm going back to PE this fall, driving down this time. I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I know people that have and this site keeps me up to date about my favorite place. I'm really looking forward to going back. I hope you enjoyed this story of the good old days in PE.
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip back in the ole days. I go to Puerto each January and it is a lot bigger than how you described it when you flew down. Now they have a legitmate airport and take commerical airlines. The times they are changing. I think you will be quite surprised by the size on your next trip down but I think you will enjoy it still the same. Good luck.
Hey Russ, Thanks for the input. Yes, PE is much larger than in my day. I vacationed there every year from 1977-82. By 1979, there was a paved airport about three miles west of town, north of the highway. DC3s used to fly passengers in from Oaxaca, but I never saw air service to Mexico City. I wanted to add that the beaches were very safe at night in those days, and although thefts did occur, I never heard of a robbery. People used to camp on the beach in small groups and although nudity was rare there, some people did sunbath nude down on Zicatela. Skinny dipping at night, on the beach by young lovers was pretty common. I admit to once having to run back to Roca Mar at 2 :30 am, nude, covered only by a palm frond after my and my girlfriends clothes were swiped right in front of Las Palmas. I'm really looking forward to seeing puerto again this fall.
We were wondering if Adrianna and Franco (of El Jardin restaurant) have a new son or daughter yet. We would like to contact them if anyone has their e-mail address. Jan and Jim [%sig%]
Hola David. They had a healthy baby girl (Naomi) in February/March...Bob assisted with the delivery... The restaurant was called "A La Casa". It has closed and they now run a wonderful hostel called "A La Casa". J [%sig%]
Our family has stayed at El Tabachin for many years and we highly recommend it. Paul Cleaver is an engaging and knowledgeable host and the breakfasts on the terrace are the best in Puerto. We love the penthouse on the third floor, as it has a panoramic view, but all of the rooms are very comfortable and spacious. If time allows, a trip to Paul's farm in Nopala is also a wonderful experience. Jan [%sig%]
Juanita, Thank you so much. Looking forward to seeing the lovely Naomi soon. Peace. Gunter [%sig%]
If you want a romantic getaway the penthouse at Tabachin is in a word perfecto.
[%sig%]
Good story Jarhead, thanks. I too have come to love Puerto and spent a bissful week there each winter for five years, this last winter being the first I'd missed. Unfortunately, as I'm about to become a father (at age 50!) I fear it may be some time before I can return. But when the nino is big enough I hope to bring him/her there, god willin' and my health and energy hold...
You are nuts and that is why you will have such a good time. The experience will be something you and your kid will never forget. You should have no worries at all. As JBSK says check out puertoconnection and there is another website to look at. Zicatelaproperties.com has some rentals as well. I know both businesses and both can help you. I hope neither one gets upset that I mentioned the other but the more info you have the better. You should line up something for at least xmas time right now as it can be difficult to get a place even at this early date. When you get down there you can find a long term place and if it is available during xmas great but if it is not, at least you will have a place lined up. I am sure that both businesses listed above will gladly refund your deposit if you give them enough advance notice. PB
Hi there, Sounds like a great trip. We flew down from Vancouver Canada in a cessna 210 in march of this year. The trip was spectacular we flew down the Oregon coast which was beautiful then across San francisco to Yuma. The next day we flew as far as Tepic but they wouldn't let us fly out because it would be dark when we got to PE. So we arrived the next day. The Mexican airports were a little slow but if you are patient you get thru it. PE is a great place met alot of nice people and the locals were very friendly. On the way back we flew to Vegas we arrived at night and the strip looked wild all lit up. I would recommend PE to anyone who wants to experience the real mexico (have been to PV, Cabo, Manzanillo they are all timeshare tourist traps now) and flying on a small plane you see everything and meet some interesting people along the way. Ross
Hey, y'all keep this thread going. I've been trying to talk our host, Tom, into taking his Arrow down for the last ten years, with the hopes I can tag along. Give more descriptions, PLEASE!
Anything to help out, Higgins. Sorry, could not resist, and I agree that it's an apt name for Mr Williams. You certainly know the area John. Your many posts on the various Tom Zap boards have entertained and informed me and everyone else here for years. Let's see if I can't help out here a little. By all means, get that little Piper headed down to Puerto. Flying around Mexico in a private plane is the best way to see Mexico. The area around Puerto, and the entire Mexican Pacific coast is best seen from a small airplane. The flight between PE and Oaxaca is breathtaking, as is the view as you spiral down over Monte Alban. Want to see a different route back to the coast? Fly down the valley and check out the Tule Tree and Mitla from a few hundred feet, fly thru the canyons by totolapon and buzz Lake Benito Juarez. Hit the coast, and at 500 feet check out the most beautiful steatch of Mexico that you'll ever see. I could go on and on. Also, if you're ever in an airplane in Mexico, be sure and see the Copper Canyon. Good luck John on getting that ride to Puerto in the Piper.
The WWII airstrip at Ixtepec is now the comercial airport of the western Isthmus. It serves the cities of Ixtepex, Juchitan, Tehuhantepec and Salina Cruz. The comercial airlines like Mexicana/Aeromexico fly there from Mex-City. So it may have changed from the good ole days. T.
Me and my wife want to move to puerto escondido soon. We could drive our 1994 honda but we were wondering if it was possible to buy an older V. W.. in Mexico Would it be really expensive or would the red tape be a real hassle. Penny and Larry
Did you know that they still make the air-cooled rear-engine Beetle in the Puebla plant? Availability's no problem; red tape is doable; price is a bit high. There's a thread on the Melaque string regarding vehicle purchases.
Senorita Blanco: It is a lot easy if your are Bilingual., You will not make money But, You"ll get by.You'll for sure have the time of your life!! Garantizado. I own property there. Can't wait for the winter., so I can scape from this Metropolis.To my Exotic Paraise in Carrizalillo. Buena Suerte amiga.
Good day Folks, well I just got back from P.E. and might I say I had the best time of my life. Walked across the boarder at Brownsville and took a cab to the Mataroros airport, flew into Hatolco, then a cab to La Cruzsita, then a bus via El Sur to P.E. The surf was pumping all week long , 10 to 15 feet at Zicatela and a soild 6 to 8 feet in front of playa marinarios, Stayed at Bungallos de Villa Marinarios with the Doctor and his wife for 350 pesos a night , she even gave me a refund on my last night for picking up trash under the palapas , Being resectful and helpful will get you along way in Mexico . Bought fresh wachanago for 40 pesos a kilo and robalo for 50 pesos a kilo and Large shrimp was going foe 100 pesos a kilo. Walked it over to The RENA kitchen were Jose and his wife would cook it up for 30 pesos, Good deal , half a kilo of cooked fresh fish for 50 pesos , beat any reastrauant in town, Made it over to playa Angelito and hung out with Josiphina, Victor and Fransica at Junto del Mar de Rocke. There was a huge school of sardinas in the cove , 40 yards square,ever swam in a school of sardins? we fished for them with just a hook and line, no bait, just throw the line in and yank, some guys were going 5 hooks at atime and coming up with 5 fish at at a time , amazing The road through town and the market are both brand new , 8 mounths old, and the people are feeling good abount things. Lots of military and Federal Police, Things are feeling very safe for the good people, would not want to be doing ANYTHING bad in mexico right now.
Made it back to La Cruzsita for a dayand stayed at La Griffer for 250 pesos. Went to the new peir at Santa Crurz and then over to Bahia Entraga and eat oysters pulled straight from the bay, Bet there wont be an oyster left in 3 years ,If you want to start a good buesness try setting up an asian style oyster farm in one of the Bahias, it HAS to happen. P.S. Hatolco es muy caro Bottom line, the people of Mexico are very kind and loving people, familly rules, Maybe the way we all were before the Indusrail age .and keep an eye out for my new book called .Sonrisa de Pueutro , Thanks and enjoy jay
They have a baby, boy ! I don't have a e mail! Sorry! Gina
Hello.... I am planning a first time vacation to Mexico in November '03. We are very interrested in going to a non-touristy beach area with lots of culture. So far, Puerto Escondido seems like exactly what we want. However, I am hesitant because none of us going have ever been to Mexico and none of us speak Spanish. Because this isn't a hot destination spot (or at least not as much as somewhere like Cancun), do you think its going to be a problem communicating? Is this a trip that we should take perhaps on our 2nd or 3rd visit? I am planning on taking a basic course in Spanish before going regardless of where we go. Any information or suggestions anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!! [%sig%]
With a bit of Spanish under your belt you will be fine in Puerto Escondido. This is the first place I ever went to in Mexico twenty years ago. I was alone and couldn't string a paragraph together in spanish if my life depended on it and I had a blast. There are plenty of people around that will happily assist you. Have fun.
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Lots of visitors to Puerto don't speak any Spanish. True, the locals don't speak as much English as in the more touristed areas. But enough of them know enough English that you shouldn't have a problem, and of course you'll find plenty who are fluent. Don't worry, no one will look down on you for not being able to speak the lingo. Your class should equip you with some basic phrases and an idea of how to pronounce things just fine. Also, get the Berlitz phrasebook for Latin American Spanish (vs. the Spanish-for-Spain version), you'll find that really helpful. Good on you for bypassing the glitzy areas and jumping right in. Mexicans are a wonderful people and you'll love Puerto.
Kristine ...
I second what has been said. While I speak some Spanish my wife speaks none, and yet she hasn't had a problem communicating during our 6, once a year visits to PE. Sometimes she gets the sense of what is being spoken while I'm still translating in my brain. We love Puerto because it isn't touristy and because you can experience some of the culture. Be sure to be in touch with Gina at the tourist booth down by the Playa Principal. She is great for helping first time visitors and her walking tour of Puerto is well worth it.
Buena suerte!
Thanks for your input on buying a V.W. in mexico. I found the Melaque string you mentioned and it was a great help. I also found some information in other books. Thanks again for the help. I hope to be Mexico SOON.
Penny
As no one else has added any descriptions for John, I'll add a few more reasons to fly to Mexico. The single most important reason is the incredible adventure of seeing some of the world's best scenery. From huge deserts with dry lakes that stretch for 50+ miles to the most impressive and vast canyon systems in north america, maybe the world, to thousands of miles of beaches, Mexico has it all. Plus volcanoes. Small, isolated villages where small groups of Indians still live in the old ways. There is simply no better way to explore Mexico than by small airplane. You can see things from a plane that you just can't see otherwise. Let me share a few memories with you of my flying in Mexico. It has been quite awhile, but the land hasn't changed and neither has Mexico's vast beauty. In the '70's, I was a struggling young pilot/a&p mechanic, airport bum who was trying to make a living flying. I landed the all time dream job,(for me anyway) of being head pilot/mechanic/flunky for a ship/yacht dealer. He had an Aerocommander Twin, a place in Port Aransas, Texas and a vacation home in Mazatlan. We flew all over the US, Canada, and Mexico. I got to know northern Mexico and the upper Pacific coast pretty well. Here's a list of my favorite sights. Number 1 is Copper Canyon and it's related canyon systems. Four times larger than the Grand Canyon, has vistas that are simply breathtaking. Several waterfalls, two are over 800' high! There are airstrips along the canyon and you can land and hike around. The Pacific coast is my second favorite. I prefer from PV on south, but the north coast isn't bad either. Baha, especially the eastern coast has to be seen to be believed. Vast stretches of moonscape like desert leading diretly to the clearest water you've ever seen. Pods of whales swimming just off shore. Volcanoes come next. Colima has the twin peaks, and believe me, there's nothing like circling around a smoking crater. Of course, there were no crater cams back in my day. To peek into the Fuego, you got to top 14,000 feet but it's worth the climb. If you feel like a peek into Popo, you got to climb to 18,000. You and Tom need to get in that Arrow. I'm going to guess by your email address that you will depart from Austin tx. Head due south to Matamoras. Clear customs and file direct for Oaxaca, should take 4-4 1/2 hours. Spend a few days and fly around the valley to really get to see what Oaxaca looks like. You'll see small settlements that are perched up on the highest peaks. No roads at all leading to them. Only foot paths. It's the same all over rural, mountainous areas of mexico. I suggest going down the Pan American highway to the isthmus and then fly up the coast. That way you can see the pyramids, Lake B Juarez and then get to fly up that beautiful stretch of coast for a landing at Hua/PA? PE. A few days in this area, complete with several trips, by plane, to Oaxaca by both 175&131 will give you a great view of oaxaca and the mountains between Oaxaca and the coast. Finally up the coast headed for Barra/Melaque and points north. After time there, swing up thru los mochis and fly the copper canyon to Chiuahua then clear US customs at Laredo. 1.7 hours later you're back in Austin. Tom could update his web page with new pictures from the air, John could write up the whole thing. And, if there's room, I can still read a map and live close to austin myself.
Just booked a flight to Huatulco from Austin. Additionally, I scolled through the rentals on the puertoconnection website but they are a bit pricey for me. Last year I spent 70 to 100 pesos a day for great rooms with views of the ocean. Since I'm going to be in Puerto during the slow season can I expect to find similarly priced accommodations? Frisbee golfers of the world unite! Gunter [%sig%]
Hi, I'm planning a trip (in June) to PE to study Spanish and enjoy the beach--seems like a perfect combination. My only concern is (I know it sounds lame) the weather. I live in Washington, DC and know what hot and humid feels like--no fun! I'm just wondering what life with no AC is like. I would be living with a Mexican family (obviously no AC) and there is no AC at the beachfront language school. I am I nuts to even worry about this!? PE sounds like too much fun not to go! Thanks a lot!
Christine, I too will be there in June, as I have for several years now. There is a constant breeze from the ocean to keep you cool. However, there is a time during the day when you will be best served either in the shade or in the water. This is why some smart man or woman invented siesta time. See you soon.
dg [%sig%]
Why we edit: scrolled [%sig%]
I had the same idea, I contacted a regional carrier Aerotucan at their website & their rate was $95.00 OW, they were very helpful when I requested info. I see another respondent (Patti) may have found something less expensive with the $100.00 US, RT rate on AeroVega, I have not yet contacted them, but hope this info helps.
This past March we decided to take our Easter break in PE. Made a reservation at La Hacienda at the Rinconada and mailed my deposit. Within days of mailing it, I sent an e-mail cancelling the reservation. Sent three more e-mails over a three week period requesting a response and the return of my check. The response finally came after my check was cashed telling me their policy was not to refund or return deposits after a reservation had been made. I was not informed of this when I spoke to them about the reservation nor is this information on their website.
This business conduct is awfully unprofessional and extremely dishonorable. To wait until after my check was cashed before informing me of the policy is an out and out ripoff. How can they conduct business this way and call themselves professionals is unspeakable.
Otherwise had a great trip to PE staying at the Posada Real!
Here we go again.
Bruce, you are a fool to assume that the refund policies of your country are consistent with those in a developing country. You are a fool to send a deposit. You are a fool to slander these people in a forum where they are defenseless. You are a fool.
Can't wait for the barrage of indignant self righteous replies that always follow when a fool posts this rubbish. Save us all and go read the Older Visitors' comments.
The key words here are EASTER BREAK. Normally during this time period, once you've made your reservations, paid and then cancelled, they won't refund your money. Sorry but it's a common practice here over Christmas and Easter. Puerto books solid over this time period - unfortunately, the owners failed to clarify this with you at the time of booking. I think Stan is being quite harsh with you as many, many hotels here in Puerto accept deposits and refund cancellations (but not during Christmas or Easter) and you wouldn't be a fool whatsoever sending deposits to Mexico especially if the hotel is a reputable one. It happens everyday. I also didn't see you slandering "those poor people" who are defenseless - I'm know, without a doubt, that if the French owner of the Hacienda, Hubert Servat, had the time or interest to read this site, that he could quite easily hold his own. He's far from defenseless. I think the entire problem resulted from lack of communication due to a reservation made during one of the two highest tourist times of the year. The Servat family and the Hacienda are a wonderful addition to Puerto, very fine, honest and caring people. I'm sure the mistake of either the owner or the reservations secretary not to inform you of this seasonal policy was not intentional.
I just got a great monthly rate at Buenavista! Fridge, hot water, private balcony, maid service and convenient location. They´ve got some with kitchens as well!!!
Yeah, but if it's not high season, then why make a reservation? Except for those two all-so-brief periods, there's ALWAYS someplace to stay. All you do when you make a deposit is cement yourself into a place you know only from what you've read - or even less reliably, from what it was like last year. As I've said before, this is a very harsh environment and what was top notch this year may not be top-notch next - or may not have been LAST year. just depending on the maintenence budget. If it ain't Christmas or Easter, wait til you get there to decide where to stay.
Unhappy "#$&# with nothin better to do or say...hope he does´nt live in my paradise, Puerto Escondido!
Driving from I. de Matamoros, Pue. to PE was quite an experience, the time spent in PE made it all worth it. GOING After considerable research I decided to do the trip there in one day. I opted for the most direct route thinking that it would be roughly equal in travelling time when compared to the circuitous "cuota" only alternatives. My equipment was a Benito Juarez airport rented Nissan Tsuru without power anything. My itenirary took me down 190 libre to Huajuapan de Leon (2.5 hours) then onto 125 libre branching all the way down through Juxtlahuaca, then Putla finally ending at Pinotepa which marks the junction with 200 libre. You can count on a challenging 8 hour drive at 2000 plus meters with your ears popping throughout the trip. In order to negotiate the daunting mountain curves morbidly decorated with crosses for the unfortunates, I strongly recommend you: bring along your continually resando suegra, make sure your car doesn't have power steering and adopt a vigilant stance against the impromptu cow, horse, chivo or boulder you may find smack in the center of the next curve. Additional thoughts/info on 125 include: not too may bad potholes and NEVER even consider driving this road at night. Anyways, once our fellowship reached Pinotepa we hit a massive huelga of the maestros blocking 200 on both ends of the town. This adventure delayed us for two hours before we could get back on the road (200) for the final 2 hour trip to PE. BTW all the roads mentioned so far are one lane highways that go through towns, have topes and are for the most part decently paved (much better than Manhattan).
STAYING We stayed at the Villasol which is on Playa Bacocho. The hotel gets a B in my book: the staff was friendly/helpful/attentive, it has a nice beach club, showers have great water pressure but on the other hand the suites are poorly maintained (e.g. damaged furniture, not spanking clean/new looking) and poorly designed (e.g. closet doors blocked by huge beds and bedrooms don't have TVs). We recommend/did the following: lancha ride on the lagoon, lancha ride in the sea, eating at Los Tios while watching surfers, checking out Carizalillo, going to the turtle museum, night out at the Adoquin discos, cruising the Zicatela bar scene and buying food at the Ahorrara. For some reason we got a bad vibe from Puerto Angelito.
LEAVING We decided to make our way back over the span of two days buy staying overnight in Oaxaca. 131 libre north to Oaxaca(6 hours) wasn't as bad as 125 on the way south. Oaxaca was a cool city, cool in layout/vibe and cool in temperature/weather. Over the two (half) days we checked out some churches, the Cathedral, a couple museums and ended it all by loading up on some typical barro negro. We made it back home in 6 hours by taking the cuota to the Nochixtlan exit and then back onto 190 libre for the final leg.
Hope the above information helps folks to plan their trips to beautiful PE.
How's the surfing?
Estella and Charles, Thanks for the report,we must have been there at the same time, it truley is a speacial place and I love it, did you get a big lightning storm on wednesday the 14th Was that not the biggist mexican flag you have seen ? sonrisas jay
The owner was French, well, that says it all......
Hi, Can you tell me about this language school? I have been on Oaxaca, Puerto Angel, Zipolite and Puerto Escondido.
Is the language school in PE a good school? What are the hours of instruction and what is the cost? Where is it located in PE? Thanks.
[%sig%]
Kristine, I was in Puerto in March 2003 it was great I speak very little Spanish and I had no problem. I have been to the tourist traps in Mexico and I will never go back now that I have found PE it is beautiful and the Mexican people were wonderful. Don't waste a trip someplace else go to PE you won't regret it. Beaches are beautiful. If you go check out Carmen's bakery great breakfasts real cheap. If you have any questions let me know. Ross Vancouver, Canada
Russ, what do mean by that statement. Please explain. T.
Charles, I am glad you liked the trip. I told you, it is very beautiful scenery on the way through the sierras. It is good you had the guts to take the sierra route. It is hard work but sure worth it. In my days Hgwhy 125 was the posthole road. I had to take a full stop every 100 yards.
I drive down to P.E. aprox 3-4 times( from D.F.) a year and always take another route. This summer I may try 125 again.
In a couple of years the cuota-tollway from Oaxaca to the coast will be terminated.It will certainly give better access tp P.E. and other coastal cities but I think I will still prefer the more adventerous and challenging mountain roads.
Glad you had a great time. T.
Kneejerk beetle-browed redneck crap.
You know, I used to love froggie bashing up until they were on the right side of the latest bit of US Imperialism in the MidEast and the elephants began bashing the French. Now I gotta change those jokes into Belg jokes. J'taime Frances!
I just wanted to thank you for this internet sight , It sure helps to keep the dreams alive here in the states and also provides us with valuable information on our vacation decisions, as well as getting to know characters like chicago frank thanks again lovo
Red-Flagged Frogs The punishment begins.
ou have to hand it to Big Dog. He knows how to hit 'em where it hurts. As WFB pointed out in a recent column, the French are most vulnerable in their pride. Gallic pride - based on a past growing distant, grasping for any present reality - is a rather delicate illusion. In the past few weeks, Mr. Rumsfeld made two decisions that both galled the Gauls. The important one is about Red Flag and Cope Thunder.
Uncle is the sponsor of the two air war-games that anyone who is: (a) a good guy; and (b) serious about having an air force needs to attend. Red Flag - next scheduled for March '04 - is the bigger of the two. Held at Nellis AFB in Nevada (yes, Andrew, where Area 51 is, but not usually over it) Red Flag tests and develops tactics. The fly-guys get to do air-combat maneuvering at supersonic speed, and the threats that test their skills are unmatched except in combat. There you find the Aggressor Squadron, a highly experienced bunch of airborne pirates whose principal duty is to study how our guys fight, and find ways to defeat them in ACM. The Aggressors fly everything from our stuff to the latest aircraft of other nations whose birds fall into our hands by defection and, ah, otherwise. Surface-to-air-missile threats are very realistic, and lotsa classified stuff goes on. These days, Nellis runs the Predator and Global Hawk UAVs, so they're part of the exercise too. The French air force has traditionally been on the limited invitation lists for Red Flag and its smaller cousin, Cope Thunder (which follows Red Flag by a few months and is held in Alaska). So when Rumsfeld told the Frenchies they were disinvited to both Red Flag and Cope Thunder, their air-force guys were shocked. Being excluded from the best war games sends two unmistakable messages. First, we don't need you. Second, we don't want you. Capiche? Less important but still fun is Rumsfeld's action on the Paris Air Show, one of the highlights of the business/political social season. One of the most elaborate parties in the world, the Paris Air Show is where the major nations' air forces and commercial aircraft manufacturers strut their stuff. Russian MiGs, French Mirages, and American F-15s and F-16s have always been the headline entertainment, with pretty cool aerobatic displays. The Paris show is one of the few occasions that industry, the military, the pols, and the press can get together legally. The parties are elaborate, and the "chateaux" rented by the exhibitors are where businessmen and politicians can accomplish much in a little time. Not this year.
This year, American military aircraft will be on display, but none will fly. And no American officer above the rank of colonel will attend. So the Paris social season will have far fewer bits of gossip about those ill-mannered cowboys who flew into Paris in all those smelly old aircraft. Our aircraft manufacturers will squawk about lost chances for foreign sales of aircraft, but anyone who wants the stuff that just kicked butt in Afghanistan and Iraq knows where to find it. In places such as Fort Worth, St. Louis, and Seattle, thank you very much. Or at the Farnborough Air Show next year in Britain. The USAF will be there with bells on, and all the guys with stars on their shoulders will have a year of absence to make up for in politicking. This year, the American presence - and the lack of rank in it - at Paris will serve as a powerful and understated reminder of our scorn for the French. American combat aircraft - the usual assortment of F-15 Eagles, the F/A-18 Hornets, F-16 Falcons, the B-2s and maybe even the F-117s - will sit on the runway while the others caper aloft. Like the gold medallists who watch the consolation game to see who finishes third and fourth, our quiet war birds will speak loudly. Parlez vous francais? Who the hell cares? - Jed Babbin was a deputy undersecretary of defense in the first Bush administration, and is the author of the novel, Legacy of Valor. He often appears as a defense commentator on the Fox News Channel and MSNBC.
I couldn't even read through that, Barry. Perhaps it is mis-placed here. It's certainly wasted on me.
Barry, I agree with Stan. Try SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE ! T.
You know, after the invasions of Czeckoslovakia and Poland, the German people showed much of the same pride now being exibited by the miore ignorant segments of the American populace. Lessee, we have a leader put in office by voter fraud in his brother's state, appointing a fanatic toi attorney general more concerned with covering the tits on a government statue than in following up reports that Saudis were learning to fly jetliners but not to land or take off, then using the fear caused by the Saudi attack on New York to limit freedoms (Patriot Acts I and II), drummong up a patriotic war against a country totally uninvolved in the attacks on New York, and then using the whole thing to promote the 2004 elections. The French don't have enough sense to be quivering in their boots over the power of the only superpower left, so they are ridiculed for telling the truth.What a sad, sick world. Guess what: the polls indicate most of the Mexican populace was in agreement with the French and the Germans on the current imperialistic moves by our appointed chief executive.
Tuna, Go to brian@puertoschool.com for information about the language school.
David [%sig%]
add us canadians to the list.we can see right through you yanks!
English peegs - zut alors, we fart in your general direction !
You ever get the feeling that the US spooks have something rather devastating on Tony Blair? He not only goes along with everything the Shrub does, he did the same with Slick Willie. It can't just be that the house of Windsor is one of the big three shareholders of the Carlyle Group, along with Bush Sr and the Bin Ladin family (check it out, that's a demonstrable fact.)
Where's my hammock?
I'd rather talk about La Hacienda.
Wow !! That took La Hacienda off the sports page. Viva La France ?
swells started in febuary or march and are still pumping...epoch year!
I love P.E., wish I were there right now,but I'm not, and I've got the bad habit of reading newspapers,listening to NPR, and staying at least somewhat aware of what's going on the the non-P.E. world,SO, escape as we may when we can, the fact remains our tax dollars(soon to be lowered by about $20 a year, thank your very much W) are paying for the adventures of Rumsfeld, Cheney, and the gang. So, well said, John W.
My husband and i have been on this site for weeks and it has been one of the most interesting ever. We can hardly wait ,thanks to tomzap muchos gracias e saludos de toronto
Pop quiz , where is the largest flag in P.E. located? and what is its size. aprox.
missing zicatela lovo
The army base. Big as a bus.
I suppose I wasn't paying much attention at the time, but I booked a flight that won't arrive in Huatulco until 8:45 at night. I assume it will be pitch dark at that time. In years past I simply ignored the suburban driving taxis and walked to the road to catch a bus to Pochutla and then another to Puerto. Now I am wondering if this is possible. Any ideas? Schedule of buses? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to stand on the side of the road in the dark. David [%sig%]
Especially if it is raining, as it seems to be (hallelujah) according to the Mexican weather satellite.
[%sig%]
Perhaps as big as a bus with a cargo of head cheese on board, per smegma.
Buses of one sort or another run down that highway til really late, but less frequently. On the other hand, you could flag down a collectivo cab on the highway going between La Crucecita and Pochutla; maybe bargain for a ride all the way in once he dumps the other passenjeros....
I would take it onto La Cruzsita , stay at el griffer and eat at los portales, then head out to P.E. the next day lovo
I totally agree...spend the night in huatulco...even if you pay in the airport it is about 75 pesos...then head out to pto by bus in the early am....bus fare is about 50 pesos...so that is not a bad deal. Posada Michelle which is right down the street from the bus depot (next to estrella blanca station) should have reasonably priced rooms as well. After a long flight it is nice to have the break before travelling on to pto.
Does anyone know anything about the new hostel A La Casa run by Canadien Bob? Location, accommodations, price, amenities, etc...? Also, has Brad opened up the Split Coconut yet. I owe a plate of ribs for a less than savvy wager. Thanks in advance. see y'all next week. Peace.
David [%sig%]
A la casa is at the bottom of ´las brisas´(2nd entrance to zicatela) Brad has closed up the Marinero Split and is taking it easy at home at the point
David, Thanks for the info.
OT: Did you ever work for an online brokerage firm?
No, but I play one in my imagination. Hopefully I'll see you soon. Have you decided where you're staying yet? That's the big decision I'm mulling over at this point.
David [%sig%]
Las Brisas? Drawing a blank. I do that a lot, likely from too many visits to Mexico. Do they have a website or phone number? Thanks beat. dg [%sig%]
¨Las Brisas¨is the name of the 2nd paved road running from Zicatela > hiway
Another pair of demonstable factoids...1. 65% of "retired" (expatriate) Iraqis live in France...ahem...we´re not talking about óld age security´types!!!...2... After the Gulf War and subsequent embargos Iraq needed a legitimate and solvent buyer for their oil and the French jumped at the price!!! US$10/barrel less than OPEC prices!!! Chew those bits and bites! Sabor!!!!!
Where are the WMD? I think they have had plenty of time to find something and they have found nothing. If the weapons were there something would have turned up by now I would think. I think in the new "Vanity Fair" Wolfowitz (sorry about the spelling) says that the only reason the "cabal" (Bushs' inside, take over the world team) could agree on to take to the people was the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" fairy tale and now it has been shown that there is no WMD and it was only a ploy for Bush to get back at Hussein for what he did to Bushs' old man. The "coalition of the willing" are pissed off and the United Nations countries that said "No way" are saying "I told you so" and the red necks are saying "So what. We can do anything we want and who is going to do anything about it". Asscroft is ripping the constitution to pieces and the followers are saying "that is what you have to do to". For me it is all very depressing. The only light at the end of the tunnel is I hope this will be the downfall of Bush. If only the Dems can get it together to find somebody electable. PB
Calle Las Brisas. Brad told me he was going to take a couple, three weeks off and get back to it. That was a couple, three weeks ago so he should be opening soon unless the hammock is just too comfy. PB
David, that decision will affect the rest of your life. Do not make it lightly. PB
Yes, thank you very much! This site has been invaluable in helping me decide where to go and how to plan my trip
PB, I had no idea. I will take this matter more seriously from now on. I've had lots of offers from people that will rent me this or that for 100 pesos a day but I'm holding out for the ""deal". (Its amazing when you consider that we are talking about $10.) Silly really. I just want a place with a bed, a table, a chair, a reading light and a fan. A bathroom attached would be nice but not at all necessary. I don't typically do a lot of hanging out in my room during the day. "Broker" Dave [%sig%]
Hurray! Frisbee golfers of the world unite! [%sig%]
Hi Gunter; if the split is open? Say hi to Brad and Edwardo(spelling?) from Kokanee for me. They will know exactly who I am. Spent six weeks in PE this past Feb./March. Lots of Frisbee golf was played in that time period. Have fun!
Mike!? My long lost buddy Mike? Finally. I heard you landed in santa Fe and that was that. E-mail me directly when you get a chance. topgoon1@juno.com David [%sig%]
I nominate John Williams dg [%sig%]
Thanks, David, but I inhaled frequently and in crowds.
Then I second that emotion.....
[%sig%]
Wendy, I'll be spending the first three weeks of August in PE... how are you travelling down there? My mates and I are still figuring that out...
It might be hot but it might not be. It may rain and then again it may not. There might be bugs but who knows? Maybe a hurricane? Possible but you never know. Earthquakes happen in August but as you may know (being from L.A.) they also happen at any time. I will say though, with some certainty, that the sun will come up in the east and set in the west (generally). The water will be wet although the temp. is not certain and the sand will be sandy. It will be humid. It may be just like D.C. Have fun and see you there. PB
Checking the weather page, it's been hotter here in Austin than on the Oaxacan coast.
Here is a link for sunset times ,http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Puerto+Escondido%2C+Mexico
Here's another option: http://www.sidewayz.com/gallery/12honkeys/pages/HITCHHIKE.htm
This has truly been one of the best 'exchanges' on this site in recent memory. That said,... I am missing PE. It's been 3 years since my last visit. In addition, I have to agree with Stan and John. I find it sadly amusing that so many posts, specifically from American tourists, casually refer to all manner of 'unfair treatment', 'rip-offs', 'too pricey' accomodations and restaurants, etc. Maybe I am crazy, but my experiences have all been so positive AND unbelievably incredible bargains. I have always been happy to pay whatever is required...at restaurants, hotels, taxis...to help keep this fragile economy moving. That people, with the good fortune to travel to, and enjoy this beautiful paradise, feel entitled to cheap food, cheap hotels, cheap beer, cheap transportation et al, is very telling. I am not at all saying that a good bargain or good value is undesirable, but 'good fortune' and 'entitlement' are worlds apart. In regard to Third World economies, you can take that literally. Have a 'fairly priced' cervesa for me. I hope to see you in PE this winter.
Considering the last few days here in Texas... probably wetter too.
Bugs - earthquakes - hurricanes - banditos... I'll take 'em all on. Just give me a few hours of nice swell and some fresh fish and I'll be content. Can't wait for August to get here - makes it difficult to get through the doldrums of the day-to-day... soon, very soon.
Brian, I think that "entitled" might be an overstatement. I don't think that anyone thinks that they are entitled to the things you mentioned. On the other hand, they expect to receive good value for their peso and appreciate the difference in prices between Puerto and the major tourist destinations. Oddly enough, I can recall very few complaints about rip-offs and unfair treatment on this site. Rather, there are mostly positive comments about P.E. Not all Americans are ugly.
Hey Chaz, fair enough. I referred to casual remarks. Between the lines stuff. Even the person who felt they had to let the world know about their "unspeakable" treatment by La Hacienda, closed by saying they had a great time staying at the Posada Real. Get it?
I just got a weather report "from the horse's mouth" so to speak. Some rain but after it stopped tonight it is very hot and humid. No breeze. Bugs. I say "so what. Get me bacl down there". Bring on the Ahi. Bring on the waves. Bring me some mole. And a cold one. PB
Hi Texas Rog, I'll be taking the bus from Oaxaca City, but if it's raining, I may not spend too much time there at all. I need sun, my skin is starting to turn grey and I'm seriously Vitamin-D deficient.
What do you consider a great monthly rate?
We don't need no education.
We don't need no thought control.
Just fill it up...it's your libation.
gasoline...petro...its your call.
All in all its just a brick in the crawl.
Edgar allen Poe
Less than 3,000 pesos a month for a house with kitchen and a balcony overlooking the ocean with a stellar view.
[%sig%]
I am beginning to plan a trip - arriving in Oaxaca City and ending up in Puerto Escondido. What are my options regarding transportation from Oaxaca to P.E.? Please include approximate pricing and travel time. Thanks in advance.
Where David? A pool would be nice too and throw in a maid. Maybe a VW for the trip to the market after a morning a perfect tubes? PB
Find the Suburban. Look on this site down a few threads. I think less than 200 pesos and about 5 hours. a/c. The only way to go these days unless money is no problem. Then the plane. The plane. Hundred bucks each way. Mas o menos. You are too old for the bus. Although it is a good adventure. Cheap too. You could stop in San Jose del Pacifico. Think hongos. It would be a fantastic stop in the rainy season. Otherwise travel thru Sola de Vega. PB
I had no idea you could get all that for 3,000 pesos. Could the maid be cute too? [%sig%]
I am thinking hongas.
[%sig%]
Up dating Ben Franklin (the man not the bill) "Hongos are constant proof that god loves us"...
Cause the honga tells me so.....
[%sig%]
whats a honga ?
mushroom [%sig%]
Like "Alice in Wonderland"?
Like "Alice in Wonderland"!!
With a French uniform.
Yeah, the porno version from the late '70's...
I'd make sure and mess the room up a lot to keep her busy.
[%sig%]
it was 1989 sept. 25 , a day I will never forget. to see as god sees , you must eat the flesh of god rock on lovo
Its official. I'm on vacation. See everyone tomorrow.
Gunter [%sig%]
Safe trip, Dave.
I had a similiar day that I've never forgotten. Yet, strangely, i can't remember much of it either!!!
now now
I'm heading that way in early August '03 - do you recommend any budget lodging in PE? Also, are you familiar with Puerto Angel? thank you
I'll be down that way in August as well. Do you know of any good cheap lodging?
Hi, there Can anyone tell me which are the best night life spots (bars, discos-if any- beach bars,etc) in Puerto Escondido?, What kind of people they attract? (teenagers, hippies, locals, just plain drunks, etc?) Thanks Charles
Ryan, You might check another thread on this board (I think it is tagged "Off season...". Dave said he got a good monthly rate at BuenaVista (less than 3,000 pesos a month). I don't know how long you plan to stay but that seems pretty good. Also not sure what you are looking for or what is important to you or even what cheap means to you.
I'll also be in PE for the month of August (arriving on or about Aug. 6 or 7). Maybe we should have a party for all of those of us who don't know enough to visit in the winter when the weather up north is its worst and we'd get the most benefit from the PE sun.
Good luck on your search for inexpensive lodgings. This is my umteenth trip to Mexico but my first to PE so I'm sorry that I can't be of more help.
Karen
Ryan - I will probably stay at the Mayflower Hotel and Youth Hostel
Hi, My buddy and I plan to stay in Puerto Escondido from December 26 to January 8, can anyone recomend a place with parking (we are driving our own car), hot water, kitchen/kitchenette and walking distance to the Adoquin/Playa Marinero?. And also, where is the place/spot to be during New Year's evening? Javier
We will be spending about three weeks in Puerto starting the last week in June. We'll be bringing a couple of digital cameras. We would like to know if it is possible to gain access to a pc with a cd burner. If we can save our photos to cd, we can shoot all the pix we wish at the highest resolution, not concerning ourselves with the limitations of the compact flash memory.
Any assistance will be appreciated.
[%sig%]
We are lamenting....Gina Machorro is on vacation! (Well deserved, of course) Hopefully, someone can help us.
We would like to take Spanish lessons while in Puerto starting the last week of June and lasting for about three weeks. Any ideas about resources? Thanks in advance for the help.
[%sig%]
Last year when we were in PE, we ate breakfast several times at a tiny restaurant wedged between two buildings uphill on Perez Gasga, before the highway 200 intersection (El Crucero). The female owner gives english and spanish lessons, right there in the restaurant. I dont know her name or if the restaurant even has a name, but she spoke excellent English and was very nice. The cafe is very basic but has a great morning breeze and tasty mexican breakfasts.
Wish I was there. *sigh* [%sig%]
The best place to recieve spanish lesson in Puerto Escondido is undoubtedly El Instituto de Linguajes run by an young amercan guy by the name of Brian Vander Koof. He has a website (address?) and offers very reasonable rates for Spanish classes. Also we offer package deals for Spanish students at our hotel through the Institute. We can have teachers give you classes from the hotel if you want. The name of our hotel is Villas Carrizalillo, website www.villascarrizalillo.com, and we have ten units that sit cliffside overlooking the beautiful Playa Carrizalillo. For more information and availibility contact me at this e-mail address or at our website.
Thanks Ed Mitchell Owner Villas Carrizalillo
We have a PC and a Cd burner at Villas Carrizalillo, so if you stay there you can have access to it.
Ed Mitchell Villas Carrizalillo
Funny You were worrying about PE not being touristy enough for an nonenglish speaker. I've been 3 times, 1976,78 and 1980 -when no restraunts I visited had floors (only sand) and i slept in a hammock in an RV park and on my last trip , in a $10 per night hotel on the beach ,and even then not speaking spanish was no problemo! I would love to go back again, now with my kids but I'm afraid that I'll be bummed out with how touristy it has gotten!!
Anybody know how long Gina will be on vacation? Hopefully, she will be back by August. I was looking forward to meeting her.
Karen
Jenny, P.E. is still a sweet place, very laid back, though I am sure much different from what it was in '80. Try Peurto Angel for a little less finished off. By all means take your kids!
OK - first time visitor has already heard the obvious... sunscreen, bug repellent, dramamine...
for those of you who have been there for a while - or made a few trips... what can be brought down from the States which will brighten someone's day - or have some value at the market? Be it a certain brand of peanut butter, allergy medicine, or all of the above - if you could ask someone to bring "---" to you, what would it be? I'm planning on shipping a box of books and other supplies down a few weeks before my extended vacation... perhaps I can take some orders for a few ex-pats... Rog [%sig%] Post Edited (06-17-03 00:15)
According to the person who answered her phone, she will return July 1st.
[%sig%]
Hey, Rog, how about some toys & clothes & medical supplies for the good folks at Piña Palmera in Zipolite? The newer place, Nuevo Amancer in Huatulco, is starting to get some largess from visitors, but Piña Palmera is a little harder to get to - and has been serving handicaped Oaxacan childrten for SUCH a long time...Check their website & e-mail them about specific needs. You can link to their pages from the main menu. Hey, visit the turtle museum while you're over that way...
a water pump for my jeep
la papaya disco in huatulco is the place to be new years
Most hotels are full during new years evening, so don't be so picky about so many requirements.
And the place to be during new year is TEQUILA's Karla
Driving in Mexico: I always take the toll roads, even if they are expensive, about $50 each way from Laredo to Mexico city plus another $30 to Oaxaca(each way, too) Gas prices are about $2.70 to 2.90 a gallon for the "extra" (93 octane). depending on the Mexican Peso.
Always take fuel inyector/engine cleaner with you. I took the long way from Oaxaca to P. Escondido freeway 175 that is 45 more miles than the 135 fwy, assuming that the latter was in poor condition. I just read in this thread that it is in decent shape.
I will be there in about 2 months again, so please somebody tell me about the 135 fwy if it has lots of "topes" and if it is fully paved.
Thank you Karla
Dear Kind People: I posted this on the Oaxaca page but am posting it here as well, since many of you are well travelled in Mexico. I am wondering if any of you who have attended a previous years' Guelaguetza in Oaxaca would mind giving me your opinion of the value of this celebration. There are a few tickets left in toward the rear of the amphitheater and I am wondering if this event is "worth" the 350 pesos. Obviously many think it is. So let me phrase this another way. Is this celebration a refection of the cultural diversity of different ethnic people? Is it authentic? Or has it become commercialized (i.e., rent a room in town get tickets, etc.)? Also, I am also curious if there is a value in being around the amphitheater. You know, hang out but don't go in (Dead Show?). The costumes, people watching, etc.? Is it permitted? If I have offended anyone it was unintentional.
Thanks in advance, Mark
If anyone down in Pto. (o de milagro misma Dona Rebeca) reads this and knows Rebeca Castro, please ask her to email us. We hope to be down in July. Jorge y Margarita
Somebody was asking about Brad and the The Split Coconut and he has finally reopened in a different location. It is at the Hotel Jardin Real in Bococho. Any taxi driver will know where it is. Brad is serving the same stuff and everything is as good as it ever was. Also the bar at Hotel Jardin Real has a pool and a swim up bar where you can order drinks and food. Not a bad place to be on a hot afternoon. PB
There is a new bar in Bococho at the Hotel Jarden Real. It has a swim up bar and two restaurants. One of the restaurants is The Split Coconut. The Split Coconut is a popular BBQ place that has moved from Playa Marinaro. The bar has ladies happy hour from 2:00 - 4:00 pm Tues and Thurs. Girls of the female persuasion drink FREE. They close kind of early (around 10:00 pm) but it sounds like a good place to start out. PB
Go. Take the kids. Puerto is as good as it was in the late seventies. In fact it may be better. While there may be more people it has spread out a little but it is still the same funky place it was. Now more people hang out on Zicatela than when you were there. I believe there was nothing on Zicatela when you were there last in 1980. The growth has not been the PuertoVallarta type sickness that you might have visions of. Most of the floors are now cement and the main tourist street is now paved with bricks. Most of the people that go to the tourist mall (The Adoquin which was the main hangout place in the seventies and eighties) though, are Mexican tourists as the gringos mostly hang on Zicatela. Go. You will not be disappointed. PB
Hey, I will be going to Oaxaca in the last week of August 03. Maybe we could link up there or something? How are your plans coming so far? I've just started browsing for places ... have any info that could help? Please email Thanks, Anthony
The Tres Diablos in Puerto's tourist strip is nice around 10:00ish but then most people go to Zicatela--most people being surfer-partier crowd. It is a good time but the walk from the tourist drag to Zicatela can be hell if you are really drunk..so I've heard..
What's Brad doing at Bococho? Is that the end of Frizzbe golf? It seems like too far away from the normal locall? Glad to hear he's doing alright but don't like that location?
Frisbee Golf is still alive and well. You can find Brad at his new location from 2-10 pm Tues-Sunday. Closed Monday Dave <http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Brian was my surfguide last year. His website (www.puertoschool.com) has all the info you will need. Brian is a great guy, and Im sure you will have a great time with him. His spanish students all seemed to think that he was a great teacher...
-chris [%sig%]
Hello again..Does anyone know an email address for Arco Iris? Thank you!
When in P.E. make sure you take one ride on the little blue collectivo trucks marked BARRA, and if you are lucky it will be full and you will get to stand on the bumper will hanging on to the side, and all for 35 cents its the best senor lovo
I can not say enough positive things regarding El Instituto de Lenguajes and its director Brian Vander Kooy. My son was enrolled there last year and took classes over a three month period. When he entered the school his Spanish was limited to what he had learned growing up on the border. I am proud to say that he now can hold his own anywhere in Mexico and has been asked several times where did he learn to speak such good Spanish? During his instruction he studied with several teachers at the institure. He claimed that all of them were easy to learn from. I would suggest Brian and his school to anyone.
Saludos, Bruce Miller Earle
Estoy vendiendo un terreno en Rinconada y vivo en Monterrey, no me es posible viajar solo para tomar las fotos digitales y busco a alguien que me pueda hacer el favor de tomarlas, de el terreno y de los alrededores, así como de la bajada hacia Carrizalillo. El terreno está en la esquina de Delfines y Focas en Rinconada es de 13 X 33 aprox. ¿Saben de alguna página que tenga un mapa reciente de Puerto? En todos los que encuentro no aparece Rinconada y otros fraccionamientos. Gracias por su atención.
hola, ...
Como agente de Bienes Raices (desgraciadamente vivo en Las Vegas) te digo que haz las cosas por ti mismo y te sugiero que vayas a tomar las fotos en persona y tu mismo hagas el mapa para llegar a tu terreno. Experiencia propia habla. Y jamas he visto un mapa detallado de Puerto Escondido. Quizas tu seas quien sea el primero en elaborarlo.
Mucha suerte.
Charles
Hi, my friends: thank you for your advice. I know that Puerto Escondido is more for surfers an people that take life less seriously than me and therefore they are happier (I think).
I have been there 2 times (the last one about 17 years ago) and I remember the nightlife being so good and relaxed...so full of friendly people. (I am 35 and still in that stuff).
So please, keep telling me more, I do really appreciate it.
Charles Viva Puerto escondido...
Saludos, Tenemos un negocio aqui en Puerto de Bienes Raices y podemos ayudarse con la venta de su propiedad. Tenemos disponible una camera digital para tomar fotos de su propiedad. Puede visitar nuestra sitio, www.zicatelaproperties.com, en la Internet para ver quien somos nosotros y nuestra negocio. Si hay preguntas, estamos aqui para tratar a dar las respuestas propias. Adios, Vicki Cole Zicatela Properties
I found this email address in one of their ads - arcoiris@hotel-arcoiris.com.mx. Phone/fax is 52-954-582-0432 if you don't get a response. When you email, address it to Rebecca, the manager. Good luck!
A couple of years ago, about 12 of us took an already full collectivo to south of PE to a little "fabrica mescal." Looking back, the experience of the trip in the back of the truck, meeting the grandfather-father-and-son operation, seeing the burro that pulled the huge stone which mashed the agave hearts, sampling some home brewed product, buying a bottle which we still have in our liquor supply and which tastes much better now than it did then, and then trying to flag down another collective for the ride back to P.E. is one of our favorite stories.
I think one of the reasons we like P.E. so much is that it is rich in those kind of experiences if you are willing to immerse yourself in the experience.
I can hardly wait to get back next January.
Dave [%sig%]
now we're talken Dave.. its all about the experince , that moment, that face, that stays with you forever, viva mexico lovo
When traveling to and from the Adoquin at night while hammered it is always a good idea to take a taxi. They don't cost more than a cocktail and the safety factor should be a big consideration. You could always twist your ankle and maybe break it if you were to step in a hole or something....The Wipe Out Bar seems to be popular with the late night crowd as well ....So I have heard. PB
Here is weather update for anybody who is interested. June has been pretty rainy and "God it's hot I sure wish it would rain to cool things off" has been replaced with "Is it ever going to stop raining?" Tropical storm Carlos is hanging right on top of us and it has been raining hard for two days now. Except for last night there has not been very much wind. Last night there was wind but it was not a huge blow as it is capable of doing when these storms are around. Of course that could all change in a matter of minutes. This storm should be leaving soon but as it has been stationary for a couple days now so who knows when it will leave for sure. This year we seem to be right in the storm path that has passed below us for the last few years. As school is about to get out for the summer the hope is (unless you are a farmer, I guess) that these storms will start to track further south. All the dirty water is getting washed into the ocean so that is somewhat brown. That will change, though, after it stops raining for a day or two. For the most part the roads are holding up but there is a lot of debris and mud and puddles. Who knows what is happening in the mountains. I would guess there are a few rock slides but past experience has showed me that somehow the roads stay open even if one is forced to take it a little slower. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is that after every heavy down pour or storm there is a new hatching of different bugs. One time it is ants the next time it may be wasps and then butterflies and after that these things they call chiquetanas. People actually gather these things up and pull the wings off and cook them up and call it a meal. Aw, the cuisine of Oaxaca. Of course everything is incredibly green now. In fact it's a jungle out there. Another thing that amazes me is how fast all the brown stuff changes color. It realy only takes less than a week of good wetness to make all the dried out stuff grow new things and only a few days after that to have the growth go out of control and then the machetes come out. Talking about watching the grass grow!! If only my hair would react to water the way that the vegetation does. There are not as many people walking around and I can only guess there is a lot of cabin fever. For me it is almost time to rent a video or six and kick back and drink. Just think, The Day of the Taxi is coming up so I guess there is something to look forward to. PB Oh, It looks like it is clearing up.
Good one P.B. I enjoyed that. I was there for a moment. (I am sitting in a cubicle in the middle of corp. America). I would really like to get down there during the summer months, but when you live in Wisconsin, vacation is best spent while the snow is falling...Have fun.
Thanks Vicki! You've answered both my questions. I appreciate it. M.
right on .. right on tanks PB gg
Hey Billy, that sounds like excellent advise.
Thanks for taking the time to give a glimmer of life in lovely Puerto Escondido during the rainy season, I enjoyed your report very much and hope to experience this time of year there one year.
I'm still pretty sure I'd take rainy in PE as opposed to hot and sticky in Austin Texas... bugs and wetness doesn't really matter when you're able to watch the sun set over the ocean now does it?
I think that the Tequila was the best nightspot some 2 years ago, I don't know if it is still open.
Have a great trip Julia& Chucho
The week of chrismas to new years is always busy. But we always have rooms if we know you are coming. There are parties all over Tequila Sunrise is a good place to bring in the new year.Steve the Hotel Ben-Zaa
Plus it's always nice on a hot, humid, rainy day to ride up to San Jose del Pacifico, where it's always cool, and take advantage of el tiempo de los hongos...
Do you know where I can park my car safely? I heard rumors of people breaking inside autos and stealing them.
Julia
mmmmmmm.... hongos. Can't wait.
Rog, I found a wondeful biography of Maria Sabinas at the Round Rock Half Price Books store the other day. It's in Spanish, but it gives a great new perspective on the whole mushroom cult. There were several copies on the shelf; the author is an Enrique González Rubio. If you decide to pick up a copy, I also suggest picking up a text on learning English for Spanish speakers; such make great gifts and/or mediums of exchange in the local barter system. And don't forget to go by Academy and buy a spool of 100 lb test fishing line; you'll leave a big smile on some panga captain's face with that one!
Thanks Bill, posts like yours are one of the reasons I check in here so often.
TEQUILA SUNRISE OPEN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR YOUR FIESTAS
Wipe Out is pretty good on the weekends. It is on the main strip. Across the road, Bar Fly do some pretty good cocktails and often it's 2 for 1, but Wipe Out certainly gets the bigger crowds.
Donal (Ireland)
Just a quick message to let you know we have stayed at Villas Carrizalillo twice and thoroughly enjoyed it. We didn't stay there last winter, but went by to have a look at all the changes. The place looks good and I recommend it.
I liked taking the Cristobal Colon bus when I lived in Oaxaca. If you travel at night you can take a Dramamin and sleep the whole way although the road does have a few curves. You'll save money on a hotel, catch a really bad movie dubbed in Spanish, relax in a comfortable chair, and have a tiny adventure. Take the 1st class bus, it's worth it. It has been about 5 years since I moved back to California but I think it takes about 7 or 8 hours on the bus. Of course the Suburbans are much faster.
Hi - I am trying to plan a cheap trip to Puerto Escondido with a friend in August. What are people's opinions on the best way to get there when I only have seven days total. Fly into Mexico City and take an overnight bus? I think that would be cheaper that flying into Oaxaca, but I can't find the bus fares. Any advice?
Try magicbus.com. Check the flights into Acapulco, too - sometimes that's cheaper than a flight into Mexico City.
Fly into Mexico City and then change planes and take the flight into Huatulco and from there take a cab to Puerto or fly into Mexico City and then overnight their and then into Puerto the next day. Rates aren't bad. Some people go to Reynosa and fly out of there for less than $400.00 round trip...
Boy is it hot. When is it going to rain? PB
Let me tell you about "Monte". We had some papers taken out of our car one night and the next day a guy brought them back and said he found them in the "monte". Monte is the stuff that grows on open land where nobody is living. You know the stuff on the side of the road or on the hills that you see when you drive by. I would ask somebody "Where do you go hunting?" and the guy would say "in the monte". Since it has been raining, my little piece of land has started to become overgrown with weeds and stuff. The kind of stuff that grows very fast in the tropics. The kind of stuff that you can watch grow. It's the reason you see so many guys walking around with machetes these days and why there are guys cutting the stuff growing in the neighborhood lots with their machetes. So I was talking to the guy who helps me in the yard. (His name is Guillermo who I call Bill. It is funny. I know a guy in the U.S. named Bill and I call him Guillermo. What is up with that anyway?) "Yea, the monte is getting pretty high" Bill (Guillermo) says. So now the monte is weeds and stuff growing in my yard. Ok. I have tried to swing the machete for a while and I can tell you that it is very hard work. Oh, it's not so bad for a little while but I can't believe these guys that swing this thing all day long. It is nothing less than amazing. If I do it for an hour I am completely soaked in sweat and my muscles are twitching and I am about ready to throw up. These guys keep going and going and don't even break a sweat. I decided to get out the Weed-Whacker (now the Monte-Whacker) because I have tried the machete thing and I can not do it. I'm the kind of guy who sweats just by breathing down here because it is hot and humid. While talking to Bill I was dripping sweat because I was not only breathing, I was talking. I also can not wear long pants here because of the heat. I have a pair of nice pants and Levis that I keep here in case there is an occasion to wear them but in 3-4 years I have never put them on. So I monte-whack in shorts. I do wear eye protection because past experience has shown me that pulling twigs and glass and rocks and grass out of my eyes is painful and time consuming to say nothing about the permanent damage to my eyesight. Well, I monte-whack for about an hour and get about as much done as theses guys with machetes get done in a day. But I pay the price. My legs look like a Chia Pet. About an inch thick with "debris". They are bleeding from all the stones and sticks and thorns and bug bites that were hammering away at my legs while I was monte-whacking. What a mess. It is nothing that a few Band Aids will not take care of. At least my eyes where ok, except that there was so much stuff on the goggles that I could not see very well. I think I cut some little papaya plants and some flowers and maybe some banana and palm trees. At least I think there were some of those things down there that are not there now. It's ok though because I have some seedlings that Bill has helped me plant (read: Bill planted for me) that are growing nicely but have some little weeds starting to grow in the bags. I asked Bill to pull the weeds out of the Bags and he says "Oh, You mean the monte?" "Yea Bill, pull out the monte" I tell him. So "monte" seems to be anything that was not planted but grows anyway. PB
PB, What you need is a good Juan Venado riding monte mower with a retractable beer holder.
Great little tale of life in Puerto, Bill, please keep 'em coming.
Good Day Mr. Puerto Bill I was in your lovely town last month<the week of mothers day to be exact> and everyday I would go the market and buy some fish and then take it over to the kithen RENA and they would cook it for me. and almost everyday these two tall anglo older gentelmen would walk by ,I was wondering if maybe one of these men where you., any way I was amazed at how happy all the people in the market were < content with good life there land provides> so I started taking pictures of them and have produced a small book I call Sonrisas de Puerto, i was wondering how i could this book back to these people. any thoughts ?and if you are in the market sometime stop by the kitchen RENA and tell Jose and his familly that Jay from texas says Hello and the book is ready , I made a post on these page called A school of Sardinas, just tring to stay connected Thanks P.B.
jay/lovo
Hey, lovo, how about a link to those pictures? Hidden Port Smiles. Nice. Hey, PB, don't you get invited to quinceñeras? The perfect place for your long pants. Perhaps I should amend that to sat "long trousers" so that no one thinks you are panting excessively around all the beautiful little girls... Juan Guillermos
Please explain further about flying from or to Reynosa, Thanks
Phyllis, if you live in Texas it may be worth going across the border and fly domestic from either Reynosa, N.Laredo or Matamoros via Mex-City to P.E. or Huatulco. Check the Aeromexico or Mexicana webs for fares. If you live in any other state with US-Mex border check for next Mex-airport across the border. (Mexicali, Tijuana, Cd. Juarez, Nogales, etc,) T.
Thanks for the info but I live in Chgo and it's tough and expensive to get to Puerto from here.
John W., you forgot the hyphen. It's magic-bus.com. Most bus links are in Spanish so it really helps if you can speak/read some. Rita, there is no cheap way to get to PE when you only have a week to spend. Sorry. Phyllis, I have an amigo (Steve of the Hotel BenZaa) leaving by bus from near Chi to Loredo ($79.00 one way) then to PE via Acapulco for about the same money. Timewise 60 hrs. +. The only thing cheaper is your thumb. Miguel Sucio
Phyllis, Try Mexicana Airlines .Mex-E-Saver fare. round trip from Chi to Mex city $245.00+ $95.00 tax.Then bus to PE.Take the straight thru if possible.Changing bus terminals in Acapolco is a pain.At bus & airport always search out Sitto taxi desk to get safest, cheapest deal. Relax.Adventures are just problems seen thru the rear view mirror. Wolf
Thanks for all of your advice. We are old coots and not very conducive to bus travel. But I was interested in the $245.oo plus tax to MC. Anybody tried to book Chgo to MC at that rate and then book MC to Puerto separately ? Right now from Chgo to Puerto thru Mexicana (we will be there for 7 weeks ) is $745.00 each.
Length of stay is the problem for the cheapest fares though two cheapies may work out for less than one full fare... Have you tried calling Gene and the folks at Vista World Travel? They can be real helpful on this stuff. They're linked through the Main Menu.
Any suggestions on a particular bus to take from Mexico City to PE? I've done bus trips longer than most weekends (42 hrs)... so I've got no problem (and WILL) pay a little extra for the top of the line bus.
we're going to be flying in, and would like to try and sort out our ticket before hand... not have to deal with citio's and everything once we get there....
some suggestions would be appreciated.... three weeks and counting...
[%sig%] Post Edited (07-07-03 14:46)
Fun stuff Bill, please keep these little dispatches coming.
Gracias por el consejo Charles, pero no soy agente de bienes raíces, de todos modos tienes la razón pero no puedo ir a tomarlas. De pasadita checa mi página www.zicatelaproperties.com Vicki Cole wrote:
No tomes en cuenta lo de Viky Cole wrote :
i suppose in your garage would be a safe place or a long term parking lot near an airport
Ever notice how pickpockets tend to work carnivals, fairs, and busy city streets? Large numbers of people offer not only a lot more potential victims but also a greater chance at annonymity.Similarly, when the CRUSH of people come down to the coast for the two crazily busy periods - from a week before Christmas through the New Year and the two weeks prior to Easter - it draws criminal element from the cities the way a vile smell draws flies. Places where your car would be safe 48 weeks out of the year, it will not be during that pair of two-week periods. Frank has indicated in his own inimitable fashion that taking a car down on the days you plan may not be the wisest choice. Added to the security issue, traffic is at its worst on the highways getting down. Furthermore, since you indicate that there are only two of you, you have not really reached the point of "break even" for taking your car as opposed to flying. Until you've made the trip in the last few years, it's hard to grasp how exhorbitant the tolls have gotten. Gas prices are closer to European than US. You have to secure special Mexican auto insurance as well. If the only time you can go is during the peak, then go and realize that you will be having a slightly inferior experience. But if there's any flexibility in your schedule, early December may be the best time of all for a visit. And run the numbers again on transportation.
Puerto Bill's recent tales of current life in Puerto Escondido have inspired me to annoy you all with reminisces earlier times there and to recall some of the events and happenings. But, first, breakfast: When I first went to Puerto Escondido in early 1977 there was a licuado stand nearly exactly where Gina "the Information Goddess" has her booth. Then, it was a part of a palm frond constructed palapa with a corrugated board roof. Leo, the proprietor, made the delicious licuados, deftly slicing bananas, pineapple, papaya, melon into a blender then filling it with fresh orange juice to make a thick and great tasting licuado, which he poured into a milkshake glass and served with a straw and great smile. For extra pesos an egg or two could be added. There was always more in the blender for you when the glass got low.
Leo and I became good buddies as I became a daily morning addict. He always wore a San Francisco Giants baseball cap and for the next couple years, I always brought him a new one from my native city. One year, the stand and he was gone, however, my love for licuados has never abated. My perfect morning, then, was a licuado with Leo and then huevos ranchero and coffee at the outdoor restaurant at Los Arcos, overlooking Playa Marinero and then a dash to the waves. One year, on the plane, going back to California, bemoaning to myself that there'd be no liquados until next year, the sudden inspiration dawned on my pea brain that I could actually buy a blender and the ingredients to make them. So, it has been ever since. I have been through several blenders, but with a licuado, oatmeal and the multi-vitamins my day starts healthy and goes progressively downhill from there. For the first few years, I had to suffer the substitution of those pinchy little Hawaiian papayas, but for the least several Mexican papayas have been abundant up here year round. (I even saw them on our last trip to Quebec) They say all good stories should have something good to eat in them, so this one is a testimonial to Leo and my gratitude to him for introducing me to licuados.
Thanks for the reminiscences. I've only been going to Puerto Escondido since 1999 - I always enjoy reading about earlier times. And thanks to Puerto Bill for his "recent tales of current life in Puerto Escondido" that inspired you.
Great reading for those of us who try to keep in touch with Puerto Escondido when we are away. Thanks, "Puerto Bill". I'd like to meet you sometime - I'll be in Puerto Escondido in October and again in Dec/Jan.
Mi página es www.geocities.com/almacos614/rinconada.html
Mike, Is that you? I played risbee golf one day with Matt and Brad. I retained the national championship belt. DG [%sig%]
I have been going to pe for 5 years, and i stay for a month, And I only need like 500 usd For food and a place to stay, maybe you can try a hostel,and you only need Like 5 usd per day plus 5 or 6 to eat and have fun. Its a very cheap place. But i reccomend you to check prices directly in puerto, cause you can even rent a bungalow, and if you come with friends its cheap.
Yep it's me. Congrats on your Victory over those two sandbagers. How is the new course look? And how is the new Split compared to the other two? Dave; enjoy the rest of your trip! Mike
Mike, We pretty much played the same course. We started at the beer hole and worked our way to the big hill. Brad had a 4 stroke advantage at that point. Matt was just behind him. He'd birdied every single hole, including one on the hole in one shot. En Fuego. Then we turned into the wind. Game over. I shot 7 under from that point. With two holes to play I caught and passed them and then played conservatively in. They went for birdies and came up with bogeys. End result: Gunter is champion of Frisbee golf for all of Messico. The new Split is ok but I think Brad will ultimately end up next door to the last spot.--the place with all of the palm trees painted white at their base. How are you my friend? dg [%sig%]
Actually if you take the first class bus to puerto it goes back to Nochixtlan then to pinotepa nacional via la mixteca. It makes about 12 to 13 hours. If you take a second class bus it´s about 1/3 or 1/4 of the price and it goes via ocotlan, ejutla, miahuatlan, san josé and finally pochutla. It makes about 8 hours (If you don´t get off at san josé and get lost for a couple od days). Saludos.
Yes Dave; I agree with you about Brad going back to a spot on Playa Principal/Marinero. The winter regulars would miss those BBQ's! If you are in the area of Art&Harry's please say hi to Jeff and Patty and old time Chef Tony for me. Dave you should e-mail a good report on what PE is like in the summer time when you get a chance. I miss the Rockaway pool and cold beer! Everything is OK here in Jasper, +28c and golfing at 12.24pm manana. Maybe meet up in Jan./Feb. for a round of golf? Think you might kick my ass though? Never could get by Matt and Brad (snakes that they are) I miss the place alot. Take care! PB keep up the reports on activities in PE! It keeps us going! Mike
Mike, If I were to account for all of the details of my trip this summer they probably wouldn't let me come back at Christmas. Not much to report really; Up at ninish, over to Cafecito; story swap over 8 peso coffee with gaggle of aging Americans/French/Canadien gentleman; check e-mail; sunscreen and walk over to Carrazalillo; hours of swimming/Frisbee/reading/girl watching; siesta; excessive exercize; 2x1 cervezas at Joe's Sandbar; pork ribs at Brad's; Pina Coladas; crash; repeat ad nauseum........Can't wait to do it all over again.
One sure sign that I had way too much time on my hand is I mastered throwing (juggling) two frisbees up into the breeze. Now that is a fun workout. I did make a couple of day trips to Zipolite. On one of my forays it started to rain 30 minutes before I arrived and stopped two days later, thirty minutes after I left--Hurricane Carlos. I brought enough clothes for one day, which were soaked in minutes. Then the temperature dropped into the 60's, where it stayed for two days.(Now I finally understand why people sell blankets on the beach.) I finished the only book. Then the internet went out. What to do? Why Frisbee in the teeth of a rain that felt like needles is what! Saved by the Frisbee again. Interesting note: they are paving the streets of Zipolite. Who woulda thunk? Sadly, Doc, the eccentric mathematics professor passed away last week. If you knew him I'm sure you will miss him too. What a lovely human being. When I left the Friends o Puerto were trying to locate his relatives. I don't believe Doc really cares if they do or don't. Gene of Gene and Darlene passed away on May 22nd. From what I hear he was a hell of a man as well. Gary, the angry Vietnam vet was either murdered or had a heart attack. Smart money is on the former. It seems as if there were more people there at this time of year than last. I think I'm going to stop telling people how wonderful it is. New slogan: Puerto Escondido--it's hot as hell and the mosquitos are horrible! Gunter [%sig%]
David: What did Gary, the angry Viet Nam vet look like and where was he from? I hope it is not the angry Viet Nam vet Gary I know who always wore a basketball jersey and hung out at Rockaway. Thanks.
When you are at Zipolite and finish your one book, Villa Florencia in Puerto Angel always has more. Or the telephone caseta below Hotel Soraya, by Ricardo's auto parts store, often has a few as well. Let it be known that you need reading material, and your local friends will also come through - though you have to be fairly desparate to read some of the stuff up with which they come.
Gracias, Iam back to work ,we have lots of activities going on, and getting ready for Surfing tournaments one in August by MEXPIPE, and the otrher this year November SEDETUR and one more, a booady surfing August please by shure to check the dates this friday 18th July 2003. Gina Machorro.
Do it Mark, This is one of the must special Fiestas in Mexico Oaxaca city has alot of Cuture any haw there is always some thing to do, enjoy and the price is rite ! Gina
Tell me more where is your lady>??> what did she do?? Gina
Call grey hound bus station in Tx ! they know, Gina
Yes, I too remember those licuados. At that time they were the equivalent of $.50 and the shaved ice that Leo threw in is what made the difference between a licuado and a Leo's licuado. I think Leo was moved out when they put in the "paved adoquin and he moved kind of across the street to the beach side and lost a lot of business but at that time he had literally made his fortune and ended up retiring. He probably owns a condo in Huatulco now. For a few years I saw his brother around but I think he got sick and passed away. Another thing I flash back to sometimes is when the Hotel Santa Fe first opened and for a few years after that rooms were about $25.00 USD. Too expensive for me and at the upper end of the spectrum for Puerto at the time but their restaurant was very affordable especially for breakfast. After a morning session of surfing it was a great stop for Hotcakes con Frutas or oatmeal. I am sure the price was not more that a buck otherwise I could never afford it and I remember many breakfasts there. Of coarse the rooms there are now in the hundred dollar range and meals have appreciated accordingly although I can afford it now (not the rent) and still eat there sometimes. I too like to hear stories of old Puerto. If you have any more it would be great to read. I will try to come up with something in the near future as well. Maybe something about the bus rides over the mountains when the road was dirt and the busses where so crowded that we rode on top for most of the trip or something about the old airport even before the DC 10. PB
Now that we're tripping down Memory Lane, your flash of the Santa Fe, took me back to the year I met Paul Cleaver, one of the original owners, who was there with an architect and engineer doing the initial layout for the hotel. This was either 1981 or '82. A couple I knew from Los Gatos were staying at one of the hotels on the Playa Marinero. We were playing cards listening to one of the football playoff games on the short wave radio, I'd brought down, when we saw them doing the layout.
Our interest in what was going on, on the point, and their interest in the football scores, coincided into a pleasant afternoon of beers and conversation about their plans. By the next year, the hotel was built and I, too, was enjoying the occasional breakfast in, for Puerto Escondido then, a very upscale environment. In the ensuing years, I'd eat there as my budget allowed and remained impressed with the attention to detail Paul took to running the Santa Fe and the genuine interest he took in the welfare of his staff.
After a 16 year absence from Puerto Escondido, my wife, Paule, and I returned February before last. As fate has often had it for me in Puerto Escondido, we ended up at Paul's newest endeavor, The El Tabachin for our first few nights. It is right behind the Santa Fe and was an especially delightful place to stay. We had a couple of diners at the Santa Fe and, like you Bill, are happy that the meals, if not the accommodations, are in our budget.
I will try to write from time to time to share memories of "old" Puerto. My caveat is that I won't forget the rejoinder I got when I was there in 1978 telling someone how great it was and received the lesson that "Ah, you should have seen it in the 60s".
Anyway, I can testify to taking that DC3 from the Oaxaca airport to the old dirt field in Puerto, cheering all the way for the captain, in his baseball cap with the gold embroidered stars and swirls, to just get us over each mountain and get my heaving stomach to the waves!
Couple questions: Heading to PE in mid-October for a couple days of surf during the honeymoon. Accustomed to budget travel, but want to one-up it for the nuptial occasion. Know of a decent place with clean beds, hammock hooks, and a view of the break? Also, there's chatter of disc golf. The lady and I'd love to hit the links, weather permitting. Any info would be much appreciated. Paz, Mike (SD)
Mike, There are no Frisbee golf links per se, but there is a "course" on Zicatela. One of the holes is called Dead Dog Bench, a tricky par 4 in front of the Hotel Santa Fe. Get in touch with Brad, the master chef of the Split Coconut for details relating to disc golf. And remember to bring an ultimate disc, as you don't want to hit anyone in the head with a golf disc. For a clean upscale room you should check out the Hotel Tabachin. Paul runs a first class operation and serves a breakfast to live for.
David [%sig%]
Fellow travelers...
My friend and I will be arriving in Mexico City around July 30th - and after hearing dozens of suggestions on different bus lines, airports, and suburbans to take to Puerto... are thoroughly confused.
We'd like to take a first or luxury class bus, and would like to get there with as few stops as possible. If anyone has (recently) made such a trip and can offer suggestions - I will reward them with fruits, berries, and various plunder from the States upon my arrival...
Particularly curious about: (1) How to get to the bus terminal from the airport (2) Which bus line should we take (3) Where the bus would drop us off in Puerto (4) Tickets need to be purchased in advance... or not? Thank you for your help...
Texas Rog
Hi Dave; that's a good summarization for your Puerto trip. Pretty well somes up my many trips to PE less the rain of coarse. How did you like the steps to get to Carrazalillo? Quite the sweat climbing up; but boy does the next cerveza slide! I will be bringing Brad a couple of new Frisbee's next trip. His are getting beat up or on the Santa Fe roof.(none by myself though) For the benefit of the one or three of you guys ( I know two of them) who did. There was a pretty good gust of wind from up on the hill down to dead dog bench. As for the other Mike (SD) you should have no problem finding a place to stay on Zicatela (across the street) in October. Just walk down the street and check out the many hotels/cabana's; untill you find the one you like. Many price ranges along this strip.One of my favorites but not be as upscale as you would like is Rockaway. They have cabana's ( no A/C or H.W.) but two strong fan's and mosquito nets above beds. Mosquito's can be bad but I had no problems with them in Feb/March. The best part of Rockaway is the pool and cheap beer; 8 peso's. Oh and each cabana has a porch withhammock hooks. Doesn't matter where you stay; you two will love it! Enjoy the honeymoon. saludo's
Texas Rog Do a search on Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, there's lots of info there.
Try www.ticketbus.com for lines and prices. You can get from MEX to Puerto on one of two routes Mex-Oaxaca-Pochutle-Puerto Escondido or MEX-Oaxaca-Salina Cruz-Pochutla-Huatulco-Puerto Escondido. There isn't all that much difference in time although the latter is longer in both time and distance, it is less mountainous. The other route to the coast on Route 175 is mountainous and beautiful. well worth the jostling in my view. The rise out of the valley of Mexico is spectacular at night. The high pine forests on the way to Oaxaca are beautiful and the vegetation changes as you cross the mountains towardsthe coast is really something to see from dry deciduous bush, to pine forest to mixed semi-tropical forest to low land rainforest and back out to the arrid coastal plain.
The highest number of departures for the coast leave from the eastern terminal in MEX - TAPO which is near the airport 15-30 minutes depending on the traffic and time of day. Get a ticket for a cab from one of the approved taxis to TAPO. Cristobal Colon offers a good first class service to Puerto Escondido. You don't need to purchase a ticket in advance, although if you want you could do it through Ticketbus over the net. All first class busses in Mexico have reserved seating in advance of boarding. Their station is about three blocks north of the highway and a block east of Av Juarez. Cabs are easy to get from there.
[%sig%]
Last year I went to DF to Oaxaca City and then to P.E. I took the Cristobal Colon bus company, it was all right, nothing to write home about. I went from the Central Camionera Note, which was a mistake because Central Camionera Sur offers more options. On my way back I took Estrella Blanca and did not feel the 13 hour ride, I took it in the evening and was in DF in the morning.
Going back on aug 2.
Hello all, I'll be coming down to the coast to work for 5 weeks (I'm a writer). I'll leave in a few days if I can arrange some way to connect my computer to download emails every other day--either at a cybercafe paying for the time as if I was using their PC but configuring my iBook with their existing host, or by buying a service. But I can't find any services: AOL.MX doesn't support Macs, Prodigy requires a Telmex number, compuserve is gone. Anyone know of a service that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Or does anyone out there own a cybercafe and is willing to make a deal with me? What about in Mazunte or San Agustinillo? Thanks, jane hallisey jane@calamitypictures.com
Thanks for the info gents... sure it'll help out on the way down. Planning on catching a mid-evening shuttle and waking to the sun coming up over Zicatela...
Here's hoping to no major bumps in the road...
[%sig%]
Hello all!! Forgive me if this question has already been answered but I am planning a trip to P.E. this coming September.(first time) My question is about lodging. I really want to get the full P.E. experience. I was wondering if it's better to stay in a hotel or one of apartments, villas, or bungalows that can be rented. (I've looked on Puertoconnection.com) I am in my early twenties and will be traveling with my girlfriend. I'm leaving for the Navy soon and I really want this trip to be special and romantic. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bob
Have traveled in the past from Vancouver B.C. Canada to Puerto Escondido via Mexico City. The flight is quite expensive and was wondering if anyone has found a cheaper way of getting there. Would rather spend my money in PE than on the airlines. Has anyone found a cheaper flight than 1700.00 canadian. Kellie
Price flights into Acapulco. Especially check for charters. It's off season, so many flights are suspended, but some do go year 'round. Acapulco to PE by bus or rental car isn't bad by my books.
Aw, spring for a villa as a parting gift. You'll love the privacy and the luxury.
Villa sounds like a good idea. Can anyone tell me where to find reasonably priced villas? Also, feel free to give more suggestion. Thanks!
There are several sites for condo rentals at Eglantina. They are lovely and have a lot of privacy. Good views of the ocean and great pools. Right along the condos is the point called "el sueno possible" It is a gathering place for lovers.
There is another site not listed let here. puertoescondidocondo.com. They have a great collection of pictures of their condo and the area. I bet everybody would be willing to make deal as summer time is not prime season in Puerto
bungalos de villa marinernos room #9 or #10 350 pesos per night, 50 yards from the santa fe hotel , familly owned and operated since 1980.
i love it lovo
I'm leaving second week of January coming back end of Feb. $650.00 cnd. but it lands in Puerto Vallarta. Not bad if you have the time to bus down and back? Spend a few nights in Melaque/Barra and Zehuat. maybe a night in old Acapulco and catch the midnight bus to PE. If you have the time it's worth it, if not hang on for a charter deal to Acapulco and bus from there.(only 7 hrs.) They should be happening right after the new years? Have fun!!
Here's what I did. Before leaving home, I set up a web-based e-mail account with Yahoo. Then I configured it to fetch my e-mail from my regular POP account.
I set it up and tested it out before leaving home just to assure myself that it worked.
Then I just go to one of the many internet cafes and logged on to my Yahoo mailbox. Connections can be quite slow, but eventually it all works.
Jimbo
Thanks lovo I'll check it out. Do they have a website?
BobM Try Casa Linda , information available on this website. You wouldn't be disappointed, great house, spectacular view, pool and you don't have to leave the house if you don't want to for days. I spent a week there in March.
Dave at at puertoconnection.com has lots of properties available as well. we dealt with him on another place in february and everything was as promised.
Does anyone have any info on Casa de Dan y Carmen? If so I would love to hear about it. Thanks JBSK I'll check it out
Bob, We make reservations for Casa de Carmen y Dan. You can get info on our web site as well as see photos. We just need the dates you are wanting so we can check availability and price. Dave <http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Thanks Dave I'll send you an e-mail with my dates. Bob
Estoy venidiendo un terreno en Rinconada y no tengo fotos para agregarlas a mi página el terreno está ubicado en la esquina de Delfines y Focas es de 13 X 33 m y al fondo del lado de Focas tiene un mango http://www.geocities.com/almacos614/rinconada
Thanks Jimbo, I have web-based email but need to download to my laptop. I think I have foudn the solution. I signed up with earthlink and tested the system using their Oaxaca access number--it works so I'll either end up paying for calls to Oaxaca every other day and do it through a locutorio/caseta or and once we settle in we'll find the closest, least stressful solution ;-) It ain't cheap: $21.95 a month and then a per minute surcharge when you use their international access numbers and then the long distance charge. But at least if I use a friend's phone they will only be charged a phone call to Oaxaca and that is easily figured and reimbursed. It's my credit card bill at the other end......
What is with the drivers in Mexico? There is no question that the drivers in Mexico are some of the worst drivers I have ever had the experience to be on the road with. If you drive in Mexico you have to be totally aware of everything that is going on around you. You have to anticipate the most improbable action that could ever happen. Many many times I have seen people pull out of a side street and not look to see if somebody is coming. Not even a glance. I mean they just pull out and act as if they are the only one on the planet. If you honk at them or give them a look like you can not believe what just happened they act as though you are the stupid one for being on the road while they are driving when in fact they are the ones that should be taken out of their car and slapped. I have never been in an accident in Mexico but my wife was hit by a taxi once. She was on the hwy. and making a left hand turn on to a side street with her turning indicator on and her hand out the window to indicate that her intention was to turn left. She had to wait for an oncoming car to come by so she was stopped. After the oncoming car passed she started to make her turn and this taxi tried to pass her from behind and hit her front finder. Her SUV was slightly dented but the taxi was, how should I say this...destroyed. The highway patrol came and since we had insurance and we were leaving the next day my wife was willing to take responsibility for the problem just to expedite the hassle. After explaining everything to the cop (we had insurance, it would be easier to take the blame and told him how everything happened) the cop said in front of the taxi driver and me that it was obviously the taxi's fault but it would be easier if my wife took the blame and everything worked out fine but then the taxi driver wanted us to pay him an extra $100 USD for the lost work he was going to miss while his taxi was being fixed. It was unbelievable and after I explained to him how we had made it easier for him by taking the blame and how the cop had told him it was really his fault and I was holding a baseball bat he seemed to come to his senses and understand that maybe he was pushing the issue a bit far. I also threatened to go back to the highway patrol and correct the story and put the blame on him. He had no idea how much it would have cost him to fix my car until I informed him that all the parts would have to be purchased in the U.S. and be shipped down etc. etc. Let me tell you about turning indicators and making turns on the highway. Your left turn indicator can mean one of many things. Sure it can mean that you are going to make a left hand turn but it is rarely used for that purpose. Sometimes a guy will turn on his left turn indicator and pull over to the right because he knows what may happen if he just makes a left turn. (Remember my wife's experience?) So he will indicate a left and then pull off to the right and wait on the side of the road to be sure there is no cars that are going to give him trouble when he attempts his maneuver. Or maybe he is just waiting for more cars to come to make his maneuver as dangerous as possible. While on the highway a left turn indicator can also mean that it is safe for the driver behind you to pass. (This should never be trusted because the driver giving you this signal usually cannot see far enough in front to know if it safe for you to pass). Many times I have seen this and then when I pull out to pass here comes a car head on that would have taken out me and my whole family. Other times while on a highway with more than one lane in each direction and you are driving in the fast lane you will see a car coming up behind you going 25 mph faster than you and his left indicator will be on. I am not sure what this means but it may mean that this guy will not slow down for anything and you better pull over to a slower lane because he may just run right up your ass and it will be alright because he had his blinker on. A left hand turn indicator may mean that the switch is broken or the guy does not know how to turn it off. Or it may mean that he just figured out how to turn it on and is proud of this fact so he is showing the world his newly found intelligence. Or it may just mean that he forgot to turn it off after he told the guy behind him it was ok to pass 5 miles ago. The point is never trust the guy who has a left hand turn indicator on. I actually know somebody (a gringo) who got a ticket because their turn indicator did not work. Now for the right hand indicator. I don't think anybody knows what this is for. It may mean "do not pass", it may mean "I might make a right hand turn within the next 10 miles", it might mean that "I just found this switch so I turned it on to see what it would do and then forgot about it". When you see this light flashing beware. Traffic signals are a very interesting experience in Mexico. At least in Puerto. There is a traffic signal in Puerto and it is an amazing thing the way drivers react to it. Now in the United States of America there is a problem with drivers trying to make a yellow light and usually missing it by a few seconds so it is always smart to be sure there is nobody trying to make a yellow light and being late for it. Now down here in Puerto it is pretty much the exact opposite. Only one signal is green at a time. That means that traffic traveling north and south do not both get to go at the same time. It is one or the other. The same is true with east and west. One green lights and three red lights. Ok, you have the picture. So down here the driver at a red light knows when his light will change and knows when the guy with the green light is turning yellow. So when the guy with the red light sees the signal with the green light turn yellow the guy with the red light starts to take off and is often in the middle of the intersection by the time the yellow light has turned red and the red light has turned green. This is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. And it happens more often than not. Bazaar. A lot of times somebody will pull into a left turn lane at a red light but instead of turning left he will continue straight when the light turns green just to be the first to get through. Happens all the time. Another thing that I can not understand is the way people use horns. There will be 4-5-6 cars stopped at a red light and the second the light turns green the sixth guy in line will blow his horn. Like the first, second, third, forth, and fifth guy may not have seen the green light or maybe should slam into the guy in front of him to get him moving. Like his horn is going to make anybody think that he is anything other that an idiot. I have more than a few times (when I am the third or forth or fifth guy in line) got out of my car and asked what the guy wanted and checked to see if my break lights were working and asking if he may need assistance or something, thus causing him to miss the signal entirely. That is a fun one to do because you don't have to act belligerent or anything. "Just wondering if there is something wrong." And about those traffic signs and lines in the road. Is there anybody out there who can understand what they mean? Not me. In Puerto they made the main Hwy. four lanes. Two going in each direction with an island in between. There is a subdivision called Bococho that has two entrances. So when they built the islands dividing the two directions of traffic they did not make a cut in the islands to allow for turns into Bococho. To anybody who had to deal with getting into Bococho it was one of the most obvious screw ups in the history of road design. There were literally 3-4 accidents a week there. But that is not the stupidest part. The mindless jerks put an opening in the islands about 75 yards past both entrances so that you had to go to the cut in the island past the actual entrances and then make a "U" turn and head back to where you wanted to enter the subdivision. It was the joke of the town for weeks until the President of the "Republic" (Fox) came to visit and take a look at the major accomplishments Puerto had made in the last few months. Sure enough (I kid you not) the entrances to Bococho were fixed the night before the Pres. arrived here. I asked a friend who is a pretty smart person how can there be so many screw ups. He told me, and this makes more sense than anything I have ever heard, he told me "The people who make the roads do not drive." If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. There are so many more stories but this has gotten too long as it is and I am sure other people will want to add some of their encounters with Mexican drivers. I can't wait to read some of them and I will add some more as time permits. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (11-22-03 09:11)
Thanks again Mr. Puerto, That one is, without a dought. the best, most informative post I have read yet, and yes very very true keep them coming Lovo
I had a dream like that gg
are there any drive thru liquor stores in town, i hate to get out of my truck when im drinkin and driving.
Any information on the festival in mid-Feb in Chili, (sp) the small town a few miles west of PE. Will be spending a few weeks in PE during Feb. of 04 and have heard about the festival that they have. Also, need some updated information on a good room/condo for 2 weeks. Have stayed at the Posada Real a few times in the past, but their $95.00 per nite is outa my reach. Any suggestions on a good place to stay close to the beach with air would be appreciated. Need to keep the little woman happy. Pool would be a plus.
Ken
I will be flying home from Zijuatenejo at the end of my trip next month. Should I take the bus directly there from PE (12 hours!) and spend a few days, or should i break the trip up and spend a day in Acapulco? My guidebooks indicate that Acapulco is no longer a desirable destination. Thanks for the advice.
The Chila Festivals are always fun but the dates are usually not set until the last minute. Please check our site for accomodations, Puerto info and news and let us know if we have anything that interests you. <http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Somewhere I had heard that it usually was around the 14th (valentines day) give or take a few days, every year. ???
Depends. If you disco, Acapulco is still the disco capital of Mexico. It is an incredible place to go clubbing. And as always, it's both the cheapest and the most expensive place on the Mexican Pacific, depending on your choices and your tolerances.
Bill, I've always said that it's pointless to come to Mexico by car unless you've got a month or more to burn - though I've violated that dictum more than once, I admit. Part of the reason for saving the car for longer visits is economic. But part of it is pure safety. If you've got less than a month, there's time pressure. And as your story so vividly points out, taking care of your own safety is a very time and attention consuming task. There is a fatalism in the Mexican driver with religious and cultural roots. Much as the religious nuts in the US governmet - Ashcroft leaps to mind - are convinced that the world will end before we suffer the consequences of current actions and inactions, the typical driver in Mexico is convinced that God will take care of him - and if not, it's God's Will. He'll line his shoes up in the form of a cross when he takes them off at night and be careful not to wear his unlucky color, but as far as slowing down and looking - out of the question! During one trip several (many) years ago, Tom got some video footage on a bridge in - Tampico, I think - of two trucks in each direction trying to pass on a two lane bridge. Four trucks in two lanes hutling towards one another at high speed. Two or three were gasoline trucks, as I recall! Everybody got in line in time, but my little Ford EXP had to be aired out afterwards, I'm telling you! Actually, I think that was the trip the car went plunging down the mountainside on the old Puerto Angel - Zipolite road and had to be hauled up by soldiers and a Coca Cola truck, much the worse for wear... Think I'll call Tom and see if he still has that old videotape. The four truck footage would be worth converting to MPEG, it seems....
You are right about the time frame
I would skip Acapulco. Take the night bus from PE, sleep thru the night and get into Z about 10 a.m.
The festival at Chila is to honor St. Valintine, the villages patron saint. It usually runs for two weeks ending on Feb. 14 with the most awesome fireworks display. Very symbolic. Should put it on your list of things to do. I thought El Sol de la Costa website might have an index of past issues (they don't), it does have a pretty cool website with articles from the current issue and past. Check out the mescal article. Go to www.elsoldelacosta.com. Has anybody been up to San Jose del Pacifico recently? Tis' the season ya know. Miguel Sucio
From Mexico City, you will easily find the bus station that will take you either directly to Puerto Escodido, or to Acapulco, in which case you should be able to find another bus. Luxury busses are easy to find due to thr recent development of excellent and expensive roads. The locals are helpful if you stay to crowded streets and speak a little spanish. If you rent a car, you are looking at $50 or more in HWY taxes alone. Bus is better and no advance purchase is required. Have a great trip! pantanga [%sig%]
Oh the memories. When I first started going to the place that I can't seem to stay away from I was really living on the cheap. On the first trip we were three teenagers in a "Hippie RV" VW van. Our final destination was El Salvador and we were gone for three months. By some luck of the draw we ended up in Mazatlan during Carnival Week We didn't know anything about it when we got there but we sure learned fast. Total budget for the three months was $700 USD per person. We even had enough money to have short pants made from Guatemalan material and brought them back and sold them for a handsome profit. (Just kidding on the profit thing but did manage to sell pretty much all that we brought back and did make a few dollars.) On that trip through Puerto and for years after that I stayed in these bungalows (huts) with communal bathrooms on the wrong side of the hwy and on the town side of the river. (Cabañas de Cortez I think the name was). The cost was $.50 a night. Virtually free. I remember walking to Zicatela every morning to go surfing and passing by Bungalows Villa Marinaro and wishing and thinking that some day I would have enough money to stay there and live like a king. If I remember correctly those places rented for $5.00 or $8.00 a night at that time. There were no places to stay on Zicatela then because there was nothing on Zicatela. Nothing. Not even a real road. Just a burro path. Hard to imagine with the way it is now. People would stay and hang out in the adoquin area at that time. Open sewer and all. The hot night spot was The Punta Bar. It was a real happening place and drinks were cheap and the music was good. I think they still play the same Bob Marley tapes now. Well it took about 10 years before I could afford to stay at Bungalows Villa Marinaro but at that time in my life the only thing that mattered was getting to Puerto. I think airfare plus the trip from either Mex. City or Oaxaca via bus or plane depending on the available funds was about $300 USD from L.A. So with the cost of the room (hut) at almost $0 and food was real cheap if you knew where to eat and nightly entertainment did not matter too much because the mornings were the most important time, I was able to make it down at least once and often twice a year. I was lucky or smart enough to figure out a way to stay from 1-3 months on most visits but that was mainly because of the price of accommodations. I also found myself just going down on the spur of the moment for maybe a week or 10 days. Even now the price for a place to stay in Puerto is pretty cheap compared to most places that have the same things to offer that Puerto has. Dan and Carmen (from the Cafecito) have a real nice place with a swimming pool and kitchenettes and a very comfortable atmosphere for only about $400 USD a month and there are a lot of other cheaper options than that. Although Puerto has grown a lot since then, I think it has grown in a way that the people who use to visit in the old days can accept and are happy it did not turn into a Puerto Vallarta or a Mazatlan or Cozumel or anything other than what it is. It was always a concern at that time about what kind of place Puerto would turn into once too many people discovered it. It is not very often that I run into anybody that says that they do not like the place or that they will not come back as soon as they can. I will try to find some more time to remember some more stories about the past and I sure hope that other people will share some of theirs. It is so great to remember way back when. PB
The plans have changed my friends - a little more advice would be VERY nice.
Due to a three-day old broken ankle suffered by my traveling buddy while roller skating the other night - we will be skipping the bus in favor of the MEX-PXM flight directly into town. We'll be flying in and out of MEX on the 31st of July - but this will be our first time at the MEX (and obviously PXM) airports, and if anyone could possibly remember what they went through going through customs and switching airlines in MEX I'd really appreciate a heads-up. Thanks.
Texas Rog
Our experience with immigration and customs in Mexico City has been good. Sometimes the line is a little long, but usually no wait with the immigration official. We haven't flown from Mexico City to PE in 5 years, but that time PE didn't have customs so all was done in Mexico City. Whether the customs officials go through your luggage and other belongs depends on the luck of the draw ... or more realistically, the flash of the light -- green you go through, red you get checked.
Changing planes is easy ... but sometimes involves a long walk and a pass through an extra security check-point. You always can get a wheel chair or ride one of the little shuttles that pass up and down the corridor.
Make sure the Mexico City to PE flight is scheduled for the days you want to go. They are somewhat irregular, with weekends being the most reliable.
Good luck.
Dave
take the plane,book in advance
carlo? who are you?
Daisuke Alejandro Amezcua Furuya Lost while swimming at Playa Marquelia.
Please see <http://www.tomzap.com/amezcua.html> for more information.
Any information on the new "beach club" at the Villa Belmar on Zicatela beach? I hear it's on the water side of the road.
Keep the stories coming! We started going there on the recommendation of a friend who surfed there in 1975. Glad we took his advice to visit the area...
Hi, Have found the Casa Linda in my search of the site. Questions: Which airport for connections from Mexico City ? Clean? Shopping? Any other suggestions for two retired gals? Went to Huatulco last year and absolutely loved the area. Thanks for any help. Sounds very nice...
I am retired on a small fixed income and am looking for a good place to live that is cheap but nice. Can anyone giv me info? Ed
The Beach Club is new...they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the food is very good, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the staff was very pleasant.
We were there for two weeks in February of this year (we have been staying at the BelMar for the last four years during February). The beach club was a pleasant addition this year.
We have spent the last two years in Puerto Escondido over Valentine's Day. We have been to the festival in Chila both times. They have entertainment, food, shopping, carnival, and lots and lots of people. The fireworks display is a little frightening (compared to the fireworks displays we see in the states), but the people there all love it.
Go down and check it out, Ed. And check the whole area. you may be happiest in one of the small towns near Puerto Angel. Or if your fixed income is four figures monthly, you might consider the Huatulco ex-pat community as well as the Puerto Escondido. But you better make sure that you love Mexico and that you love Mexicans. This is not a coast for xenophobes just looking for a cheap place to live. And if you're going to be a full time resident, prepare to learn Spanish. Defensively.
Katie, Stayed at the BelMar for just a week last year, and most likely will be going back again this year, over the 14th of Feb. Can you e-mail me some info abouat the carnival in Chili.
Yes, the "Beach Club" is a two-story cement monstrocity located on the water side of the road. Looks just like a white castle hamburger joint complete with flags flying from the rooftop. So much for "saving the wave", protecting the natural flora and fauna of the beach, and protecting the view of the beach from the businesses located on the far side. Let's hear it for the growth of two story cement block buildings on the beach- which by the way was done totally illegally - Support these businesses!
Yes there is. Its located next door to the taxi stationand "cantina" near the military base. Tell em "Gunter sent me" and they'll throw in all sorts of lagniappes for the kids.
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By the way, Naomi turned out to be the most beautiful creature on the planet. I have the picture to prove it.
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OK-let me blabber a bit more...my first trip to Puerto Escondido was in early 1977. However, I had heard of it and been encouraged to go by Jody, a wonderful lady I met in Mazatlan at Carnival time in 1975. She was winding her way back to the States and I, in my '73 Buick Skylark, was on my way to many points south for an undetermined length of time. As things happened, I did not make it there that year, taking the highway from Oaxaca to Salina Cruz and then on to Guatemala. For this, Jody chastised me greatly when she came to visit me in California that fall.
Later, we drifted out of touch, I started working for an airline and took my first vacation to Acapulco. After a couple days there and the realization that it was not for me, I hopped on the Fetcha Rosa busline for the seven or so hour trip to Puerto Escondido. I arrived at dusk, found a room at the Roca Mar, across the street from the to-be-soon-discovered Leo Licaudo stand and had a bite. Then following my ears to the sounds of rock & roll I arrived at the Punta Bar. When, I went up to get a beer at the bar, the magic that seems to be in Puerto for me, commenced. For there was Jody, behind the bar, with the look of "well it took you long enough to get here" on her face. As it turned out, her flight to Oaxaca had been cancelled that day, so she was there for only one more evening. We had a nice chance to catch up with each other and this was the start of many happy experiences for me in Puerto Escondido.
As Bill says, there was nothing on Zicatela then, just a nice two-three mile run down to the point, interspersed with some play in the waves. As there was hardly anyone ever there, swimming suits were optional. The adoquin was a dirt street with little rivulets of water and waste running across, lined by restaurants and stores with staples, shoes and t-shirts. The restaurants were all open air and one could judge the time it would take to have your meal by the number of propane burners available to the cook versus the number of diners waiting. But, waiting in such a tranquil place was never too much of a burden. One year, I realized that I spent the entire two weeks I was there without venturing to the town side of the highway, such was the attraction of the sun, surf and fellow travelers.
I have to concur with Bill that, while Puerto Escondido has grown and expanded, it has retained this simple charm that attracted Jody, Bill, many others and I. Part of the reason I think is that it has grown rather haphazardly without a "master plan". This has enabled individuals to create their own home and projects as time and resources permitted. I too am greatly looking forward to return there with my wife. While I retain a special fond memory for Jody, my luckiest day was when I met Paule under a palapa at Mario's bungalows just past the Hotel Santa Fe in January 1984. For that, Puerto Escondido will always have my love and gratitude.
You can fly directly to Puerto from Mexico /City. Or try Huatulco There is a lot of info in previous comments on this board on how to do both. Puerto is a clean , lovely place but definately not in the class of Huatulco, Cancun, etc as far as catering to American tourists It is a taste of the real Mexico and they let us share it with them.
Support.....not. Notice how the owner built his white elephant in front of his nieghbours land as he would have totally blocked his own view. Please keep this illegal business as empty as it was last winter and not encourage others to build on the federal buffer lands.
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(I thought I'd posted a response to this yesterday but I don't see it, so apologies if it shows up twice:) I was wondering if anyone can post photos of it here, so we can see just how bad it is. Sounds bad, all right. That could help generate a groundswell for getting rid of it.
It isn't really a bad looking place. It is the idea that someone with political pull can get away with flouting Mexican law and build illegally. Perhaps someday the law will catch up with reality and things like this won't happen. The local business owners are highly P.O.'d about it, and who can blame them. It would be nice if some of the long timers at the Bel Mar would realize that having a closer place to eat isn't worth the damage the building is causing to the surroundings.
So we are all amazed at the culture of mexico , the way they eat , drive and act,well, no wonder, it was only 500 years ago and the locals were happly pulling beating hearts from living bodys and raising it to the sun God,<ever seen a mexician newspaper> and where else can you go on this earth and find the abundace of sprits to par take in to raise your awareness of this wonderfull world we live,<can you say feastia> I hope mexico realizes that this is what makes mexico great and not to be so quick to get on the "civilized" or "amercianized band wangon", I want mexico to honor thier Indian culture , weather the rich spainards realize it or not its the indian culture of mexico that makes mexico great, the ways and customs of these people need to be respected, Lets keep it narural, spread the word.
Dont let what happened to the American Indian Happen to the Mexician Indian Lovo
Hey, Lovo, good post and I can't help but rise to the challenge. Fay-ess-TEE-ya. Isn't that how you'd say that word? <I know that you meant "fiesta", but I can't pass a chance to jerk on a chain left that far out in the open>
lets see what other kind of responses we get sorry i cant spell lovo
Greetings from Puerto. Life has been good. The surf is big and good. It seems like it has been a while since I have been this surfed out and it feels good. It reminds me of the main reason that I ever started coming here. I was beginning to think that I came down here in the summer to watch the monte grow and then whack it. Yea it is still growing and I continue to whack away but I have changed a thing or two about the way I go about it. We have these horsefly things down here or at least I think they are horseflies but having never been introduced to a real, for sure horse fly, being from the coast of California and all, I am not sure if they are real horseflies. There are not many of these things, I mean it's not like a fog of mosquitoes in a cheap hotel room or anything. Anyway they are these huge fly type things that look like F111 fighter jets that land on you and start consuming your flesh. They might continue all the way to the bone but I don't know because I have managed to pry them off before they get that far. These guys are intense. I would be down watering the fruit trees and thinking about how fast the papayas are growing* or wondering if the oranges would ever get orange or why they call limes lemons and call lemons limes down here and all of a sudden I will feel this thing on my calf and this F111 type bug would be attached and is chewing away. If you try to swat it away you might as well be trying to have your kid scrub the shower. It's not going to happen. You have to hammer away and beat your leg with a stick to get rid of the suckers. I have learned to carry a screwdriver with me when I water so that I can pry them off when they attach and then beat it into the ground to kill it. So they now attack when I monte whack. By the time I feel them they have really burrowed in and it is kind of late for the screwdriver because when I am monte whacking I am pretty focused because if my mind wanders I could wipe out a couple of new trees in a second, so by the time I fell this thing I end up monte whacking my leg to rid of it. Because of this and the beating my legs have been taking from the debris and shrapnel that have just torn my legs to pieces and because my Band Aid budget has been used up I have bought a pair of long pants. I guess you could say that I gave in to the monte. The pants are the type you see people selling on the beach. White (or they used to be white. Now they are a kind of a green brown color), cotton, light, baggy with a draw string and comfy. You know what I mean. Something you buy down here and when you get them home you never wear them because you would look as silly as the Pope in ski clothes. These pants are working pretty well and my legs are starting to heel up to the point where people are not looking at me like I have some kind of new tropical disease and it might be contagious and kind of stay a step or two further away than normal. Like it is when somebody has not taken a shower for a few days. Now they just wonder if it was a killer bee attack or if somebody used my legs for some kind of mosquito test or something. Except where I had to whack the F111 bug. That still looks like I lost control of a Skill Saw or something. It's getting better every day though. Also I am having Bill** use a shovel to try to get the monte at the roots so that I will not have to whack so often. This is also helping with the heeling process. If anything new and exciting happens with the monte situation I will keep you posted. PB *Check out "What is with the Palm Trees" ** See the original Monte Whacking post
Go to Acapulco and spend a day. Stay in the old part of town near the Zocalo. There are good cheap ($20.00 - ???) places in that area and food is cheap and good around the Zocalo. You can spend the day cruising up and down the coast road on cheap busses and get off at different places and walk around a little. You can also go check out the cliff divers. I know, it's a touristy thing to do but it is cheap and you may never get another chance to see one of the first places in Mexico that made so many people think Mexico is a good place to travel to. You will probably not want to go back unless you happen to be traveling thru and Acapulco is in no way the place it use to be but you can have a pretty good experience if you only stay one night and stay in the old part of town and like John says if you are into the disco scene make sure you bring your polyester. PB
Hey unc, there may not be any "Drive Thru" liquor stores in the way you may be referring but in fact all the tiendas or at least most of em can be drive up convenience stores. Including the stores at the Pemex stations. All you have to do is drive up and park in front and yell to the person who is working there and tell them what you want. I have never had a problem doing this and a small token of your appreciation is always happily received. If you put your imagination to work you can make life very comfortable down here. Before there were so many take-out pizza and chicken places around I had a friend who would call up a restaurant and tell them what he wanted and then tell the guy to load the food into a taxi and have the taxi deliver it to his house. He would pay for it the next day when he was doing his errands. He never had a problem. This is also a good reason to bring your cell phone down and have "Telcell" reprogram it and you can buy a certain number of minutes and when you are kicking back in your hotel room or Villa or doing something nasty in the pool and don't feel like getting dressed and going out to eat you just phone your favorite place and have them "deliver". PB
What is the deal with the Coconut Palms. I sit here and I can watch the monte grow and the papayas get bigger every day and more and more flowers grow all the time and pretty soon I will not be able to walk thru the banana trees and pretty much everything else grows so fast that you could be in a different location from week to week without ever moving. But the Coco Palms I planted never seem to do a damn thing. It's been almost three years since I put these things in the ground. They started out as just some fronds (leaves, branches) growing out of the ground and now 3 years later they are still these fronds coming out of the ground. It looks like some kind of Punk Rock hairdo. There is no stalk. I see all these Coco Palms everywhere and some of them are 100 feet tall it seems. My neighbor has one or two or three that have 5-6 feet of stalk and I know he planted it from seed (a coconut he found on the beach or something) because he would never buy anything like a tree he is so cheap and his land was bare (just some monte) when he bought it and he has only been there for 10 years or so. I must be doing something wrong. I bought a Coco tree from a guy who wanted to get rid of it, that has about 10 feet of stalk. He wanted $60 USD and I was wondering if I was getting ripped off and haggled a little but $60 bucks it was. Delivered, hole dug and planted. $60 USD. When he brought it he had cut off pretty much all the fronds and the two or three he had not cut off were cut short and the tree looked pretty sick. I really wondered if I had blown another 60 smackers. Now a year later the tree has a bunch of new leaves and they look healthy and it looks like a Coco Palm again. It's looking like I got a pretty good deal right about now.* The ones I planted three years ago look like they will never go anywhere. The fronds look healthy and all and I have cut off some older fronds but the damn stalk just does not seem to want to come out or the ground. How old must those 100 footers be? PB *If it was a good deal don't mention it here because he may want to sell me another one and he may read this post. So don't ruin a good deal for me because you have more knowledge than he does.
I was once chased back and forth across a beach by a particularly nasty horse fly. Later in the evening I was laughing so hard I started to cry when I imagined what I must have looked like as I ran back and forth and swatted incessently at the invisible stealth bug. PB I printed your synopsis of the left turn signal and taped it to my office wall. Keep em coming. Eat more pork! say hi to Brad for me.
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I used to love Acapulco and his ambience, but now Cancun is the absolute king when party is your motto.
Unless you like the big discos (Paladium, Baby O, Enigma, etc) there is nothing to see in Acapulco, so go straight to Puerto Escondido.
Charles
Hi, I would like to bring some things to the kids in Pina Palmera in Zipotle can you give me the exact address of their website? Juana
<http://www.laneta.apc.org/pina/> There's a hypertext link from the info on this site; check the Main Index.
Thanks again, Bill, for this continuing opportunity to live vicariously a little in Puerto Escondido through the seasons. While San Francisco is always a constant source of beauty and amusement, a bit of my heart always longs for Puerto Escondido and its environs. Hence, I really enjoy your ongoing updates and appreciate the effort and skill you put to them. "Keep 'em coming".
Alan, I would be surprised if I haven't run into you down there. I too met my wife in Puerto and on many trips, especially the shorter earlier ones, I never ventured to the town side of the highway except to go to the place I was staying. These days, either fortunately or unfortunately it is not unusual now to spend more time on the town side of the hwy. I seem to have to do a lot of hardware store runs and I have found some very good taco carts up in town but no matter how I try to make it sound ok, with all the responsibilities these days and the way life has changed, I miss those carefree days of young adulthood when nothing seemed to be too difficult and one of my biggest worries was wondering if I was going to make it to Leo's before I dehydrated or if Lupe was going to be in La Punta that night. Los Crotos and San Angel (owned by the same people) was and still is a good place to stuff your face. Also the pizza place (gone now) by the trailer park was a no brainer. I may have mentioned this before but I also remember when it was especially hot I would go into the bank when it was on the what is now the adoquin and sit on the floor and read a book just to enjoy the air conditioning. Right now I can't think of anyplace else that had air conditioning then and they never gave me a hard time. I love these old memories. PB
Oh, the bank, I loved the bank and not just because that's where the money was. Not only was there air conditioning but the music they played, US and local rock & roll made the wait in line a delight for me. And what a line it was, single file was not a viable concept, merging traffic at the front was and beware the sharp elbows of the eldest ladies. Also, the recent arrivals from point's north, who seemed so easily outraged at the lack of line decorum exhibited by the locals and lack of, in their view, efficiency by the bank personal, was another sort of ludicrous entertainment. Like, chill people, you are forty steps from the beach and, please, when the peso is a couple thousand to the buck, it will take time. The shock on their faces when they received Chiclets for small change was also worth the price of the plane trip down. Once after my hotel room flooded and some of my American Express travelers checks got wet, I had a profound moment at the front of the line, when the teller waived his finger sideways and handed me a check back saying, "no es bueno". I soon learned that when dampened, to prevent forgery, I guess the word "VOID" magically appeared where one's signature was to go. The profound moment, included the voice of Karl Madden from the then current American Express TV commercial admonishing the foolish traveler who didn't carry traveler's checks, "What will you do" booming into my ears. (Thank you Mr. Good Herb). My answer was "Vamos a la playa" and live a little cheaper for the rest of that particular vacation. Oh thanks, for reminding me of the bank Bill. No doubt our paths have crossed a few times. I look forward to our next trip there and will give you fair warning.
Bill, I just realized that I hadn't expressed my appreciation for your stories as well. Thanks and sorry for my lapse.
Great fun, you're an amusing writer PB.
Recently in Puerto. Walked along Zicatela back from la punta (Watched our son surf for a bit.) and shot a few interesting photos. The new beach club you mention happened to be one of them. I uploaded a photo to Webshots and, along with a couple of others, it can be found at the following URL.
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=83707323 The other two pictures are of a cement marker in the ground (noting something to do with US Senior Olympics) and a red castle. If anyone has any stories about these, I'm curious. Eventually, I will post a number of other photos at this address, and, if you're interested, check back every once in a while.
Your link tells me that I can't view the pictures as I'm not the owner of the link?!
The Senior Olympics stone probably marks Tab Talkins shot put circle in front of the Bel Mar. He has competed for years in the Senior games, and has won several gold medals, if I'm not mistaken. He is often out practicing the shot put and discus.
Either bring your hat, or don't.
You may wish to bring a hat as well. Or perhaps not after all.
I also have to say thank you all very much for the endless amounts of info. I am wanting to visit the areas but will not be able to for some time. This site is keeping me up to date on all sorts of topics that interest me. I will be taking some weekend Spanish language classes in the future so I won't stand out like the typical tourist. The dialogue on this site is very insitefull and humorous, but at times, catty and downright mean. These things are what brings me back to this site often because it shows true life and real feelings. Keep up the good work!
Sorry, Try this URL for a photo of the Belmar Beach Club and others. This should work. http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns I also included some additional shots, including the remnants of a palapa beach restaurant that burned one night while we were eating at Cafecito. The restaurant was apparently closed at the time. For those not in Puerto, it is located next to Los Tios, a restaurant that could also easily have gone up in flames.
Thank you for the explanation of the US Senior Olympics marker. Still curious about the 'red castle'. Take a look.
I will continue to add photos as I process through the many hundreds that we took during the end of June and the first part of July.
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I hope someone there can help. Last October I stayed at Las Olas. The hotel had a color cable(english) TV, a nice bathroom,a fridge, a good view of the beach and the whole place was very clean with 2 beds @ $15.00US per day. Is there another hotel on the beach with the same goodies for that price? I never read anything on this site about Las Olas, is there a reason for this? Thank's, David [%sig%]
Las Olas is relatively new, only opened a couple years ago. That's an extremely low rate for that quality of place, you sure it wasn't some limited-time, loss-leader price? Even when they were brand new and trying to attract business the rates weren't that low.
Las Olas was just $15.00US per day, I guess that was a good price.I hope it is still the same price because I will be there November 4. Some one said that the 2 for 15 beer place is no more, is that true? [%sig%]
Hi there! I am planning on getting married in Puerto Escondido this coming winter. We vacationed there a few years ago and stayed at Hotel Liza's. She was wonderfully hospitable and the price was right! This time we'll be staying at my mother's who is renting a home for the winter there. But I am looking for ideas of where my guests can stay - at an affordable rate - and a place that is very clean. Hotel Liza's was clean, but was exposed to the outdoors, which means we shared our room with sand, geckos and cockroaches. Is this just part of Puerto living or are there places that would be better? Also, can anyone tell me where I can find information on planning a wedding in Puerto? Booking a priest/minister, flowers etc. Our reception is at Hotel Santa Fe, so that's all set! Any info would be appreciated, Akiko and Ben from Canada
The URL below will take you to some digital photos of a variety of Puerto sights. The albums are ongoing and I'll add as time allows. [These photos are downloadable, of course, but if by some 'fat chance' you wish to use them for other than personal reasons, just send me a message. I'm not interested in any compensation. I'd just like to know where they go and get a bit of recognition.] http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns I wish also to thank those who responded to my message a couple of months ago. I was seeking information about places to burn CDs in order to take memory intensive photos on our trip in June-July.
We stayed at the Santa Fe and were able to use the computer there. However, more accessible to all is the Arco Iris. They advertise in the 'marquee' window that they offer CD burning services. I checked any number of Internet cafes in the Zicatela area, but none had the capability. (Of course, last year there were hardly any internet cafes.) At the Arco Iris Theresa let me in to the admin office and I downloaded more than a gigabyte's worth of photos, then proceeded to burn a couple of CDs. I must have tied up her computer for the better part of an hour. The cost was nominal, and she would have supplied blank CDs if I hadn't brought a bunch. (I did have my own compact flash reader.) On top of that she was gracious and very pleasant.
For photographers who are concerned about shooting in memory intensive modes and can't afford many gigabytes of camera memory, this is certainly a solution. At some point in the future this memory (especially compact flash) will be even less expensive, but until then I will be thankful to be able to burn to CD and reuse the memory cards. Of course, if one wins the lottery, a laptop with a 80-100gigabyte hard drive would solve that problem, too. However, backing up that drive would also be desirable.
In any case the Arco Iris is the place to burn CDs. http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns
I tried to find your Puerto photos and found only 4 results. Your photos I could not find in the 4 results. I would like to see your Puerto photos. What should I do now? [%sig%]
http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns This page that you went to has four albums. It's necessary to click on each album to view the photos. Additionally, once you open the albums you are able to view each individual photo in different sizes or you may select a slideshow mode for the total album.
If this doesn't work, let me know.
Hi DwDowns, thanks for the pics. I received them all no problem. I'm pretty sure the red castle is a house that the guy just felt like building? I was there in Feb. and everyone i know thought it was a house. Drug $$$$ maybe? Thanks for the pics!
I still can not find your photos, is it possible to email them to me? [%sig%]
What do the people on Zicatela think of the hotel Las Olas? Just want to know.
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David, if you stayed there before at that cheap a rate and you liked it and lets say you can have it again at the same condition - does it than really matter what other people may have to say about the place ? T.
http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns Can't send photos by email. It would take hours of both of our time, if our email providers allowed it.
If you copy the address above in your address box above this website (assuming that you're using Explorer as a browser) and click on go. Getting to the web page listed above is the only way you're going to be able to get to the photos.
With your help I found your photos of the beach and Puerto and I thank you. David [%sig%]
Your right traveller, I was just ckecking how things have changed in Puerto the last 12 months. Thank's, David [%sig%]
Akiko and Ben We have a variety of clean and economical lodging accomodations in the form of luxury villas, fine homes and condo rentals that you may prefer over hotels. Visit our rentals webpage: http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm Note: We have more properties that are not yet listed- we are in the process of getting these pages updated but I can provide you with more info about others in the meatime. Best, Nancye
Bob, We have a variety of clean and economical lodging accomodations in the form of luxury villas, fine homes and condo rentals that you may prefer over hotels. Visit our rentals webpage: http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm Note: We have more properties that are not yet listed- we are in the process of getting these pages updated but I can provide you with more info about others in the meatime. Nancye
Oops- now you should be able to click below to go there directly: <br><a href="http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm" target="_blank">http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm</a><br> By the way- we are originally from NJ too-Bergen county. What about you? Nancye
We fell in love with Puerto Escondido like everyone else. it is a great place to visit and better place to live, retire, make an investment in real estate, etc,., For more information visit my website: <a href="http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm">http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm</a>
<http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm> [%sig%]
<http://www.puertorealestate.com>
<http://www.puertorealestate.com/puerto_vacation_rental.htm> Here is a clickable link.
Check here for additional info on Puerto, hotel reservations, vacation rentals, real estate and investment opportunities. <http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
A hotel will give you maid service every day. Condos and villas have kitchens. Do you plan on cooking? Restaurants are very good and very cheap, and you won't have to wash dishes after. Speak to any restaurant owner who is friendly with you, and he will arrange the most romantic dinner on the beach for you and your lover imaginable. Do it up right for her. Leave that lasting impression before you go to work for Junior (Bush). Don't let her forget you. Have a blast.
Thanx! Beautiful pix. (Enjoyed the other fellows' too!) They flesh out the scene. The town looks quite clean notwithstanding the editorial sighs in Voz de la Costa. jan
What are the typical monthly UTILITY expenses for a threesome family running AC in the bedroom of their own place in PE? Is clean water likely to be adequate for future needs of the community? thanx jan ...from portland oregon ps --I'm a guy, so don't señora me! [%sig%] Post Edited (08-11-03 11:56)
Mr. Jan A.C., hot water, and modern luxurys just are not right in P.E. a radio and a flash light is all you need ,You have to go down there and live like the locals , You get your stuff done early in the day, shut it down in the afternoon and pray for an afternoon shower to bring that cool mountian air down, If an afternoon shower doesnt bring the offshore winds they will normally show up around 2 or 3 in the morning.. Try going without a mirror for a week , bet you cant do it. just an opinion lovo
The 2 beers for 15 pesos place still exist. If you find a place at that price in Zicatela this year stay as long as you can...
Nice to hear that from two guys from the US but, talking about culture and the actual situation of Mexico, after the spaniards left the country we got the US. First the invasion and the loss of California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas (they did go all the way down to mexico city but they left you know why... because there are not nice pacific and gulf ports such as San Francisco, LA, San Diego or Houston and, in the other hand, is: ¨full of uneducated indians¨). Second their support to the french invasion. Third the US and UK posesion of the rails and oil until the revolution and finally HEB, HBO, MTV, McDonalls, NIKE, REBOOK , financial support to the PRI and all that crap. The spaniards at least left mines, buildings, schools... and with all of the abuses also at least they had some respect to the natives. We were VERY lucky to at least been conquered by the spaniards and not the english, the french or the dutchs... Just look at what happened in Canada, the US, las antillas, Australia, China, Africa... Extermination of the natives, slavery, explotation of the land and people, not education but opium... As the ex president Prfirio Diaz said at the end of the XIX century: ¨ Poor Mexico: so far from God and so close to the US¨ I hope more people had your same point of view about the mesoamerican culture in the US but also here in Mexico.
Those things are called TABANOS and the only smart posible way to get rid of em is to let them stand on you and then smash em with your hand. If you don´´t do it this way, then, as it was mention before, they are going to keep chasing you for a while and you´´ll look like a stupid runing for nothing in the eyes of other gringos, or simply as other gringo chased by a tabano in the eyes of the mexicans. If you try to kill them with something else besides your hand, you are going to hurt yourself and... Well, I do not know what to think or what other mexicans will think about this last issue... Cheers and be carefull; not with tabanos, but the way to get rid of em.
Thank's Zapoteca, It is good to know the 2 beers for 15 pesos place is still alive. Last November I had a good time there watching the sunsets and meeting the good folks around Zicatela. I should be in Puerto Nov.4-?. I hope to see some of the people I met there last year. By for now, David.
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Does Pto Esc feature competitive baseball with neighboring towns? How good are the playing fields, also those for the kids? I like to take in a game wherever i go. When I was growing up in Mexico City in the sixties, we had fifteen leagues going at it with metal cleats flying. I earned the moniker TiroLoco MacSenten for the innumerable fastballs that I launched into the backstop. (This joke in turn being based on the Mexican name for Quickdraw McGraw...) .
Jan
Again, a thanks for these posts. They represent some of the best of tomzap.com/John Williams's efforts, and also an example of what the Internet can make available to us. More people than we know read this site, a tribute to tomzap and what he's created.
the original "monte" post: <http://www.tomzap.com/frm/read.php?f=5&i=525&t=525> another good read is the " Leo's Licuados" post and follow-ups at <http://www.tomzap.com/frm/read.php?f=5&i=543&t=543> Puerto Bill - I'll be in Puerto Escondido much of October, and I'd like to meet you.
Good Morning Mexican.
Thanks for the post , I was hoping to get a responce from a native. Boy I never thought of it that way, "Lucky to have been invaded by the spaniards" you are right , It would have been terrable if America would have gotton ahold of mexico, you would have these things called reservations, Vivo El Indio Lovo
The Spaniards did not leave. They were absorbed as the new elite, contemptuous of Indians and looking always to Europe for cultural direction. This reached a crescendo during the reign of Porfirio Diaz, but the underlying attitude persists today wherever Mex culture is stratified, as in el DF.
Behind the murderous Cortez came the Inquisition and a raft of equally contemptible fortune hunter scum like Pizarro. Garish churches were built atop Aztec temples so the wealthy could buy their way back to grace. the invaders enslaved and decimated Indians to bring THEM closer to God. As for the mines, they were played out over time, and the powerful always controlled them and everything else of value, until the Revolution. One misreads colonial history to suppose that the Spaniards left Mexico a better situation than natives elsewhere.
The US beachhead was not made by an invading armada of vicious lowlifes bludgeoning natives with the cross. And lacking violent pretext, American settlers often coexisted, and negotiated treaties. These were sadly were later broken when greedy colonials saw money to be made. (Upstate NY is now reviewing the validity of one such treaty with alarm.) Also, American Indians were more nomadic as a rule, so the expropriation did not always occur so dramatically. But I"d love to get Andrew Jackson off the twenty dollar bill.
Jan
Good post Jan we have some juices flowing now,.
thanks lovo ps are you talking about those indians who are tring to sell tobaco
Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard anyone be grateful for being conquered by Spain! Spanish colonial rule: Slaughter, Pillage 'n Slavery 'R Us! Mexico might better have been conquered by England or France; of all the north american conquistadores, they treated their indigenous subjects the best (relatively speaking), at least in Canada.
If I may put in a good word for VERACRUZ, it has been a fine deepwater port for a succession of invaders. General Taylor marched inland from a landing there if my recollection serves. Crews were unloading guns from transport ships round the clock during the American occupation of 1914. Do JAROCHO musicians ply their trade on the streets of P E ? Jan
Thanks you guys for the nice comments. I am glad you find it amusing. I hope nobody thinks that I am on some kind of ego trip because that is not the reason I am writing these silly things. Everything is true with some humor thrown in. I really enjoy other people's stories about Puerto and I just like to share some of the things that I have experienced as well. Thanks for encouraging me to write more. It is fun and it also brings back great memories from the past. More importantly it seems to encourage other people to share their past experiences and for me that is fun. Another thing it seems to be doing is encouraging other people to add new questions and comments. The Puerto section of tomzap seems to have picked up some steam lately and it is great to anticipate some more things every time I get to check out the site. It is also nice that there has not been any trash talking about other people. Anyway thank for the nice comments and I will try to dig farther into the file cabinet that is my brain and think of some more things from the past and I hope you all do the same. Thanks, PB
Yes P.B. I too enjoy your posts and personally, I think its your way of talking in english, after just one week in mexico I cant tell you how much I missed a good conversation in english, and when I returned to the states and heard those words "are you an american citizen" I almost cried with joy, but dont get me wrong if i had a chance at living in PE i would take it in a second rock on lovo
Too much to say...
First of all: I did never say that the spaniards were fair or concerned about the indians. In fact, since slavery was not allowed by the crown, the first thing they did was to say the indians were not humans so you can treat them like beasts. Fray Bernandino de las Casas had to prove in "las cortes de Cadiz" that the indians were actually humans so they had rights (his main argument was that indians did leaf and animals not; leafing is a human form of expresion -nothing related with their pyramids and complex cities-). As soon as the indians were considered humans they had to be Christianised. This was the EXCUSE for the colonial conquest or the reason to stay in the new world: "save souls". Since the Midle Agges with Carlomagno (starting as Carlo in 771) the Catholic church started a position in wich any town or group of people wich didn´´t live under the word of God had to be brought to the Good path. In other words, it was their responsability to find all of those lost sheep to bring them back to the group, they were the chosen by God to spread his word in the world or expand his kingdom. The key word is that the infidels or not believers were also sons of God that were lost or had took a wrong path in their lifes. The work of the church was to save them. In Europe during most of the middle Ages this was not such a big deal (not counting the muslims that conquered Sapin for almost 800 years) thus christianism was very spreaded since the Romans with Constantino, but, in America, the story took a very diferent role. So Why the Sapniards were in some way less destructive? During the Reformation (a rebelion against the catholic church due to all of the corruption and unfairness lead by Martin Luther and Calvino) new christian groups were formed (Protestantes in spanish). They wanted some part of the new world so they had to have their religious EXCUSE too. For them, they were the chosen by God to rule over the world. The world belonged to them as a Gods gift and they did not have any responsability with the infidels since they were simply the NOT choosen, hence they could turned them into slaves or simply killed them to take their lands. Australia, Africa and the US are very good example. If there were more respect to the indians in Canada it was because they needed them to survive, remember that the french and engish guys that arrived were not the strong vikings that stablished colonies in greenland and part of north america before, anyway I woluldn´´y say that they had too much considerations with them. I will just repeat that the two positions were simply excuses for other purposes (I don´´t know but the concept of weapons of mass destruction comes to my mind). Excuses that had very diferent and significant results in both cases.
Jan I sincerely think that you simplify way too much the complex process of the independence of Mexico in your first paragraph. First thing: Spain was in the last steps of its decadense. At the beginig of the movement they did not want to be independent, they want the king of Sapin to come to live and rule in Mexico. This was because od the CASTAS sistem in wich the CRIOLLOS (born in Mexico but with 100% spanish blood) had way less rights and priviledges than the PENISULARES (Those that had born in spain and then moved to Mexico) and also all of the taxes and comerce restrictions promoted by the crown in Spain. The King never came (he never put a foot in mexico in the 3 centurys of the colony) so the CRIOLLOS made trheats with the MESTISOS (50% spanish blood and 50% indian blood) ofering more rights and priviledges if they helped to fight against Spain and trhow the PENINSULARES out of the country. They freed and made promises to the indian workers and the war started. (This version is very simplistic too, I accept that).
Jan: You say that the spanish conquerors were a whole bunch of scum bags looking for fortune and a better life in the new world and you are right. But what do you think about all of the english and french among the caribe and las Antillas? Did England send their best men to Australia and Africa? Do you Know the history of pirates? What they did and why they did it? Waht do the pioneers were looking for in america? Do they were all like the very religious and strict guys from Utha? What about the old West (Wyoming and Colorado come to my mind)? Do they had a lot of respect for the indians? Were these guys all clean and well educated?Is there a lot of misions as in California, New Mexico or Chihuahua? The inquisition came to Mexico yes, but it was not the inquisition of Torquemada ruling in Sapin and there is not one single case of torture or death penalty registered in Mexico during all of the colony. Chek it were ever you want, if you find one I will be really interested to know it because it will be a new discovery in the history of my country. There were no torturing machines in mexico, the inquisition was mainly burning books and cheking the work of the frailes during their catolization process. The indians could not be considered "herejes" because they did not knew the word of God and they were in process to learn it. In the other side, If I´´m not wrong, there were several cases of witch burnings in the states. please correct me if I´´m wrong.
Pizarro never put a foot on Mexico. And I´´m glad about it because he was way worst than Cortez.
The spaniards did not built churches and buildings in the place were the piramyds and temples were builted because of feeling powerfull or "to buy their way back to grace" , it was an important part of the catolization process. They had to put the house of their "TRUE" God over the temples of the old Gods to show its power. In fact, the structure of the colonial Churches is very diferent to the churches in Europe because it is a copy of the old indian manifestation of cult. This cult was in the open, hence the origin of the big plasas (ATRIOS) in front of the main churches. The PALACIO is also in front of this plasas or atrios or Zocalos. You can compare very easy organisational structure of the zocalo of mexico city or the zocalo of Oaxaca with Theotihuacan, tula, tajin, palenque or monte alban to put just some examples. In fact, The archeologists had found several figures of indian Gods in the walls of Atrios and churches so the indians were praying to their Gods instead of praying to the spanish God. The wholoe pprocess of cristianization was an entire failure. It was never completed (thanks God) and the indians are not formal catholics. Each comunity has its own set of beliefs. To finish (i´´m tired now) of course the US army that invade Mexico trouhg Veracruz was very diferent than the Spanish army (or the english or french army of that time) IT WAS MORE THAN 3 CENTURIES AFTER. The whole world was diferent.
I´´m very interested to know more about that revision you mention from NY. I will apreciate a lot if you explain more. You can PM if you want at rhuergo@yahoo.com Saludos.
I finally got to community.webshots ... etc. I had no success accessing that site on my own, so I typed in the web-page on Google and accessed it that way. Some great pictures ... Can hardly wait to get back next January.
Peace ...
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First of all, just want to say thanks for putting together such a great board. I've found a ton of info on here to fuel my holiday excitement.
My hubby & I are planning to spend January - May in Mexico but will have to bring our two small dogs. I've flown with them before within Canada, stowed right under the seats as carry-on. But of course, our culture is extremely pet-friendly & accomodating.
Has anyone flown domestic flights in Mexico with pets? What about the buses? I'm imagining the worst case scenario being a Canadian flight to Acapulco & then a 3rd class looooonnnngggg bus ride to PE. Any recommendations that would be quicker would be great! Thanks. :)
You may have two different hotels mixed up. There is a newer (2 years?) hotel named Olas Altas and an older smaller and very clean and nice hotel named Las Olas run by two Dutch women that is much smaller. The price sounds like the older place but the amenities sound like the newer place so your question is a bit confusing. Of course I am easily confused. PB
Unfortunately Dennis, I will not be in Puerto at that time. I am sure our paths will cross at some time in the future. I am pretty sure I saw you and your girl(s) one morning last winter on your way for your morning jog at Zicatela. I did not know it at the time but something you posted later reminded me of it. I am sure we will meet sometime and until then continue to enjoy the pleasures of Puerto and be careful who you tell about the place because they just might show up. PB
Hi. They won´´t let you bring your dogs with you (I mean on the seats section) on first class buses; they have to go stored with the luggage.
In second class buses there will be no problem to bring them in the seat with you, unless they start fighting with or try to eat other people chikens or guajolotes (turkeys) wich, on a bus and many other places, have absolutely more rights than dogs since they are food and are going to be eated.
Just remember that in Mexico Dogs are considered animals and even in the cases that they reach the status of "friend", they never get the same priviledges or rights as humans. For many mexicans it is just incredible to hear that in some countrys you can be sued JUST for threatening a dog. I just remember how at once, in a rural muntain area in the north (near MTY city and world famous for it´s rock climbing) I translated to the locals the story of a friend (also from Canada) who was fined because he left his dog tied in the back of his truck with his gear while he just went to by a cofee and a bottle of water in the mini super just in front of his truck. The dog was there alone for less than 10 minutes and my friend tied him so he wouldn´t jump to the street ang get hit by a car. It was for the dogs safety and he nevcer therated him but the law is the law and he got fined. When my paisanos (the locals) heard this: first they thought it was a lie, then they even got kind of mad and one said: "I would have killed the pinche perro (damn dog) inmediately". I suggest you to bring your dogs if you think you will really miss them and you don´´t have someone you trust enought to take care of em while you are out. I don´´t think somebody will do any harm to them if you bring them with you all the time, but conseder that you will not be able to get into A LOT of places (restaurants, hotels, museums, cefes, shops or almost any public building) with the dogs wich can be a really big problem if you want to go other places besides the beach.
Cheers.
Thanks for the help! I don't mind storing them underneath the bus with the luggage at all, as long as there's enough air & it doesn't get too hot under there. Maybe travelling at night would be best.
I don't expect any Mexicans to accomodate my pets as if they were people. It's a totally different culture up here in the way we treat our pets as family. But of course I wouldn't expect that anywhere else. We're planning to rent a house that allows dogs & they'll stay there for our trip, happy to be out of the snow.
I guess another option would be renting a car in Acapulco & driving them down with all our luggage. The Budget rental car site doesn't seem to allow one way rentals...so I'd have to return to Acapulco & take the bus back. But at least the return bus trip would be dog free. :)
Another bit of warning: in some areas, the starvling stray dogs become something between a nuisance and a danger. Sadly, poisoned baits are sometimes left out to terminate these animals. Since it is not unusual for the local pescadors to think of dogs as nothing more than mobile waste disposal units, there are few tears shed over dead dogs. Do NOT let your dogs roam the beach unsupervised. Especially not in an area you haven't scouted for such baits. If your Spanish is pretty good, the locals can tell you when these interdictions are taking place.
Great info. Thanks John! When we were in Melaque last year we were told that the stray dogs are usually shot every couple of months, when they get to be a problem. People are told in advance so they know to keep any pets inside on that particular night. I hadn't heard about poisoned bait though.
We live downtown in a condo so my dogs are used to being cooped up all day & on leashes when walked. If we can find a home with a yard to rent, they'll never want to go home. :)
Puerto Bill - I also hope to be there mid December for a month or so. Unfortunately, without our daughters - they are involved with high school basketball. I really do enjoy your writings, especially because "Everything is true with some humor thrown in."
I love my dogs, I would never bring them into Mexico. You would be taking your dogs to a place that just maybe 500 years ago all the people were a stone aged people living more like a ruthless pack of mad dogs themselfs. Years ago in P.V. the cops who did not like this gringo killed his black lab with rat poison, I was there and loved this dog. The mexican people are of a different breed,you will never understand these proto-humans.Don't bring your dogs into mexico.
I have brought my dogs into Mexico several times over the years without any special paper work. Prior to a trip to Puerto last year I was informed that I needed to secure a vaccination certificate issued no more than 72 hours prior to my crossing into Mexico. At some of the military check points I was asked to show them this document and at others they just admired my dog and sent us on our way. Upon entering back into the U.S. I was asked to prove that my dog was from the states and that I had not purchased the dog in Mexico. At that point I showed the imigration officer the vaccination certificate and he was satisfied and let us enter the country. I suggest that you visit the following website for current rules and regulations on bringing pets into and out of Mexico: www.solutionsabroad.com/a_pets.asp I hope this information will be of help for you.
Saludos, B M E
I do not want to confuse anyone. The hotel was the "LAS OLAS". I think she had the name first. The Dutch ladies had been on the beach befor nubies can remember. Still this small hotel might be the best hotel going. The Dutch lady is the grand dom of Zicatela. Her name is Katies and Zazie will help and do whatever they can for anyone. They both make a great team to help you out while your in Zicatela. I plan to see them both in November. For me the best going!!!! That's what I think, David.
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Stone age people...ruthless pack of mad dogs...different breed...proto-humans? Do us all a favor...send your dogs to Mexico and you stay under the rock you crawled out from.
I've driven to Mexico many times with my dogs-no problems but taking them on public transportation there can be problematic. I wouldn't want my dogs riding a bus in with the luggage. I'm sure it is okay sometimes as people ride down there sometimes but what if there was a problem with the ventilation or temperature-you wouldn't know until it is too late. I would phone Mexican airlines and bus lines before I leave home and see what they have to say. Once you are settled in Mexico keep a close eye on your dogs. Remember Mexico is quite uncivilized in many ways and this is one of them. Many people treat them like rats and don't hesitate to poison them. Also if they are attractive they can be stolen. It is difficult to find good veterinarians there.
Now that's what I call a Mexican! Great writing.
What was the deal with the sacrifices of human life and virgins? gg
yea..what about them virgins?? are there any left around possibly??
Delighted to get your thoughtful response! Churches: building atop toltec temples was one thing. I meant the wealthy worshippers as a different point. I think we agree here.
I believe torture was widespread. No doubt the Sp learned a few new tricks from the locals. Can you cite a text for your position? The Spanish conquest was brutal, much more so than the American settlements in the early going. But when push came to shove there were terrible massacres, dislocations, treachery, every mean possibility. Andrew Jackson did his share, why i mentioned him. Pirates were typically sailors who defected from the brutal life of Her Majesty's Royal Navy. The Spaniards will tell you Sir Francis Drake was one also! Pizarro avoided Mexico only because Cortez got there first. Poca diferencia. And I'm not sure what you're adding about VERACRUZ. You seem to be arguing that V was not a viable ocean port by the Revolution...
best Jan
Well, I'll give it a shot. Some people here use air at night in their bedrooms. It's only really necessary a few nights. Actually, we've been using a down comforter lately. The night temps are in the low 70's. Our electricity is usually about 220 pesos every 2 months. Water bill is 70 pesos a month, 45 for water and 25 for sewer. Phone is about 185 pesos monthly for basic service. Internet is about 1800 pesos a year. The water supply is the Colotepec River, and the only time there has been any problem with it is when they shut off the water to the San Pedro side twice earlier this year. Surprisingly enough, when the San Pedro folks mentioned that the electricity was controlled from their side, the water came back on and has been very reliable. If you use air conditioning a lot it can get expensive, as the rate per KW hour increases with usage. Another big KW burner is a fridge that isn't frost free. Those suckers need to be defrosted about every ten days and really make the meter spin.
The link below is to a website that contains a couple of hundred photos (more to be added) of a variety of Puerto views. These were taken in July with a Minolta 7i digital camera which enables high resolution. Feel free to peruse. Any comments, questions or corrections of captions would be appreciated ... easily done when added to the site guestbook.
Some of you may have gone to albums already (see earlier post). Some new photos have been added to those albums. There are new albums, as well.
As I said before, photos are easily downloadable to your computer. If your plan to use them is more than personal, please contact me first.
Enjoy.
<http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns> [%sig%]
Thank you thank you thank you.
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Does anyone have a recommendation for a good dentist, perhaps one that also speaks a little english ?
There is one highly recommended dentist, a lady, office on Av. Oaxaca. I've seen her reconstructive work on a front tooth that was broken in half by a surfboard. The family used our phone to consult with their home dentist throughout the process - their local dentist said he would have done exactly what the Puerto Escondido dentist did. She charged about $210 (USD)as I remember, their local dentist said his charges would be close to $2,000. If I can remember or find her name, I'll post it here.
Olga Livia Cortez. Have been going to her for years. Her office is at Av. Oaxaca #105 Altos, PE. Speaks very good English but her receptionist dosen't speak a lick. She does a lot of dental work on gringos especially during the high tourist season. Don't know when your going, how long your staying or what you need done but I would contact her as soon as you get there. Last January my wifes root canal, post and porcelain crown was about 2900 pesos or about $290 US. Miguel Sucio
Dennis, I think we're talking about the same dentista. Her office is on the 2nd floor of that address. She remodeled her office last year and has very up-to-date equipment. Miguel Sucio
Thanks for your help. I need a crown and I am going to give it a try. We will be there for 7 weeks so I should have enough time.
My cubical is now alive with pictures of Puerto, thank you many times over lovo
I plan to move to Mexico and am looking for a six month rental beginning in October of this year. Does anyone know of any properties available that have the following characteristics? We are looking for a property that generally fits the following description: 2 bedrooms or more beachfront or view of beach/lake with a pool stand alone single house, not condo or apartment full service kitchen (e.g. refrigerator, stove, etc. . . ) good condition house Air condition preferred we prefer to be in a location that is a little more isolated - not in the center of town Our price range is $600-$1000 depending on the property.
Any leads would be appreciated. Cheers! - Amber
Cortez - That's the name I remember. Being on the 2nd floor cinches the memories - thanks Miguel. I had a root canal this year in Alaska - $1,470 USD for the X-rays, root canal, "crown preparation". Crown was going to be an additional close to $1,000 - I said forget it, at least into the next insurance year.
Stan, Thanks for the advice. You know of any restaurants that will the whole dinner on the beach? Let me know.
I've seen the Rincon del Mar serve dinner on the beach, a fully laid table alone Playa Principal.
Very nice pictures, nice way to share them! [%sig%]
I read somewhere about an anglo woman who hosted a weekly radio program in P E-- international music maybe. Can someone put me in touch with her, or tell me about any such offbeat radio in the area? muchas graciosas el chilango
HOLA, SOY UNA CHAVA DEL DISTRITO FEDERAL QUE PERDIO A UN AMIGO MUY QUERIDO EN LA COSTA CHICA DE GUERRERO, CERCA DEL LIMITE CON OAXACA DAISUKE SE ENCONTRABA NADANDO EN PLAYA DE LAS TORTUGAS DEL MUNICIPIO DE MARQUELIA GUERRERO, EL 16 DE JULIO DE 2003 A LAS 6 DE LA TARDE, CUANDO DE PRONTO LA CORRIENTE LE IMPIDIO REGRESAR A LA PLAYA Y LO ARRASTRO HACIA MAR ABIERTO. SUS FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS TENEMOS FE EN QUE HAYA OCURRIDO UN MILAGRO Y HAYA LLEGADO A ALGUN LUGAR DE LA COSTA DE OAXACA. POR ELLO SUPLICO A TODOS QUIENES LLEGAN A VISITAR ESTA PAGINA QUE POR FAVOR VISITEN EL LINK http://www.tomzap.com/amezcua.html POR SI ALGUIEN LLEGA A VERLO O SABEN DE ALGUIEN QUE SE ENCUENTRE EN CALIDAD DE DESCONOCIDO Y QUE CORRESPONDA A LA DESCRIPCION DE DAISUKE.
DE ANTEMANO MUCHAS GRACIAS.
Jan, her name is Helena (alias LUCY SONIDO)and she is a Canadian. She works with Radio Esmeralda in P.E. T. (chilango by heart)
Her complete name is Helena Szustka and her email address is: lucysonido@hotmail.com. Why would you call yourself a "chilango by heart??" Do you come from Mexico City??
Heard through the local grapevine that Armando Belmare's amparo ran out and the federal and local government were waiting in the wings with their legal papers to start the process of taking away the building. Let's wait and see if justice really works here.....
I was born in the D. F. which makes me a chilango I guess. T.
This famous magalomaniac was ordered to stop construction of this illegal edifice so subsequently advertised increased wages on local radio. Workmen showed up for the high wages and finished it in record time. Who said corruption is dead! Armando and staff are fulkl of it!!!!!
There is a senior olmpic medalist named Tab from Chicago who tirelessly practices discus from these markers.
Hope it's a monthly budget!
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What's better than winning a gold medal at the Senior Olympics?
Info about Belmar & Sr. Olympics spot is very interesting.
Any more about the red 'castle' house? (See "Zicatela Edifices" album at URL below.) <http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns>
Our daughter needs to have her wisdom teeth out and she will be visiting us over Christmas. Has anyone had teeth extracted by Dr. Cortez? [%sig%]
I walk the beach almost daily and have wondered for a couple of years, what is that red castle thing and who owns it?? One of these days I'll have to walk up and check it out. It looks like something out of Alice and Wonderland with all those little spires and and wierd windows. Saw Tab yesterday working on his little round circles and complaining as it's about the fifth time he's had to move them around on the beach. Either it was Belmares' building project or the shifting sands of the beach that keeps causing him to have to redo the circles. Great guy and his wife makes wonderful cakes and cookies....
The red 'castle' is owned by a man from Quebec, Canada. We rented a house near his 'castle' and often witnessed his drunken abuse (verbal and physical) of neighbours and locals who worked for him. He is not a pleasant fellow; prone to temper tantrums and loud shouting. Don't be fooled by the heart-shaped windows....there isn't much love emanating from this place...
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Thanks for all the advice everyone. We've decided to drive down to PE instead of flying/bussing it. I'd hate to be a bother & come off as an obnoxious gringo freaking out about my dogs on the bus....so I think we'll be better off just driving the whole way & finding a rental with a securely fenced yard.
Plus there are so many areas I'd like to explore in central Mexico that I'd never get to see otherwise. Now I just need to find a place to stay once we arrive! Cheers!
Great info! I've put off going to the dentist for years because of the expense. I'll definitely check out Dr. Cortez.
We 'adopted' a Miniature Schnauzer in Puerto last year and drove all the way home to Canada with him. There is an excellent vet named Javier Beltran Robledo on on Av. Oaxaca 201 Centro. He speaks English and his prices are very reasonable. Javier also has a very sweet assistant who does grooming. You should start your dogs on 'Frontline' for tics before entering Mexico. You will need an 'Authorized Veterinary Certificate of Health' (Certificado Medico Veterinario de Salud) five days before entering and leaving Mexico with your dogs. Best to keep your dogs leashed until you figure out beach areas where there aren't too many strays as they are sometimes very aggressive. I would not advise stowing your dogs with the luggage. We will be driving back to Puerto in October with our "Chico". Can't wait! [%sig%]
What is better than winning a gold medal at the Senior Olympics? Being too young to qualify for them! Seriously, Tab has always worked very hard to keep in shape. His long hours working with weights and practicing sure keep him younger than his years, which I won't publish here. All that with an arthritic ankle from sports injuries when he was much younger.
Boy! White 'castle' and red castle not too popular around here.
Thanks to all for all the interesting info.
Thank you. That's nice to hear.
I'll be adding a few more as time allows. Even have a couple or so from Huatulco. Stopped and talked to someone in your dive shop on, I believe, June 20th. Ate at the restaurant next door as one of your groups was feasting. A big rainstorm trapped us there. Person at the shop gave us some good advice about snorkeling on choppy water days. We were only in Huatulco for two nights.
The Huatulco photos aren't much, but I'll get them up someday soon.
You spoke to Natanael, he had a group of 18 divers from Mexico City that weekend. Sorry I missed you, I was in the States for a visit to PADI. Did you get to go snorkeling? [%sig%]
Yes, we did, thank you. Unfotunately not to the best of places, due to the weather. However, the nearby, local spot was just fine.
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What television service is available in PE? And what sort of programs?
What do you want a TV in puerto for?
dito
I'm glad you beachcombers have thrown your televisions out the window, but why aim them at this guy's head? TV is a smudgy window to mexican life, you get a bellyache or or a burn you might park your ass and flip channels for the Ballet Folklorico or Jim Rockford complaining in Spanish. Or in my case a baseball game! Leaving more beach for the pure of vision.
jan
I tend to enjoy the morning programming - I don't know if one would describe them as "talk" or "variety". They usually have a male host surrounded by absolutely beautiful women dancing, etc. All you guys know the programming to which I refer...
Chris: At present Puerto Escondido is served by four VHF television channels. XHJP-TV Channel 11 transmits Azteca 7 and XHPCC Channel 7 transmits Azteca 13 from Mexico City. XHPET Channel 2 transmits Televisa's XEW Channel 2 from Mexico City. The current SCT database also lists XHUOX Cahnnel 9 as being licensed to Puerto Escondido, and operated by the Oaxaca State Government. During previous visits I have seen local,channels 2 7 and 11 but I can not vouch for channel 9. I hope this information is of use to you.
Saludos, B M E
What about WINTER BASEBALL, do the Diablos Rojos get TV time, or the playoffs? Though it looks like no Mexican League team plays closer than Acapulco. Those satellite dishes look capable of delivering the Cubs and Red Sox to shady beer burrows on a hot summer afternoon.
Bananas used to pull in CNN and some occassional sports stuff. For the time it took to suck down a cold beer you could see how the rest of the world was going to hell in a bucket...
Hotel Jardin Real in Bacocho has US DirecTV with every channel available including the Football Package. <http://www.puertoconnection.com/jardinreal.html> [%sig%]
Does PE have fine dining restarants on their cliffs - had wonderful experience in Acapulco in this area - but didn't care for the city life. Also - some real authentic mexican rest. that are a must do - we really mess up the mexican food here in the north east - so we will want our fill of it there. Thanks. Judy [%sig%]
As far as I know, we were last in Puerto in Feb., there are no "fine dining" places on the cliffs. The Santa Fe Hotel has probably the "classiest" dining overlooking Zicatela beach. It is a vegetarian restaurant with some seafood. I really don't think you will fine "great cuisine" in Puerto, lots of good restaurants mostly with seafood or they tend toward "Italian fare, pizza, pasta, etc. I have been to Acapulco many times and know of the restaurants you speak of. Puerto is a much different town, very laid back and not touristy. Lots of decent Mexican restaurants in the town itself .
Dining in P.E. is a matter of taste. We love everything from breakfast at Santa Fe or Carmen's or Cafecita ... to lunch at Danny's Terrace (Hotel Rincon del Pacifico) to dinner at a variety of places ... Junto al Mar ... Arco Iris (great view of sunsets) ... or a simple taqueria "downtown" at La Tropicana (tacos al pastor are the best) at the corner of Oaxaca Avenue and Second St. There are many great places to eat ... and only so much time to sample them. I guess that's why we are looking forward to our 7th year there! Good luck.
Dave
Hi everyone, A friend and I are planning a trip to PE. Just like many of you have done it and live in PE. I would like some info. We plan to arrive in mid Jan. through June of 2004. My last trip was in Dec. of 91' I drove from the midwest. My ? is what's the cost of living in PE now, I understand that the way of life is very laid back...... But how much should one expect to live a laid back life? We want to work also but just in case we can't find a job we dont want to run out of money. We want some of are friends to visit us while we are in PE. Also some of the nightlife we like to have some cubas... thank you for your time......And maybe will see some of you guys in Jan.
[%sig%] Post Edited (09-06-03 17:13)
thanxs Traveller................Every info will help us.....we want to budget our money right........................... gracias [%sig%]
This board has been bored for a while now. Any new observations? Any old observations? At least, whats the weather been like? Thanks.
Can't help you out with cost of living but my bf & I are planning to be in PE from mid-January to June as well, once we find a place to rent. Maybe we can buy you a couple of cuba libres! :)
Well Kristyl that sounds great....cant wait to be in PE I'll get the next round.....lol [%sig%]
If you want to rent a descent place for 2 people (house or condo) plus all utility , expenses for food and the odd dinner at a nice place once in a while, my estimate is at around 1000$ a month or little more depending on your lifestyle. T.
Are the three sisters still selling carnitas up on the highway above Zicatela, about half way to the point? It's fantastic, but make sure you know which parts you're recieving, as they cook an entire pig every day. Well worth the experience!!!
If my 4 yr old girl were to make an extended stay in P E, I'd like to hear any knowledgable opinions about where she could mingle with the LOCAL KIDS ? Or even another anglo! (Other than chance beach encounters.) Esp organized settings where she could be learning soccer, swimming and dialect while i sharpen my own syntax with the parents. Can the P E kids en primaria or secundaria get English instruction?
How long do you consider extended? There are all sorts of private schools here for kids from age 1 and up. One is Benjamin Bloom, but there are quite a few. They may have limited times when you can enrol a kid, but they're here. The majority of the kids I've encountered here don't speak any english at all. There are a couple of private computer colleges that advertise english instruction, and maybe private schools, but not the public schools. There are a number of people here offering ESL courses, but english is not something kids need to know to function in Mexico.
The last time I was in Puerto I was flat broke. Took the bus to San Jose del Pacifico on a donated ticket. This took place in 1974. Think I'll fly this time. Question is, do I need to make a reservation or does Aero Tucan fly every day from Oaxaca with seats available? While living in San Jose del Pacifico, I witnessed a plane crash in the mountains. Hopefully Aero Tucan is more reliable.
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Hi Dawn, There´s a recent post about Aero Tucan on the Pto. Angel board.
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Thanx! I was thrown into the deep end of the language pool as a kid too, as often with barrio kids. A good experience, though i was pained that they wouldn't let me sit in on the english half of the schoolday at the Mexico City School...
We all played baseball like fanáticos en el DF. Are you situated to observe any LIGA PEQUEñA play for girls in SOFTBALL down your way? Or do they mix on the baseball diamond?
HI AMBER, LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK.
I'M INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR NEEDS.
I HAVE A HOME ON ZICATELA BEACH; GATED AND A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM THE BEACH.
I DON'T NORMALLY RENT MY HOME ON SHORT TERM AND HAVE NOT BEEN ADVERTIZING. CALL ME OR EMAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE.
I COULD NOT LET THE HOUSE GO FOR LESS THAN $1000.OO PER MONTH. THIS WOULD NOT INCLUDE UTITLITIES OR HOUSE MAID.
ESTHER COOGAN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA 707-537-1128
Sorry everybody, it´s on the Huatulco board, under "airfare".
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Does anyone know if they have a cell phone that is registered with Telus or Rogers if it will work in the Puerto Escondido area? Gracias
Hotel Arco Iris. All rooms have view to ocean and prices are very reasonable. For Reservations Phone # 011-529-545-820-432
Where is that on Zicatela? I never found it and I'm going back.
I'm gathering that the Split Coconut has moved to Bacocho. I thought that he had just opened up a new one. Which is it?
My husband and I are going to P.E. in Dec for about 6 weeks. Does anyone need anything that would be a reasonable thing to bring down?
Split Coconut is now located inside the grounds of Hotel Jardin Real in Bacocho. His hours are 2pm - 10pm Tuesday - Sunday with happy hour daily 2pm-4pm. <http://www.puertoconnection.com/jardinreal.html> [%sig%]
yes I have about 30 pictures of the locals in the market, the cheese lady, the fish lady , jose and his familly at the kitchen rena, I would love for them to have these pics, would you be interested in handing them out , you would be an instant hero lovo
Consider renting a village/condo, most of them have parking inside their premises.
Browse this site and you will find what you are looking for.
Jorge
Has the coast of Oaxaca gotten RAIN to normal levels this summer? Sounds like the markets are full of produce. Drought has crept into many areas like our Willamette Valley. Already El Heraldo is warning of a Mexican farm crisis from other competitive problems, especially since the demise of Conasupo aid from the gov't.
Hi Jan, I can´t say anything about outside the immediate area, but in Huatulco it has definitely not rained as much as normal. September is the peak of the rainy season and so far we have had practicaly none.
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Throughout the summer I would say that Puerto had normal rainfall. I think that the farmers really depend on September rain and if they don't get more, then the year will be ruined. Usually in September when it rains it pours but this month is almost half over so if they have not received much yet they are probably a bit desperate.The landscape is very green (a lot of monte, AH ! ) but the farmers need rain on a regular basis to water their crops. PB
Come on, PB, how about another classic "monte update"? I'm serious - I miss your informative writing style, even if it is about "monte"...
more monte PB , we are looking to move to MX, the more insight the better. Bob
No rain, no gain... for el monte. Meanwhile the altiplano from el DF to Guanajuato is washing away in downpours. the Maya had it right--for awhile-- petitioning for fair weather by casting virgins into the cenote har har.
A, My name is Gina, I have a 3 houses that shares a pool , have a great location is 10 minuts walkt from the beach manzanillo, you don't need AA we have a perfect weatter then , haw mane people are you ?? I need to know if you are interested PRONTO? Gina
Javier , I have a house with your needs close to Manzanillo beach easy walk to Bahia principal , and if you have a car is easy to drive in 5 minuts to Marinero? Let me know asp . $1500 pesos a night. Gina
The tender loving care of the pork plate is still quite evident! [%sig%]
Rockaway has 7 peso cerveza'a and they are ice cold!!!!
Hello out there, Has anyone of you ever stayed at the Villa Sol apartments and, if so, what are your comments? Thanks for the help.
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I always wonder how many people who go to Puerto go to El Centro. You know the part of town that is on the other side of the hwy. I guess a lot of people go the Mercado and Ahorrara (the local Safeway) and maybe the internet cafés and maybe even the bank but miss other places that gringos that stay for extended periods have to go to. I am talking about the paint store or one of the plastic stores or one of the bike shops or maybe the video store or a ferretería (hardware store). Ferretería actually means iron works or a place where they do iron work. I guess the old iron works evolved into the modern day hardware stores. I seem to spend a lot of time in the ferreterías for some reason. There are many of them in Puerto and I always seem to have to go to 2-3 to get what I want. The Home Depot of Puerto is Zimat and I go there often but even though they have what seems like everything there are some things that they don't have or I don't know how to say it and it is not hanging on the wall. At some of the other stores I can find it and just point. Puerto Pronto is a good little store and they might have as much as Zimat in an area about a tenth the size. It seems that all their stuff is out in the open so there is a lot to point at. I go in there and have to crouch down low and slide sidewise to get through all the stuff but the people are very nice and seem to help me right away. And I don't think they try to give me the gringo discount (twice the price) and there is a good chance they have what I need. The main problem is trying to figure out how to say what I need when it is not on public display. One time I needed a piece of wire with alligator clips on both sides so that I could check an electrical connection but I was not sure how to ask for a piece of wire with a roach clip on both ends. It took me about 2 weeks to get up the courage to try to obtain such an obscure item. I found it at a car-stereo/speaker/video player/TV remote control/radio store but it took a lot of courage to go in there and ask for something I had no idea what to call it. I mean trying to act out a roach clip is hard and I didn't want them to think I wanted to walk out with a bag of weed. Well it turned out that they had exactly what I needed. There was a box of them....Why? After all the anxiety of figuring out how to get it, the relief was enormous. One of the things that I point to is little plastic plugs that you put in the hole that you have drilled in the cement wall to hang a picture or something so that I can put a screw in the cement. I seem to buy a lot of these little wonders. I don't know where they all go but I'll bet I have used over a hundred. You would think I could remember the name so that I could get them at other stores. I walk into Puerto Pronto and they start throwing them at me. Speaking of screws, just try to find the one you want.... Well there are two screw stores that I know of and I usually go to House of Screws (Casa de Tornillos). Its one of my favorite stores because they have all their screws and other things hanging on the wall so it is easy to point to what I want. You have to buy the very useful sheetrock screws by the screw as opposed to by the pound or kilo so you have to know how many screws you will need. If you screw up and don't get enough you have to make that second or third trip that I am so use to making. You can buy nails by the pound but not screws. The ferreterías have screws but not the selection the House of Screws has and they never seem to have the screws that I want. One of the things that House of Screws has hanging on the wall are "O"rings. (Don't ask) There are about 10-15 sizes hanging there. Well right before I left Puerto I needed one. The damn store was closed so I went back the next day and they were closed again so I went to the other screw store (El Gallo) and they were closed also. This went on for a few days. There must have been a screw convention in Acapulco or something. Now where in hell do you get "O"rings in Puerto when the screw people are at the convention and all the ferreterías don't have them and the last hardware store of 5 that I went to said "It is difficult in Puerto"? I had to have one and it popped into my pea brain that cars use "O"rings so I went to search auto parts stores. The second one I went to had it. What a relief. This could have been an all day thing as there are about 243 auto part stores in Puerto. By the way they are called "O"rings in Spanish. It seems that if you look hard enough you can pretty much get whatever you need in Puerto these days if you think about what to ask for or know where to point and can figure out all the possible places to look. It is frustrating though, when you go to get 2-3-4 things and you come back with NOTHING. You have to rethink the possibilities as I had to do with the "O"rings. When I thought of the auto parts store I was so proud of the brain storm but after the first store did not have the right size I thought that maybe cars used every size but the one I wanted and then I was depressed until I arrived at the second store and the guy had exactly what I wanted. I think he found it under an old radiator or something but he had it and my depression quickly turned to elation. That happens often in Puerto. Anyway when you are uptown going to the Mercado or Ahorrara check out the other stores that you walk by so that if you ever need an "O"ring or something obscure you will have an idea where to go. See if you can find the store where they do picture frames or where they sell mirrors or Direct TV remote controls, or where you can get your seat cushions repaired, goat tacos, where to buy bags of candy for the kid's birthday piñata that you knew where to get from an earlier stroll. There is the IMSS (social security) store that sells a lot of food products for a little cheaper than Ahorrara or the different doctor's offices, and the insecticide store(s) where you can get backpack sprayers and some malathion so you can give your hotel room a good spraying for mosquitoes before you go to bed, or one of the plastic stores where you can get some plastic dinnerware so that you have enough when your mother-in-law comes to visit (they also have real plates and glasses and pots and pans and Tupperware like things and other stuff). If you know where to find the funeral shop you can have your friend shipped home with no fuss. You can find out where to buy charcoal (carbón) for the BBQ that you bought at the BBQ store or a bigger Boom Box because your neighbors think they have the loudest one in town. If you look real hard you can find real milk, not the stuff on shelves that lasts for 23 years, open or not. Does your new dog friend have fleas? Well you will know where the vet is so that you can get health papers so that you can bring Fido home with you. As you can see the list is endless if you just take a stroll uptown. It will also give you something else to do besides sitting on the beach or at the pool, reading your book and enjoying your vacation. PB P.S. While driving back to the U.S. we were getting gas at a Pemex station and right there on the ground was an "O"ring that I am positive is the same size that I spent 3-4 days looking for. It is in my bag ready for the trip down next year.
We have not stayed there, looked at them. They are small sort of confining, no views or very little. We met two sisters that are from Canada that have stayed there two years in a row and they love it. So , I guess its as always what you want and if the price is right.
You also know that they are along way from the Adoquin and the main beaches.
They have a great beach club and a great beach, you take their shuttle down to it.
Good Luck,
I just returned from a month in Mexico and I cannot sing the praises of Gina, the Information Goddess, highly enough. As many of you know, Gina dispenses information at the tourist department's Information Booth just outside the west end of the barrier on the Adoquin. For those of you who don't already know, Gina is one of Puerto's greatest assets and anyone travelling to Puerto needs to make her acquaintance.
Gina not only speaks English but I heard her converse easily with Italian and German tourists as well. Regardless of what you need to know, Gina seems to have the answer. How do I get a bus to Puerto Angel? Where is there a laundromat? What's the best cypercafe? How much does property cost in Puerto? Where are the best beaches for swimming? Who do I talk to if I want to buy a gorilla? (OK, just kidding about the gorilla but you get the point.) She provides a terrific walking tour that gives the tourist who may never ordinarily make it off the beaches a look at the Puerto of those who live there. She is a walking book of information about the way of life in Puerto, its small shops, history, and its people. Departing from the Information Booth, the tour through the upper part of town provides insights that one might not ordinarily discover on their own. I highly recommend it.
If you are looking for a place to stay or even a place to buy in Puerto, again Gina is a terrific resource. She seems to know everyone and everything that is going on in Puerto. She is available to go with you to look at property and her bilingual skills are invaluable. I can't imagine how I would have been able to purchase a house in Puerto had it not been for all of Gina's assistance.
In addition to being a wonderful resource, she is also a very nice person. You want to just hang out with her. Please do stop and see her at the Information Booth when you are in Puerto and be sure to tell her that Karen says "hi."
Bravo Bill! These are really fun to read. I hope you can package them into a booklet for PE visitors someday.
Bill, In our two short weeks in Puerto in February every year, my husband and I go to the Mercado and the Ahorrara every Saturday and Wednesday. We always walk back and on our way check out all the neat little stores. A couple of years ago we went to the hardware store to buy a new shower head (we didn't like the one in our hotel). Good thing it was in view because we had no idea how to indicate what we were looking for.
We always stop on the way back an buy fresh tortilla's and check out the plastic stores. We take a list and sometimes we find all of the items, and sometimes we don't.
This years challenge was to purchase a corkscrew. I think we found it on our last day there. Anyway, it is there for next year.
I would love to know where the store is with real milk. That is one of the things I miss most while down there.
Bravo !!! P.B.
Translating the technical world into spanish is quite a trick , I think the idea is to call it like you see it, for expample , a cam shaft, does it look like a tree of levers , yes,so we call it arbalo de leves,<sp> or perica or parrort beak for a cresent wrench and im sure the list goes on.
as for the milk I'd finished every day with some bimbo doughnuts and a liter of milk on the strip , both drug stores had some very cold milk , cheers!! Thanks for keeping the spirit P.E. alive and well here in the states lovo
Katie, if you tell me were to get a corkscrew I will tell you about the milk. I know it is not at Casa de Tornillos because it is not up on the wall. Also a good place to buy wine is on the same street as the Mercado and Ahorrara (3a poniente) but about 1/2 block past the market and past the coffee store. The name is something like Guadalajara but it is not Guadalajara, just similar. You can't miss it if you go up past the coffee store past the Mercado.
About the milk. It is hard to find. We found it on the refrigerated Lala milk truck. We had them deliver it to the little tienda by our house and it came twice a week although I think it might come more often now. At first, sometimes the milk was out of date but we bought it anyway to keep the supply line going. That changed after we told them we would not buy out of date milk anymore. After a couple months my wife stopped the Lala truck again and bought it straight from them. She was paying 10 pesos a liter from the store and the truck price was less than 1/2 that. Soon after that she went back into the store and they wanted her to buy a liter that they did not sell for about a week and was way old and my wife said no way. As it was she was buying 8 liters at a time which she had asked the tienda lady to get for her but after figuring out how much she was getting gouged for and the way the tienda lady tried to make her buy something that was not drinkable she told her she would not buy milk from her any more and stopped going to that tienda and went to the one next door. The people there always had big smiles and asked how things were and were just much more friendly. Anyway check out where lovo said he found it, although I am not sure where he means, and look for the Lala truck that has refrigeration. Those guys are real nice. They even told us that they have a cell phone and would call us when they were in the area.
lovo, I like the one about the parrot beak. That is what I mean about going home and thinking about it for awhile.Something somehow will pop into mind on how to get your point across. PB P.S. After thinking about it, I would look for a corkscrew at the pastic store across from Ahorrara. Have you ever looked for fingernail clippers? I think they have them at Ahorrara behind the medicine counter.
[%sig%] Post Edited (09-18-03 18:06)
Yes, my mom does make wonderful cakes, cookies and other desserts. (and stays very thin due to control and discipline that I do not have). I will pass on the compliment. They will get quite a charge to hear that they have been discussed on the internet. (an area that is very foreign to them).
My dad has lots of medals from the Senior Olympics, but is not going to compete this year - he is going to wait until next year when he is 80 and the youngest person is his category. He still works out with weights 5 or 6 days a week.
A mutual friend from Puerto just sent me this link - I got quite a charge out of seeing my parents mentioned.
I visit them every February for a couple of weeks and help take care of the 4 poodles who live with my parents (dogs that originally belonged to the owner of the BelMar until my mom took over).
I love Puerto Escondido and the BelMar!!
Puerto Bill, I believe the name of the little store past the coffee shop is La Guadalupana. It is also one of the cheapest places town for liquor. Although you can get a good deal at the "government store" sometimes. Your stories about your experiences on the "Avenue" reminds me of one of mine. Drove down in the early 90's, camping on the way. Had a one burner propane stove. Just used it in PE to boil some eggs once in awhile (my little woman is the chef the house). Anyway I ran out of propane and headed to the Avenue Oaxaca, where if you can't find it there, you don't need it. I believe I stopped at the same hardware store you did, just south of the post office. Since I didn't speak much Spanish at the time (and still can't now), I asked for a small propane by saying, "propina chico, por favor". Drew a lot of attention, for sure. After a moment a Mexican gentleman said in perfect English, "You mean a tanka de gas". Oops. Seems I asked for a small tip! Miguel Sucio P.S. Turned out they didn't have a "tanka de gas chico", but directed me to a hardware store further south on Oaxaca that did. At the price of 100 1991 pesos. Switched to a white gas one burner for all the rest of trips south.
Another good read from Puerto Bill - Thanks, as always! I know nearly all the places you mention. I spend many of my late morning/early afternoon days prowling the same area, and would highly recommend the area to anybody. Venture out of the typical tourist areas and beaches. It's the true "heart" of Puerto Escondido. Tom Penick has a map showing the area PB talks about at <http://www.tomzap.com/map-esco.html> . The "El Centro" area is roughly 50 blocks, north of the east-west main road(shown in red on Tom's map, and either side of the north-south red road(Av. Oaxaca) . Av. Oaxaca is the center of the local merchant area, but be sure to venture on the side streets either side of Av. Oaxaca. When I say a 50 block area, these are small blocks. It wouldn't take more than 45 minutes max to walk the entire perimeter, but you can spend days exploring the streets and shops within. Once I was prowling the area looking for some 3 ring binders, and found a small shop on a side road east of Av. Oaxaca that sold nothing but small notepads and 3 ring binders. How they made a "living" is beyond me, but I sure was glad to give them my pesos for my binders, and they(husband-wife) were genuinely appreciative when I told them they could "keep the change". If you say "El Centro" as a destination to most of the taxi drivers, more often than not they'll take you to the Adoquin/Av. Perez Gazga, the main tourist area(pink road on Tom's map, referenced above). That's because(speaking for myself), they peg you as a tourist.
The bus system is another adventure. At 2.5 pesos per ride, many of the buses will loop through the real "El Centro", with numerous stops. If you're in doubt, get on any local bus, and within 30-40 minutes max, you'll be back where you got on. Next time, you'll know the routing and can get off and on at your will. Just remember the name of the bus. Cerveza-by-the-case is another adventure. You'll pass by many stores selling cerveza by the case. I usually pay 94p for a case of 20 Coronas(that's less than 50 cents USD each. The downside is you'll pay a 50 peso deposit for the empty bottles. But if you can get the bottles back, I've never had any hassle getting the 50 peso deposit refunded. A few of the cerveza shops even deliver. Siesta is generally 2-4 PM, and some of the smaller shops close up during that time.
Dennis, Read your post about the buses. Good place to start taking bus trips is a the Mercado. The wife and I spent a couple of days just getting on a bus that has the neighborhood it's going to and Mercado on the windshield. And your right, 30 to 45 minutes and your back at the Mercado plus you've seen a lot of Puerto that you wouldn't usually see. Highly recommended. About the cerveza-by-the case. Be sure to keep your receipt to the deposito. You will need it to get your 50 pesos back at the end of your stay. I learned the hard way. Course, if your a REAL good customer, they may overlook it. Miguel Sucio
Thanks Phyllis, My wife and I were in Mexico, Huatulco to be exact, last January and, luckily, decided to take a side trip to the Puerto...loved it! It will be our first time outside the confines of an "all inclusive" and, we believe, Puerto Escondido is a good place to start. We don't need much as we already have downsized to an 800 square foot condo. When you say a long way, how long, in minutes to the Adoquin and the main beaches? Thanks for the interest....and the info!
I certainly argee with Miguel above. If you're facing the Mercado, ocean downhill at your back, Mercado in front of you(you're looking basically north), the buses will stop at the corner to your right, backed up uphill behind the nearest street corner to your right. If you know the bus you want, look for the name. If you don't, get on any bus, and in a bit of time you'll be back at the same place, 2.5 pesos for the "tour". The Mercado is known to be open Wednesday's and Saturday's, but it's "open" every day. True, a few merchants only open on Wed. and Sat., or bring their best produce, fish, meat, etc. then, but it's an active place 7 days/week(that said, I don't know if I've seen it on a Sunday...) As for Miguel's "About the cerveza-by-the case. Be sure to keep your receipt to the deposito. You will need it to get your 50 pesos back at the end of your stay. I learned the hard way. Course, if your a REAL good customer, they may overlook it." I agree. I've been burned with no receipt, but more times than not the 20 empty bottles have been accepted for a refund with no questions(but they do know me)...
Bottom line - take the effort to venture out of the main "tourist" areas/beaches, no matter where you are: Huatulco, Puerto Angel, etc. You'll be rewarded...
I know John Williams would agree. For those of you who don't read the Huatulco site, he knows the area and is insistent on visitors trying to broaden their experiences beyond the typical tourist areas and beaches. You only live once. Something I try to get across to my teenage girls, applicable here: "Do what you've always done, and you'll get what you've always got." Another one, particularly relevant to Puerto Bill's initial post on this thread, and certainly applicable to your Oaxaca/Puerto Escondido experience: "The best thing in the world is getting what you want. The worst thing is getting it without struggle, sacrifice, or waiting." Find the fresh milk. Find the screw or O-ring or binder or corkscrew you want/need. Enjoy the adventure involved in finding it. Thanks again to Puerto Bill for inspiring all of this!
Our first trip to Puerto Escondido was in 1999. We had gone to Hawaii for 20+ years, and were tired of the commercialism. We booked, sight unseen, at the Villa Sol, primarily because of their advertisement of a "panoramic ocean view" from the "suite" we would have. On arrival( 2 girls, then 9 and 12, 2 adults), we got the first taxi out of there and went looking for somewhere else. "The rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say: Totally unrealistic to find anything else on a taxi ride, at least for a family. Resigned to Villa Sol. 3+ weeks. Turned out to be great! No, the "panoramic ocean view" never materialized, but the staff was great! From the managers to the bus boys to the drivers. The pool is huge by Puerto Escondido standards, and the food was great. It took some initial "psychological adjustment", but I'd re-do the experience again, to be sure. It is in the Bacocho area, not really walkable to the main "tourist area" in Puerto Escondido, but cheap/free transportation is readily available. I've touted Villa Sol's "beach club" on my web site: "The atmosphere and setting of the Villa Sol "beach club" is equal to or surpasses anything I've seen in Hawaii or the Caribbean." An aerial picture of Bacocho beach and an insert of the Villa Sol's "beach club" is at <http://www.mexico-condo.com/Beaches.htm> , near the bottom.
In retrospect, we're glad we stayed there, and I return to their beach club everytime I'm in Puerto Escondido.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Dennis. By the way, for any sort of unusual hardware, be it a corkscrew or a funny drill bit, market day has always been best for me. The traveling Mercado Tanguí always has the hard to find but useful items, though you may have to search a lot of tables, especially if you don't know the terminology. If you're looking for folk art or other touristy things, the weekly market day is pretty useless; it's aimed at the indigenous population.
You are right, John. They have EVERYTHING. So much to point at. Right in front of your face. Saturday is the day for this. It is not there on Wednesday. As far as the veggie part of the market goes, my wife likes to buy stuff from the Indian (Is that a politically correct term these days?) ladies. She feels that they don't get as much business and their stuff is fresher. I know their chicken is much better than Ahorrara. They take up a couple of isles and have some weird stuff sometimes. Their fruit is good and flowers smell good. In late October and November they even have chanterelle mushrooms. PB
A story about getting your deposit back for bottles. In the past I always use to go buy a case of agua minerál when it came in glass bottles and it was Tehuacán. Tehuacán hade natural lithium and I thought is was relaxing. Anyway, every year when I was leaving, it was always a fight to get my money back. There was always some excuse why they could not get a refund. (I always got it though). One year I bought the case off the delivery truck and got the receipt and the guy's name and phone number and his kids name and the size of his shoes and his wife's maiden name. Everything I could think of. I told the driver that I had had trouble in the past getting my money back and he said it would be no problem and just go to the distributor when I was leaving. So when it came time to leave I went to the distributor to get my money back. They told me the guy with the money was not there and to come back tomorrow. I go back the next day and they were closed (in anticipation of my arrival?). The following day they were open and they tell me that I screwed up because I did not buy the case straight from the distributor. I showed them all the info and told them the driver told me to come to the distributor to get my money back etc. etc. This went on for about an hour and a few phone calls but I did get my money back. All $2.50. I showed them. I don't buy refresco bottles with deposit anymore because the plastic ones are about the only ones you can find and they don't break and are pretty much the same price. Also there is no more Tehuacán mineral water. I think Coca Cola bought them out but I am nor sure if they have the natural lithium anymore. I will say though, there is nothing like an ice cold bubbly mineral water after monte whacking. PB
Bill, Thanks for the info....as to buying wine, we bring our own!!!! This year, two cases. (We own a winery in Michigan). Had a little trouble w/customs this year, but explained we made the wine and it seemed to work. Of course we really think he wanted a bottle of Cab Sauv but we were not about to give it up! Thanks again, love to read your stories.
Hey Kathy, how are things in the windy city? I love this site, reminds me of beautiful days at the pool.
Hope to see you again in February.
Yea, but where did you get the corkscrew?
PB - I'm certain we found a corkscrew in Ahorrora, in the row just next to and south of the aisle with the wine and beer....but I on the other hand I may be thinking of San Francisco in Progreso.
A few years ago we went on a quest for an adjustable guitar cord that that has two little plastic hands that clip into the sound hole. We noticed them being used by the musicians busking around restaraunts along Playa Principal and thought our daughter would like one.
We called over one of the guitar players, pointed to the little thing holding up his guitar and asked where we could find one. He wrote down the name of the store where he bought his - a Ferrerteria Something-or-other up on Av. Juarez near the post Office. I didn't know exactly what a ferreretia was but I was pretty sure it wasn't a music store, he also didn't tell us what the thing was called or at least I didn't hear him say what it was.
We found the shop the next day and saw immediately that it was a hardware store. Although we were certain we had the wrong name or address we went in and began to mumble and stutter to the woman behind the counter about a little string with manos plastico. We made all the pantomime gestures we could imagine like playing a guitar and putting a strap around our necks but got only blank stares and smiles. After a while one of the other clerks started bringing us rope samples and plastic household things in the hope that they were getting warm. My wife finally took out a piece of paper and drew a guitar, a string and little mickey mouse like hands but before she was finsihed the women said "Ah, Si, un mano a la guitarra! ?Que color quiere?" On another trip to Progreso the toilet plunger broke and I went to town to get a new one. I'm not sure about others but we have found a plunger to be in dispensible in Mexico and something not to be without for very long. I tried at several ferreritias along the main drag and asked for a pluinger using the closest word I could find from our dictionary. No one had what ever it was I asked for. Finally at a small shop run by women I was asked what exactly I was looking for. Again the pantomine, but this time no picture was required "Ah Si, una destupidor!" Pero, lo siento no hay." Destupidor was in my dictionary but had nothing to do with toilets or plungers. Armed now with the proper word I bought one it at the ferrertia just up the road. I had a choce of a grande or chico as well as handle lenghth all for 15 pesos.
Coat hangers is another word that my dictionary has left me hanging out to dry. In Valladolid I learned that the little string or srtap that clip to sunglasses so you can hang them around your neck is a 'cordom'.
I've often felt like the Alabanian tourist in a London Tobacco Shop in a Monty Python skit. He wants pack of gum or something, but when he finds the phrase in his Albanian/English phrasebook he is prompted to ask "May I please fondle your buttocks?".
Great
You can also try the PAPELERIA or the back of an envelope: draw a picture of what you want. Then you won't get your buttocks fondled or spend a misunderstood afternoon extracting a clotheshanger from same!
I had to go to one of those plastic stores to get a spray bottle for my DEET spray - I lost the nozzle to bottle it came in when I got attacked by a pack of dogs. I had to go into about 4-5 stores before I found one that sold the bottles. The store attendants were pretty adamant that I buy two bottles for only 5 pesos more, but I only needed one.jan senten wrote:
A friend and I took a bus ride to Chila to see this game on a Saturday afternoon. We got there quite early (the Lonely Planet said the game started at 3pm, but it didn't start until 5pm) so we had a couple of Coronas at the bar across the street while waiting. A few players joined us later and tried to explain the rules and showed us their equipment - a 5 kilo glove and hard, hard ball. Watching the game was a lot of fun. The players would occasionally stop to chat with us and explain the game's progress. At the end of the game, Pedor - one of the players who also has an English school in PE - dropped us off in El Centro. A fun afternoon - check it out next time you're in PE!
Yes, I'm sure I will be there!! It is very much appreciated after a couple months of winter in the midwest. Plus I love seeing the "babies".
Things are great here in Chicago - lots of fun things to do at this time of year.
One of my conductor friends saw me the day after he saw you on the train. (a few months ago). His name is Dave and he and I have a lot of fun together whenever we work together.
I saw Sandy and Genaro at the Farmers Market a couple months ago.
I have your home email - I'll send you some mail probably on Monday.
HI Kellie, I just read your message, I travelled from Montreat to Mexico City for $650 Canadian then took a first class bus to Oaxaca for less than $30 US and then from there (after a great time) took another bus to Escondido for less than $20 US. It was fun and I met a lot of people. Don't be worried about the bus transportation system. The drivers are exceptionally good at avoiding accidents. Enjoy, Francoise
This will be our 5th year flying from Vancouver to Puerto. We have experienced the same thing as you with costs in the last couple of years, especially with no flights to Huatulco from the West. We have been flying from Vancouver to Zihuatanejo on Alaska Airlines and then taking a bus to Puerto for aprox $800.00 and then the cost of the bus. This year we even got a better deal flying out of Seattle on a Alaska Airlines.
This will be our 5th year flying from Vancouver to Puerto. We have experienced the same thing as you with costs in the last couple of years, especially with no flights to Huatulco from the West. We have been flying from Vancouver to Zihuatanejo on Alaska Airlines and then taking a bus to Puerto for aprox $800.00 and then the cost of the bus. This year we even got a better deal flying out of Seattle on a Alaska Airlines.
Thanks for the info Robert. How long was the bus ride?
The ancient pelota mixteca has given way to other pastimes, but people used to really lose their heads over it.
nyerk nyerk
Hi Kellie, last year we flew Alaska Airlines roundtrip Vancouver/Zihuatanejo as well. After 2 days in Z we bused to Acapulco (4 hours) and stayed the night. Then left Acapulco the next morning for PE, which took 8 hours. On the way back we took the 11 p.m. bus from PE straight thru to Z. Gravol helped us sleep most of the way.
The only negative aspect was the number of times the (daytime) bus stopped to let just about anyone climb on. The aisles were quite crowded at times. I found it a little annoying, mostly because of the delay it caused getting to PE. I much preferred the overnight bus on Gravol. :-) [%sig%]
My travel agent( BCAA) just sent me a message to say she found a discounter for the Air Canada Vancouver to Mexico City flight and as long as you stay no more than 30 days, the flight is down to $745.00. That would be cheaper than your flight, probably about $1200 in total. We are still waiting to book, hoping for something cheaper but when you wish to stay 6 weeks, the bargains are hard to find.
Good Luck, Rita [%sig%]
Hello dear readers /specialists of PE! We are a family of 4.5 (2 adults + 4 and 6 year-old boys + a baby due in March!) and will be in Puerto Escondido between Dec 27th and Jan 1st, 2004. We are looking for a bungalow to rent for 5 nights, with a kitchen. We hope to find something pretty quiet, close to a safe beach where the boys can use the body board without to much trouble (Zicatela looks pretty scarry to me!). We have a budget of ~US $50 to $80 a night.
Do you have any hotel to recommend that will offer this kind of accomodation? Thanks, Emmanuel
Hello Emmanuel, There seems to be quite a few people able and willing to help you. It is our first time too. Look up the person we did business with who is Dave at dave@puertoconnection.com, look up his site puertoconnection.com before you buy, it'll give you an idea.
Good luck Richard & Carole P.S. I suggest you look up his site daily, lotsa interesting stuff about the Puerto.
Hello Kellie, Look up exit.ca, they're specialised in "charter" flights out of Canada to, not only, southern destinations. Also look up travelocity.ca for CDN$ priced flights; look up the cheapest airfare to Huatulco, take note of the restrictions and, once you've found the flight with the "restrictions" you can live with, call up a travel agent with the fare code (it really impresses them!) and see if you can book a flight. Last option, try leaving out of Seattle; a friend wanted to go to Ireland out of Montreal (1560$ via Heathrow in London), she queried flights out of Burlington, VT, to Dublin and got an American Eagle from Burlington to Boston Logan then direct Dublin with Shamrock for 1050$....quite a good saving! Let your fingers search the net, you'll be surprised!
Thank you Thank you Thank you. All your responses have been great.
You know you should get back to Puerto when: You can't see the flip flop tan lines on your feet. Putting on long pants and shoes and socks does not feel uncomfortable. You stop looking for Huevos a la Mexicana on the menu at your local restaurant. You automatically put on a jacket when you leave the house. You forget the time zone difference. You don't even think about walking to the super market. You think about vodka before you think about tequila. You call your kids to ask how they are doing. You don't automatically put on bug repellent at 7:00pm. You get use to the price of Corona at the super market. You don't even look for Corona at the super market. You don't think about ordering a shot of tequila and a lime after dinner. You don't think about ordering a shot of tequila and a lime BEFORE dinner. You check to see if the heater is on in the house. You head to the market whether it is Sat. or not. You call your parents to see how they are doing. You stop wearing that Puerto Escondido Tee shirt you bought. You think that you can get anything in Puerto. You go into the hardware store and ask for 13 drywall screws. You bring that hammock in out of the rain. You start looking at air fare prices on the internet. You think the pizza is bad in Puerto. You can't find a decent mango in the produce section. You think an avocado under $1.00 is a bargain. You buy bottled salsa. Sand in the bed bothers you. You stop looking up when a jet passes over. You start arguing about homework. You don't care where the sun block is. You are not worried where your next book is coming from. You don't want to miss the nightly news. You can't wait to open the newspaper. A nap does not seem so important. You stop taking 3 showers a day. Waking up with the sunrise seems ludicrous. Going to bed at 9:00 is impossible. Watching David Letterman seems like a normal thing to do. You start looking at those photos all the time. Days seem too long. Your first stop on the internet is this site.
PB
PB, All the above are sooooo on the mark! Add to that it's time to get a tune-up on the old VW Campmobile for the trip South.
classic reasons for being just about anywhere in Mexico any given day, going to print it off and post it over my desk. Thanks PB
I'm staying in Oaxaca for ten days, and want to spend one night in PE and Fish the next morning before heading back to Oaxaca. I'll probably hire a boat. I want to chase roosterfish just offshore.
Comments/suggestions? [%sig%]
Thanks again, PB, for your insights. I'll thankfully be living them in reverse, when I get back to Puerto Escondido in October, unfortunately only for 3 weeks. Read your list again(and again) - why did you leave?? Rhetorical question - we all have our own "realities", I'm well aware of that...
Once again your words are just so true and close to the heart. Your writing is just so entertaining. I hope you write a book one day. I know the copies will sell out. Thanks so much for bringing in that Puerto Escondido feeling. Can hardly wait to return.
Rock on PB !!! Its all about those three showers a day !!! thanks lovo
Thanks again, PB, Were it not for the morning licquados and this site (and the struggle for the wherewithall) I'd be feeling too far detached from that magical place that lives in my heart and mind. Hopefully, our feet will be on that beach, someday soon.
Hello Has anyone of you stayed at the Posada Cortes bungalows? Any comments? Thanks for the help [%sig%]
Never heard of them. Where are they located? Maybe they were called something else before.
Hotel Posada Cortes is located on Adoqin. They have web site www.posadacortes.com.mx. I think they were opened last year.
[%sig%]
Hi Kellie - we just made our reservations flying Mexicana/Air Canada for February. We paid $860 return each to Mexico City from Vancouver and that's in Canadian funds. It's a midnight flight and if you call Flight Centre you may be able to get the same price. You have a few options from MC to PE - overnight bus or flight from MC to PE which cost us approx. $364 each return. I was surprised to get the $860 price because it's usually $1100+ now. Good luck. Joanne
Dear Gina:: Thank you for your offering, but after reading all the comments in this thread we decided to skip Puerto Escondido in our car trip of December-January...Next time we will contact you.
Again, thanks Javier
Brad, just saw on my 'puter that you moved to new digs at a new beach. Remember me, I gave you the Los Lobos double CD and was a contributing member to the Safety Committee. I will see you in Feb. '04. I will bring new music. Any requets?
Aerocaribe has listings on it's web site for $86 US + Tax for a total of $114 each way from D.F. to Puerto. There are also specials on until the end of the month that give you the flight from D.F. to Puerto or other beach places free under certain restrictions.
The boat will cost you about $250 per hour,(that's pesos) usually 4 hour minimum. It's an awfully long trip for a few hours fishing. You can contactOmar at omarsportfishing@hotmail.com. He's an english speaking guide who can probably help you out.
Found this from the Thorn Tree (lonely planet) I've bussed this route close to a dozen times with no problems? Where was the military check points when you need them? Might have to change my plans to day travel instead of night buses.
Thread Title: PSA -bandits in mexico Date Posted: Fri September 26, 2003 9:28 Posted By: yogagrl75 hi all- I´am sure that some kind of similar warning has been posted on this board before, but my new husband and i just had a terrifying experience a few days ago that i wanted to share, in the hopes that no one else would have to have this happen to them! we traveled by bus from Zihautanejo to Puerto Escondido, on a first class bus. it was an overnight bus,( and yes, in hindsight, that was not a smart choice) Any way, an hour or two south of Acalpulco, three men with machine guns boarded our bus, stole everything of value, took everything out of everyone´s bags, and went through literally every thing on the bus. They were very very thorough, and even went through the trouble of taking absolutely everything out of my wallet and bag, and then leaving with my backpack. they went through the bus once, collecting money, etc., then made us all get off the bus and sit in the dirt, under the careful watch of one of the men, with a machine gun pointed at us at all times, while the other two guys verified that everything was taken. At this point, we were on a deserted dirt side road, in the middle of nowhere. My husband and I sat there for an hour at least, wondering what would happen next, shaking in fear, as they randomly kicked people, made them stand up, and patted them down to make sure there was nothing in their pockest. I was lucky enough to be able to get my diamond engagement ring into a place I won´'t share with you, but luckily I still have it today. ( my husband was able to do the same with his wedding band) I did lose my wedding band, my earrings, watch, and everything else, except, luckily, my passport.
After an hour spent in fear, we were able to board the bus again, go through the mess that they had left, and figure out what they had left behind. luckily, we still had our drivers licences , credit cards, and passports. we were also both physically undamaged. I have been told that two of the women on the bus had been raped, before they were allowed to exit the bus.
of course, sitting in the dark, knowing that a machine gun is pointed at you, makes you remember things. For example, being told that while in mexico, do not travel at night. I wanted to share this story to reiterate this point to anyone else planning a trip. in particular, I have been told, travel south of Alcalpulco, while still in the state of guerrero, is very prone to this kind of activity. my husband and i, having been only married a week, are very lucky. we are still alive, and while a bit mentally scarred, are unharmed. we still have our passports, and are able to fund the rest of our trip, despite the money, and other items we lost. please be careful when traveling at night. and women, i was lucky to have been wearing a long sleeve shirt, with a high collar, which i was grateful for. i was very scared, had I been wearing one of my tank tops, or shown anymore skin, that something worse may have happened. maybe this is just paranoia, but you never know.
we are still in mexico now, in a wonderful small hotel in Puerto Escondido, where we feel very safe. We would like to travel around mexico a bit more in the week we have left here, but am not sure i am up to it. i know that our experince is not necessarily the norm, and do not intend to scare anyone, but more leave this as a word of warning. have fun and travel safe.
Kris, Thanks for the info. Sorry for being stupid but what does D.F. stand for.
I'll bet they have some snappy replies to THAT question en el distrito federal, which is analogous to our DC on the potomac. i How about DESMADRE FEDERAL? jan
LA ciudad de México D.F (Deteriorada y Fecal)
We will be taking the Air Transat flight from Montreal to Huatulco on December 18, arriving in Huatulco at 9:30 pm. There will be 4 of us. Looking for a taxi driver to pick us up and possibly other travellers who would like to share a mini van or suburban taxi to Puerto. Will return the same way on January 1st for the flight home.
[%sig%]
wow - I took that bus ride in the opposite direction just a couple of weeks ago. Our night bus was stopped 4 times by the military/police, and not once was i ever afraid of bandidos. But something in this story doesn't add up - an hour sitting in the dirt 'in fear'? yet no one ran away? on the bus i took, about half the people had cell phones. no one called the cops? the bus driver willingly allowed the thieves access to the cargo hold? two women were raped, yet no one called the police? Doesn't make sense to me.
Anyone hear anything about a !st class bus being robbed between Escondido and Acapulco last week?
Yes look under interesting read.
The bandits may be off duty federales or else received a tip-off on checkpoints. Money talks.
OK Wendy, it's your movie now. when it's YOU huddling in the back of the bus, what number do you bravely dial on your cellphone? Y luego que contestan, tu dices...? Lo puedes explicar todo en español? Unless that speed dialer rings your mom in West Kankakee, then she can handle it. Next, you're up for a dash into nowhere in the dark. Never mind the warning, don't resist. Perhaps even with no shoes on, you can outrun the bullets. Your instincts will guide you, though the bandits know the terrain and you're a terrified tourist. Then you get lost and the bus leaves without you. This will benefit the local tourist industry, no se cuide as long as you stuffed a fifty peso note up there behind the wedding ring. jan suggestion: use DUCT TAPE and place valuables in a bag that can be taped under a seat quickly.
Are these bus drivers equipped with SILENT ALARMS? They were installed in urban MASS TRANSIT years ago, though until i retired last year i never had to push the button myself. Originally ours were mounted under the seat, but too many accidental alarms occurred. Dispatch began calling us back to 'confirm' that a gun was being held to our heads. Beep beep beep. Drivers put an end to that dumb concept, but slow response time underscored that a bus driver must depend on his wits, and avoid gunfire. (Stuff is just stuff. Bring duct tape.) Also, two hrs past Acapulco would require great range. the signal must then be picked up at a command post and relayed to a unit that could switch fast from another task.
jan
It's time someone in the Mexican government takes heed to all these bus robberies. Yeah, right. Tell me another story. The robberies have been going on for years and with great consistency. Everyone living in Puerto (and the state of Oaxaca) knows about the night bus robberies, the rapes, the shootings on the bus and everyone knows the town, can pinpoint the place, the bus, the route, and I bet, probably knows whose doing the robberies. BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHY DOESN'T ANYONE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT??????? Maybe it's time that the tourists start complaining and more traveller's reports get filed against Oaxaca state - maybe that would snap a few heads around in Oscar Holmes tourism department in Oaxaca.
grio it sounds like a good idea. If you have an email address or phone number I am sure many people will respond. Also maybe a few letters/emails to the consulate in Oaxaca. No that is not a good idea. I have heard that that guy is basically useless so maybe something sent to the U.S. embassy in Mex. City or even to the State Dept. in Wash. D.C. A travel advisory issued by the U.S. govt. seems to carry a lot of weight in Mex. I have seen the corrupt officials jump when the U.S. govt. issues advisories about dangerous travel in Mex. Mexico knows that tourism is a cash cow and also knows people take travel advisories seriously. As you say, this has been going on for years and seems to be something that can be fixed fairly easily. If there are machine guns involved there is a good chance that officials are involved as well. And as you say, everybody knows where these assholes (robbers) work. From past experience I know as well as you that if the powers that be want to get these guys they can. As for anybody who doubts that these things happen often, I can tell you that you just don't know. I know two people personally who this has happened to (2 different times, one each) and they will never take the night bus again. They were not harmed but were shook up mentally. I have also heard of more than a couple of other times this has happened. I believe that they are true although I have never tried to verify them. There was just no reason for these people to make up a false story. Also this does not happen every day but people should be aware that it happens often enough that they should be aware of the possibilities. PB
Thanks for the information, Kris. I'm not making reservations until a day or two before we go, in case the weather doesn't look cooperative.
It's not just the fishing. The bus ride out and the flight back would be interesting experiences, plus we'd be spending the afternoon/evening before in PE.
But to be honest, I am an avid angler living in the Florida Keys. It's high in my financial as well as time priorities. And after traveling 2500 miles to Oaxaca, another less than a hundred to chase the famous roosterfish doesn't sound like much.
I'd also recommend Omar. Tell him what you want, and he'll try. He knows the area as well or better than any "guide", plus he speaks English. In January, '03 his cell # was 044-954-588-4075. We wanted to swim with dolphins, and he got us into 400+, 12 miles off shore. Incredible experience.
Wendy, you are an idiot. PB, the U.S. government kinda has its hands full right now, wouldn't you say? I can't see them getting involved right now. Especially when these incidents aren't specific to Americans. This has been going on since before I first visited the area in 1984. So there is alot of very good advice, based on experience, available to those who must travel by bus (or car, for that matter). Heed the warnings. Do NOT listen to fools like Wendy.
Kellie, D.F. is Mexico City.
Hello Juanita, Sorry, no taxi to share with you but I have question: Since me and my girlfriend are talking about getting to Puerto Escondido in the same period and also leaving from Montreal to Huatulco, I was wondering how much you pay your ticket with Air Transat? Last year, there was nothing under 1000$can...
Stan, I agree that Wendy is an idiot but I do not agree that the U.S. government kinda has its hands full right now. Dealing with things like this is the job of the embassy people in each country they are located. Even though these incidents aren't specific to Americans they involve Americans and may involve Americans in the future. It is the job of the State Dept. to warn citizens of potential dangers like these even though I do not expect they will do anything about this unless one of their family members are involved. Here are some contact places to voice concerns: Web page for U.S. Embassy in Mex. City: http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eEmail.html Web page that has info about contacting US Consular Agencies in Mexico: http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/edirector.html#Oaxaca Here are some Mexican places to advise Mexican authorities but since they know about these holdups and do nothing they will probably do nothing now. Maybe a threat to report it to international press would have an effect. Who knows.
SECTUR TURISM E-mail: oramirez@sectur.gob.mx PFP POLICE buzon@ssp.gob.mx <buzon@ssp.gob.mx> gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx <gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx> Procuraduria General de Justicia Lic. Sergio H. Santibañez Franco procuraduria7@oaxaca.gob.mx Secretaría de Desarrollo Turistico C. Oscar Holm Quiroz sedetur1@oaxaca.gob.mx Secretaria de Protección Ciudadana Lic. Abel Trejo González seproci@oaxaca.gob.mx Secretario Particular Lic. Felipe Zardain Borbolla felipezardain@oaxaca.gob.mx TELECOMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT SECRETARY buzon_sct@sct.gob.mx buzon_dgcf@sct.gob.mx guerrero 01(747) 247-55 buzon_csctgro@sct.gob.mx oaxaca 01(951) 553-16 buzon_csctoax@sct.gob.mx rguajardo@sct.gob.mx TURISM OAXACA sedetur1@oaxaca.gob.mx , sedetur4@oaxaca.gob.mx , sedetur7@oaxaca.gob.mx
I'm always ready to poke a little fun. fToo ready even. And maybe Wendy made a foolish remark here. but i've read other posts from her, and she is not a 'fool', not an 'idiot'. Bit harsh eh? A quick look to thine own mirror please.
jan
Hey folks, I thought I was the only idiot/fool from West Kankakee (about 60 mi. south of Chicago). Go Cubs!!!!
Hola Eric. We were unable to find anything cheaper than Air Transat and had to pay $1,158.00 per ticket. Air Canada and Mexicana were both around $1,600.00. Wish we could find a cheaper way to get to our favourite beach for Christmas and New Years!! Has anyone found a cheaper way to fly from eastern Canada to Puerto? Juanita [%sig%]
hey juanita it is much cheaper to walk to the highway and get a taxi,bus combi or whatever.often when you start walking the taxis follow dropping their prices as you get closer.its only a few minutes and their is a pemex right there.ive done it many times and it saves a lot of pesos. buen viaje scott
Thanks Scott. How much did you have to pay by getting a taxi outside the airport? Thought that 4, twenty-two year old females walking to the highway at 10:30 p.m. might not be a good idea. We usually arrange for a taxi driver from Puerto to pick us up in his suburban. He charges $100.00 US. Any other suggestions? Better prices? Juanita [%sig%]
I admit I had my doubts when I read the story, too. So did a lot of people at the LP Thorntree site. But in reading the poster's rebuttals, I believe her. Just one more reason to travel light and expect the unexpected! By the way, an acquaintance of mine contracted some kind of parasite on her scalp from the seats of a first class bus from PE a couple years ago. She said it was hell to get rid of and she was very sick from the drugs administered by a mexican doctor. THIS freaks me out even more than a bus hold-up! Eeeeew!
Jan. in hindsight, I really don't think Wendy is an idiot but I don't think she thought too much about what she was writing. Sorry Wendy. PB
hey all- this was my original post on Thorn Tree, and again, it did really happen. One of the guys at breakfat at my hotel was just mentioning this site to me, as one of his freinds was on the bus with us, so I thought I´d check it out. We are traveling, and are about to head somewhere else for a few days, so I can´t pro,ise I´ll respond very quickly, but if anyone has any questions, or anything, please feel free to post them. My only goal here is to let people know this happened, just a sort of FYI: this is my first time in Mexico, so I may be ignorant of many things here, but thought that it might be helpful to other travelers to hear of this incident....
Sarah
Thanks for your post, Sarah, and may you travel with safety. This board is exactly for posts like yours; useful information to be shared with others who may not have known these things before. NOT for idiots like Wendy, waiting in the wings like a predator to criticize and discourage. Lighten up, Wendy. Be happy. People will like you more......
If you are arriving at night, then certainly don't venture out on to the highway.
I believe that the airport taxis charge about $100 US to drive to Puerto. Maybe you should just take your chances with them when you arrive.
As a point of reference, I got a local taxi out on the highway last year to drive me for 450 pesos ($45) I've also gone all the way by bus (changing at Pochutla) for just 30 pesos.
hey juanita that is too late to walk to the highway,but at least there are four of you.ask on the plane or at the taxi stand in huatulco.have fun scott
I was on a bus travelling from PE to Huatulco (going to the airport to fly back home) in 1988 or 89 in broad daylight, I think it was late morning or early afternoon. There were maybe 12 people on the bus, 50/50 gringos & Mexicans. At a certain point, a few guys got on, two of whom carried machetes, but that didn't strike me as unusual at the time, because I'd seen lots of workers on the side of the road carrying machetes. About 20 minutes before Huatulco, in the middle of nowhere, one guy pulls out a pistol and two other brandish their machetes and they rob everybody. They took cash and jewellery, but they also just grabbed a couple of bags (mine included) and left with them, without taking any sort of "inventory" or look-through. They must have had accomplices with other transport waiting nearby, because there was nothing around for miles. On their way out of the bus, they shot a Mexican guy (sitting in the front seat across from the bus driver) in the thigh. There was no thought of escape or other heroics in those circumstances, and there was absolutely no reason to shoot the guy (I doubt the bus was going to go chasing after these guys in the surrounding hills). After they left, the bus drove fast to Huatulco, we carried the wounded guy into a clinic and then went to the cop shop to report the hold-up. It was not considered particularly noteworthy by anyone there. Shortly after that, I read about more hold-ups which included sexual assaults on female passengers. I've been back to PE once since then and loved it, but it still makes me antsy, and I don't think I'd ride the bus in that area. I have frequently vacationed in other parts of Mexico since then, both in the interior and on the coast, but I do miss Playa Carrizalillo! [%sig%]
It's nice to travel around those areas and the beaches and scenery are great, but if there is no interest by the authorities in maintaining basic laws or safety then hell with it. Can go lots of places without risking armed robbery and rape - it's not that great anyway, if it wasn't so cheap I bet most of these posters would be someplace else . Maybe the area doesn't really need tourist income. Sorry if i insulted my Mexican neighbors with my visit. No, I don't have much Spanish, though i have heard it all my life, and i don't know all the customs, but i was lucky to observe some and participate respectfully.
my goodness - I didn't expect such hostility for saying that 'something doesn't add up' and 'doesn't make sense.' Sarah asked if there are any questions, I'd like to know what happened to the women who were raped? were the police called and the women taken to the hospital?
I'm with you, Wendy. It must be pretty easy to sit back, throw names around and disparage those that you might not agree with. Seems it would be simpler and faster to disagree, but leave the name calling to the politicians. Unless this site has attracted the Republican and Democratic National Committee people.
Hat: I have no problem at all if you don´t find the place "that great anyway"; that is you and I respect your point of view, but, there are still some things I don´t undestand in your post: 1.- "if it wasn´t so cheap I bet most of these posters would be someplace else" How do you know and be so sure about that? Are you calling us Cheap guys? Or you will prefer to go to other place but you have to go there because you are cheap? I can afford my vacations in Can cun, Acapulco or Vallarta, but I can´t find there what I find and like in puerto angel, mazunte, chacagua... Cheap is jus a very very nice bonus, but not the reason.
2-. How the hell in this fat and poluted world do you have the guts to argue that "maybe the area doesn´t really need tourism income" when you, after hearing spanish during all of your life, don´t understand it, you don´t know all mexican customs and you don´t even know if you insulted your mexican neighbors with your visit? 3.- How do you had the oportunity to "participate respectfully" in some of their costumes if you don´t understand spansih? Taking pictures of rituals you don´t understand as the classical gringo turist? Making coments in low voice about how "weird, colorfull and exiting" it is also as the classical "gringo" tourist? If so You should save a little bit more $$ and go to other touristic but not so expensive beaches as Mazatlan; you can go to discos and get drunk with teenagers there.
I have available for download through the Internet WinMX music exchange program a one hour "Spanish Language Course" by an internationally renowned company. "'Your trip in Mexico will be much more enjoyable when you can meet people and make yourself understood. Just listen and repeat. It's fun, not work.. And you'll surprise your friends and yourself with the speed you pick up the language" This short Spanish course consist of basic expressions such as: Arrival, Hotel/other accommodation, Eating out, Travelling, Relaxing, Making friends, Banks, Shops, Stores, Services, Numbers, Days, Months etc.
To get the four MP3 files; get the software WinMX, request (search): spanish1, spanish2 ...3...4, at 9AM Eastern Standard Time. I will be on line for a few days at that time to make it available to anyone. Then, anyone else can share it with others. I strongly recommend a high speed Internet connection to make the download in reasonable time.
Gerard [%sig%]
I am happy to report that the move of Brad and his Split Coconut to the Hotel Jardin Real seems to be a match made in heaven. The food is as good as ever and the custom built Dave Crews industrial sttrength smoker is just short of an engineering feat. I really enjoyed the new palapa and swim up bar feature recently added at the Hotel. Dave Crews has really turned the Jardin Real into a show place that makes you truly feel at home. If you thought Split Coconut was a killer when it was on Zicatela you must pay a visit to Brad and company at the new location. For me the cheeseburger in paradise is something to write home about. Congratulations to everyone that has made the Hotel Jardin Real and the Split Coconut a happening place.
Saludos, B M E
no pics at all i rethink my statements maybe you are right seem kind of steamed though...hmmm.
I didn't even know it was cheap til i got there.
Guess i liked San Augustanillo (sp) the most anyways i didn't say i didn't understand any Spanish, i just don't have much Great people there very kind and patient, guess you're not from there, eh?
Where is the Jardin Real?, have been to PE a number of times but am not familiar with it. Sounds great.
Agree, even though it's a short distance and to my knowledge there haven't been any problems on the airport road for some years now, I wouldn't do it at night. Ask the mgmt of your hotel in PE if they can send a driver to meet you and pick you up, that usually costs between 400-600 pesos. If the hotel doesn't offer that service, or you don't have a hotel yet, ask Gina "The Information Goddess" on this board, she would be glad to line you up with someone dependable and reasonable. Since the airport taxis have a monopoly, anyone meeting you there may have to pay an an airport pickup fee and would need to add that to their fare.
Wendy- in response to your question: Sarah asked if there are any questions, I'd like to know what happened to the women who were raped? were the police called and the women taken to the hospital? well- quite honestly, I´m not sure what happened to them. I know that we didn´t make any stops, until we reached puerto, except for us being shuttled onto a different bus, in some town in the middle of nowhere, an hour or so after this all occured. My spanish is not as great as the person who relayed this info to me, so perhaps he spoke to these three girls, ( two were mexican, one was norwegian I think) and got the details. sorry I can´t offer any more info than that.
Many thanks for all of the suggestions and advice. My parents rent a house in Puerto and usually pick "the kids" up in Huatulco, but Air Transat is arriving at night this year and they hesitate to 'do the drive' when it is dark. They are going to send a taxi from Puerto to pick us up!! Juanita [%sig%]
Sory for the tone of my previous post... Maybe just a bad day.
Hat: No, I´m not from there. I´m from Dallas, but I have a LOT of family in Guadalajara and the states of Jalisco and Michoacan. My spanish fluent; I´ve been speaking it since a kid Saludos y pido disculpas si te ofendi a ti o a alguien con mi respuesta.
Raul
I take no offense. Thank you for thekindness. Tragic crimes related in the ladies post. A U.S.state dept. travel warning could seriously harm tourist income in the area, that would be tragic too.
Hi! Gerard, I think it is very good of you to offer the Spanish 1,2,3,4. My only problem is that I have dial-up, so I need to find out when my friend's young teenage boys can download using there cable modem.Is there a way we can talk to each other? My email is " hotwiredstarr@yahoo.com", we can try to pick a time good for you and the boys.The boys are good at downloading stuff. I thank you, David......P.S. I leave for MX Oct.20 for the Day of the Dead.
Anyone taking the night bus between Puerto and Acapulco is stupid. Everyone here knows the bus is robbed regularly but the authorities will never do anything about it NOR will the bus companies. Only uninformed or naive people take the bus at night. Travel at your own risk and do not complain when it happens to you. I have several friends that have been robbed on the bus and have lived here in Puerto for years but had to take that bus for different reason. They each were robbed at least once. It happens near Rio Grande and Pinotepa. Anyone telling you it doesn't happen, has stopped or hardly ever happens is a liar.
[%sig%]
Hotel Jardin Real is 2 blocks toward the ocean on the first entrance to Bacocho from town. It is across from the Bloom School. <http://www.puertoconnection.com/jardinreal.html> [%sig%]
In fact David, a dial-up connection isn't all that slow. Especially early in the day when the program isn't overloaded. However, for those of you who would prefer an audio CD, I can make copies and snailmail it anywhere. Just e-mail me your address and I'l ship it out. A small donation for material and shipping would be appreciated. Gerard [%sig%]
Hi! Gerard, It's David from south Texas.I would really like you to send me a CD,Just tell me what you need($$$) and we shall do it! I leave on Oct.20 for Oaxaca so we must hurry. You may email me at " hotwiredstarr@yahoo.com" and maybe we can exchange phone #s.I do not mind calling you if you wish. I thank you very much,By for now, David.
Hi David, The CD is on its way by express mail. Enjoy your stay in Mexico.
Can you believe someone is so kind as to help me when I need it , I thank you boys from Canada. I thank you Gerard from Canada, David from south Texas.
I checked the U.S. embassy site for Mexico travel warnings, and they do indeed warn that they have received reports of whole-bus robberies on either side of Acapulco. They recommend daytime travel (because there are fewer accidents) even though there have been daylight assaults. My wife and I plan to take the bus from Zijua to P.E. in January. I'd like to hear from people familiar with the trip. What would you do? Duct tape valuables under the seat? Overnight in Acapulco? Rent a car?(whole 'nother set of problems). Also, what do you recommend for money? Credit card? Travelers' checks? Cash? thanks for any info.
Why don't you leave your valuables at home , bring a little cash , atm's work great in Puerto. Credit cards are generally not used in Puerto's restaurants that I have noticed. As far as travel is concerned I leave that part to the experts.
I just returned from eating there tonight. Even though BME's initial post sounds like a paid ad, I'd agree with everything. The smoker is a reality, and it's awesome addition. As of tonight, Brad's only smoking pork and chicken. I ordered the pork - Brad appologized for only having a half an order left - I said fine. He charged half price, and if you know his meat meals, a half dinner was all I could eat anyhow. If you're into a steak/chicken/pork meal, you won't find much comparable anywhere. My dinner tonight, probably 1/2 + pound of smoked, barbecued, no fat pork, rice, beans, etc. and three glasses of wine was 105 p, less than $10 USD. Any a very nice atmosphere. Brad seems to be happy there, and the wait times will be significantly reduced because the smoking partially reduced the cooking times. If you want a meat/chicken meal, give it a chance! And this is not a paid ad, just an appreciative customer who wants great meat hit every now and then ...
He laughed and said "tres no diez" as he handed me back my 10 pesos, I smiled and gave him his 3 pesos for the ride into town, and Fransica gave me back my snorkel gear after I leftit at Puerto Angelito over night . Yes the first class buses will keep getting held up but this should not stop us from traveling there , Just dont ride at night and dont take the first class buses , there is good and bad everywhere thats my story and Im sticking to it Lovo
I've done this route a couple of times in the day, most recently last April. In the last couple of years I've used an overnight bus from MEX to Oaxaca, Palenque to Cancun and San Cristobal to Puerto Escondido and had no trouble. There were checkpoints where we were boarded and some people's ID was checked but nothing that caused any concerns. We've done a lot of bussing over the years (4,000 kms last year alone) and never have had difficulty. Unless its a really long haul over roads that we've seen before we always choose a day bus, but not for safety, for the sights.
I've heard enough stories about night robberies on the ACA - PXM route to believe there must be some substance to them, however I have no idea if stories about one or two incidents have been repeated so many times that it appears to be more prevalent than it really is.
I never know what to make of all the stories I read and see here and on other websites. First person accounts like the one posted here a few days ago about the bus robbery along the coastal higway is a scary story, but I've been over that road a few times and had no such experience.
I know a person that got shot on their hotel balcony during New Years celebrations in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago. Not a malicious act by drooling thugs but a freak thing - a shot fired into the air came down and hit this this person's thigh. He thought it was an insect bite until it got infected and he needed to get medical attention.
Some gov't agency is tracking these robberies, which are essentially BUS HIJACKINGS. Can one of you coastal residents (preferably a mexican business owner) learn the ## over the past year or two, along with location and arrests? If no one is getting caught, despite checkpoints, the fix is in. Maybe the VOZ could pursue the story. En realidad the oaxaca coast, y el estado de guerrero tambien, have ALWAYS been bandit country-- sometimes with anti govt rhetoric thrown in. Even high class mexicans with bodyguards are infrequently kidnapped, and perhaps a souvenir finger sent to the relatives. The central govt has only nominal control over remote problems. Ademas, el Yanquismo has been a dominant and not always helpful influence on mexican rural development. Es muy complicado. "MADRE PREVENIDA VALE POR DOS." Nuff said.
jan
But I hear Brad throws a frisbee like a girl......
[%sig%]
Just reading in our local newspaper re: Storm warning. I hope everyone in Puerto Escondido and surrounding area are ok.
you lose track of what "mexican time" is all about.
It's time..... ....when you can't fit into your Mexpipes anymore!
Your goal for the day is to do something other than finish the rack of Brad's pork ribs.
[%sig%]
Are the big storms still emptying out to sea? Rainy season's near over, i hope the soil and aquifers are being recharged at last. jan
Here in Huatulco it´s been raining for a few days now and it still is. There´s a tropical low pressure area close by. Don´t know how much it affects Pto Escondido.
[%sig%]
It's rained here every day for a week now. I don't measure the amounts but I would say at least an inch a day, most days probably 3 inches or more. Rainfall in this area is pretty scattered. We can have hard thunderstorms in town and dry weather five miles away, and vice versa.
Just checked weather.com, Puerto Escondido and there is something brewing right off the coast of Puerto. 10 day forcast is thunderstorms to scattered thuderstorms. Should perk up the "monte", hey.
And that becomes your primary ambition: must....get....out....of....hammock!!!!!!! Ribs.....Bra-a-a-a-a-ad's Ribs!!!!! I can almost taste them now. Mission accomplished.
Hello, I bought tickets with Air Transat departure from Montreal January 1st, 2004 for 3 weeks and paid $1109.75. I think the price was good. We rent a room at Villa Blanca for 4 nights and rented a villa in PE for the rest of stay. The waiting is long but I will enjoy so much!!!! Diane
I thought I would write something about the last time I flew to Puerto because some people like to complain about air travel and I think some people complain just to complain. My philosophy is to just hang in there because it will be over sooner or later. The story turned out longer than I anticipated but what the hell, its Mexicana's fault. We made it down to Puerto but it was not easy. When we left San Francisco there was a huge storm. The weather was fairly mild during the day and we were do to take off at around midnight that night. Well, we got to the airport and they told us that we could not take Dog. (I had talked to them earlier and they told me that there would be no problem.) As you know that was not an option. They told us Dog could not go because there was not enough room even though we had less stuff than everybody else. You can imagine how that went over with us. My wife made a big scene and after about 20 minutes they relented. The relief was enormous. There was just nothing else that could be done with Dog at that point. The ticket lady/supervisor person even offered to take care of Dog while we were gone until she saw we were to be gone for a month. So, Dog was able to go with us. Then they told us the flight would be delayed for an hour. What else is new? We got on the plane and sat there for 5, yes 5 hours. By the time we got on the plane the storm was pretty bad so they could not take off. So we sat and sat.ON THE PLANE. My son fell asleep but we could only dose a little. Very little. I really just closed my eyes. And worried. And worried. Believe me, it was a HUGE storm. 80 mph winds over the Golden Gate. The plane was rocking and bouncing and we were just sitting there on the ground not in the air. Kids were running up and down the isles. People stunk. At 6 am the plane started to move but the weather did not seem any different at all. The plane was still rocking and rolling. The rain was still coming down heavily (sideways?) and the wind was still howling. I think the pilots just got tired of waiting. We took off and it was the worst 45 minutes in a plane I have ever experienced. (Elevator drops that leave you stomach in your mouth. Plane flying sideways etc.) But we made it out of the storm. We were supposed to stop in Guadalajara for a minute but when we got there we ended up waiting for 2 hours and changing planes. Connection to Puerto Escondido missed for sure but they told us there would be another plane to Puerto even though there is only one flight a day to Puerto. Also remember that Dog was on the plane ------or somewhere. We finally got on the plane to Mexico City but as they were loading the baggage we saw them drive away with Dog. "Hey that's our dog". They told us that Dog could not fly on that plane because the cargo hold was not pressurized. "He will be on the next plane out and you will make your connection to Puerto" they tell us. WRONG. We arrived in Mex. City and there is no other flight to Puerto but there is a flight to Huatulco that leaves in 15 minutes, but where is Dog? We don't know, they don't know and Guadalajara is not sure. Of course we will not go without him. They find out Dog is coming sometime soon. Meanwhile where are we going to sleep? At first they told us they would not put us up in a hotel because the storm was not their fault. After I explained that they should not have sent us if they knew we were not going to make our connection they seemed to understand. Cool. But. We cannot fly to Puerto anyway because "the plane that goes there does not have a pressurized cargo" etc. Huatulco it was. Meanwhile where is our little boy's Dog. Oh yea. He will be here. In the baggage area. Well 2 hours later with all the baggage personnel looking, with us walking back and forth looking out the windows at all of the baggage and wondering if we will ever see Dog again (sad part: my son goes into psychological defense and tells me he never liked Dog anyway) they tell us Dog is here. He finally shows up. And Dog didn't seem to care one bit. (Happy part: Dog knocks Kid over trying to lick him and Kid is stoked. He always liked Dog.) We think Dog is trying to tell us about his good time in Guadalajara. (Big airport, lots of planes, good place to play ball etc,) He is definitely a stress free dog. So they gave us a hotel and 3 meals for each of us. No food for Dog though. So we gave him our leftovers from the buffet. He ate more than us, needless to say. It was a buffet and we had a big bag and the people did not care. Ok, so we get to the airport the next morning and the lady asks us how we are going to get from Huatulco to Puerto. I had not thought to ask the previous day and told her. She took our tickets and left for about 15 minutes and came back with a voucher for a ride to Puerto. Worth about $120 US. I saw the receipt. Cool. We get to Huatulco and guess what. Dog does not get off the plane. What? We saw him get loaded so this plane is not going anywhere until Dog is with us. So they open it back up and sure enough they did not see him the first time. His box is only about the size of a Volkswagen. They thought it was funny. We didn't. On the way back to San Francisco I had to deal with getting Dog back safely and so the question was "Do we have to go to Huatulco because the plane does not have a pressurized cargo hold". (Remember?) So I go to a travel agent on the adoquin and ask or tell her my problem. She says there is no problem with the plane out of Puerto. It can take Dog. Live and let live. (What?) OoooKK. Now, who do I believe? Travel Agent or airline? Who would you believe? I make Travel Agent call the airport to ask and make sure she is right. The airport says that the plane can take Dog. Damn. Now who do I believe? Mexico City airport or Puerto airport. It would have been so much easier on my brain if Puerto airport said "no Dog" because we would just leave from Huatulco. But nooooo. They have to throw a monkey wrench into the mix and make me decide if I should trust them or not. Now I have a lot of experience in Mexico and this experience tells me do not even trust them to put air in my tires. What about a dog's life. So I give them another chance to decline Dog. I go to the airport and ask them directly. They tell me Dog will be fine and they never heard of depressurized cargo hold. Well, this just gives me 2 weeks to worry if dog will make it back home ....................................... ........................... Dog made it back without any problems. So did we. Our time in Puerto was fun. It was worth all the hassle. I hope this will put perspective on your next flight through Mexico City and all the airport problems you may have. Don't freak out. You will survive. Your trip will be as fun as YOU make it. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (10-12-03 12:05)
You are right, who could ever whine again after that story.
Hi Bill, Been there ...done that... too many times...specific circumstances were different (but kind of the same),.. SF to PE has became such a problem...last time it took 18 hours total (door to door), including the ridiculous 4 hours early requirement at SFI. This kind of nonsense takes all the fun out of going to this magical place. One could easily get to Europe or the Far East in less time.
My solution was to relocate to San Diego ..now I take a domestic mexican flight from TJ to PE....more better. Total travel time ..worst case... 5 hours.
But of course if you were to make the change, I would'nt be able to chuckle at your correspondences anymore. And that would be a loss. Good Luck..hope to see you in PE sometime.
We feel lucky enough to live in two of the greatest places. I travel 15 miles to the grocery store and do not see one traffic signal and I only have to stop at one stop sign and rush hour on the freeway is when you can see 5 cars at one time. San Diego is a nice place but that traffic can be a drag. We all know what Puerto is. The hassle of the airport is minimal. Leaving from the west coast is difficult because of the flight times into Puerto. Leaving from Puerto to the east coast is difficult because of the arrival times. Airports don't have to be that much of a bummer. Just get into the mind set and take a book and/or a newspaper and know that soon (relatively speaking) you will be in the south of Oaxaca. The plane is what gets to me. The way they pack people into them should be against the law. The real bummer is that I usually have to drive to Puerto and that is a lot longer than 18 hours. Dog likes it a lot better though. PB
Hello Juanita, The cheapest air fare from Montreal, trust me I've tried every trick, such as leaving from Burlington Vermont, in the book, can't beat Air Transat. Everyone else (for us freezing Montrealers, everyone else is Air Canada/operated by Mexicana) was in the 1450$CDN range; however I hear the Mexicana station manager in Montreal is amenable to lower her price for groups....maybe next year; Mexicana has definitely better arrival and departure times. We got our tickets through EXIT.CA at 999$CDN taxes included. Believe it or not, last year was 750$ and our loony was worth less then than now...go figure.
Thanks all of you about your advice in reference to evening/night driving to PE. we will be arriving at Huatulco Airport on January 29th, leaving on February 12th. I will try to contact Mario Hernandez, a driver we had last year while we were in Huatulco; he owns a decent Suburban and is a good driver; last year he drove 6 of us from Huatulco to the airport for 50$US divided by 6, pretty inexpensive.
If anyone wants to share the ride, send me an E-Mail, I'll try to set it up.
Ciao
Good morning P.B.
yes,we do love them , but trusting them is another matter, your story about Dog being forgotten and then being found again sounds very familar, It was in Darango , I walked up to the ticket counter at the bus stop and asked the girl for a ticket to Mazatlan , she tapped away at the computer and then looked up at me and with great delight so told me there were no more seats left that day,I said OK and stepped away, About that time the girl walked away and a young man stepped up to the counter , so i asked him for a ticket to mazatlan, He tapped away at the computer and to my surprise he said yes and it leaves in two hours, about that time the girl walks back up and looks at the screen then looks at me and shrugs her shoulders like oh well. Honest mistake? I will never know, bottom line when in mexico , never accept the first answer to any question , unless its the answer you want .
And yes everyone should at least once in there life cross the mountains in a bus to the pacific coast,darango to mazatlan is 175 miles in 8 hrs , the high pines area is fantastic ps. I get all warm inside when i think of the Kid and Dog getting back together congratulations on the moment viva mexico lovo
Just for info: I booked flights from Chicago to Puerto , stopping in M.C. for $612.46 , traveling on Thursday and leaving on a Friday. Last year we paid about $740.00. I check Mexicana every other day or so and this is the lowest.
Which western cities offer the EARLIEST AM ARRIVALS to Mexico City (that's DF for short), that would allow one to clear customs and catch the afternoon flight to Escondido? Thus avoiding a sleepover, which many would prefer to do at their stateside plane change. jan
Mexicana has a flight #0111, I think, that leaves Los Angeles at 12:30 AM, arrive DF at 6 AM, Aerocaribe #7423 leaving DF at 12:55 PM, arriving Puerto Escondido 2PM. I think there's also an early AM flight from San Francisco that can connect with the same Aerocaribe flight. Check the days of the week for the Aerocaribe flight - I know it's not everyday.
Yes there is an AM flight out of SFO as well. It leaves about the same time as the L.A. flight.
Hol'a, Was hoping someone can give me some description/s of La barra de Colotepec. Haven't been down in YEARS and am wondering if it's still as cool as I remember..... Probably venturing south in Dec./Jan. Thanks, Matt [%sig%]
y?ARE WE SO CHEAP?well we spend 1 two 2 thousand $ to get to PE.and nickel and dime the joint over a beer or a meal,let alone a sleep.why are we like that?cheap cheap cheap....should this not be the place that you can enjoy your stay AND ask the $ latter.just a thought...let it roll.i have stayed at the same place same room[with kitchen+maid] for 17 years,and NEVER has money been talked about.its all about TRUST and honesty...and honestly i dont have any money...owner says ok sr.al latter.now the pearl restaurant will run my tab for days.the place i stay took a 100$ that was new[never seen one]but they have trust!!.WHY are we so cheap[yanks+euros] .what is a yankee?,...well its like a quickey......only you do it bye your self.ps .im a perfect canadian lol...ps did digger make it down this year?also freddy on the beach[my friend for 17 anos?]well there is only 3 things in life YOU have to know... one you love like youve never been hurt,2 you work like you dont need the money,3rd you dance like nobodys watching,and in pe weve all done that..lol.so lets get some feed back?+my spelling
The name of this red castle is Castillo Carrizalillo and he is not from Quebec......I can't say much about the rest of original response.
Dear Al, I am a CDN also, from Quebec. I've traveled quite a bit and, you know what (sorry American US friends), wherever the American gringo goes, prices go out of wack! A perfect example is PE; the house that you rent for XXX$ per month is heck of a lot cheaper than buying it though it cost a fifth of it would cost to build it in Canada and a third of what it would cost in the U.S. of A, but somehow they find a way of selling it to you at the asked price...and if you don't know the rules of real estate ownership within 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the coast, you just got screwed . My wife and I will haggle but not to the peon....they earn their money! Take care and...enjoy while you can.
I was horrified to learn of the bus robberies on the overnight buses from Acupulco to Puerto. Do these robberies also occur on the Mexico City to Puerto route? My understanding is that the luxury and 1st class buses only run at night from M.C. to P.E. I might add that my husband and I travelled on the buses earlier this year and found them to be very comfortable, though definitely on the cool side! [%sig%]
Why is kitchen Rena the best kitchen in the P.E. mercado. Because it is the only one that cooked my shrimp in butter , everyone else just used oil, Stop by and say hello to Jose and his familly at the kitchen RENA and tell them Jay says hello.
thanks jay
No, Chinto. You're getting the Castillo Carrizalillo (a big white castle looking place in Carrizalillo) confused with this little red castle located in Zicatela Beach. Two different places, two different owners. By the chance, does anyone know of a hotel located in Santiago Jamiltepec?? Big chance but the village is holding it's 20th Chilena Festival the 25th of October and want to go but the music and fun doesn't start until about 8:00p.m. No way am I driving those roads at night........ I know they have several hotels but don't know names or phones and I saw a page on TomZap regarding Jamiltepec so someone has been there. Thanks.
Does anyone know any hotels in Santiago Jamiltepec, Oaxaca by chance?? They're having their 20th annual Chilena Festival on the 25th of October and want to go but music/fun starts at 8:00 (they say..) and we know it's not going to end until the wee hours and there's no way you're going to find me on the road at night. Anyway was just wondering......
I am getting mixed messages from Mexicana for the PE to DF return flight. Once I got a $384 pp fare. Now it says no seats available. Is this normal?
They change the times and days quite often. Depends on when you wish to fly in or out. Right now they do not have flights on Sundays at least in the winter months. If I remember correctly there also was a day during the week that they didn't have a flight. I just think you have to play around with dates. Some days they leave around 11 am and other days around 2PM. This is from DF Good luck
We are flying in/out of DFover the Christmas holidays and will be making a loop through Oaxaca on our way to PE. Originally we thought of taking the bus to PE and then fly back so that we can have an extra day in the sun. But yesterday, Mexicana's (AeroCaribe) website said the flights were full. Is there an alternative airline from PE to DF? Given the uncertainty of flights and prices for flying from PE, we are also exploring the idea of renting a car when we depart DF (for about ten days). Has anyone driven this route recently? How are the roads from Oax to PE? Has anyone driven from PE to Acapulco to DF recently? About how long would this take assuming bypassing ACA?
nex time mabe you live your fucking dog at home??
Mexicana is offering round trip flights to Huatulco now for $581 USD. Catch a ride from there to Puerto Escondidio for about an additional $60. Phyllis, see you soon.
That $581 price is Chicago to Huatulco. Sorry about that.
Don't know if you have tried calling Mexicana direct at 800-531-7923. They often have better prices over the phone than they offer on their web site, and will also have seats available. If you arrive and depart Mexico City on another airline, and take the first available flight to Puerto after arriving and the first available flight out of MC when leaving, some Mexican taxes may not apply. Sometimes the res. agent will offer this option and sometimes not. Be sure to mention that you are arriving and departing on so and so airline into MC, but be aware that yur tickets will be checked when leaving Puerto to ensure you are really ticketed to depart on the flight you said you were. As I recall, last years tickets dropped from approx, $250 per person RT, to the $200 range because the Mexicana agent asked how we were arriving at Mexico City.
I was just checking flights this week for the end of January, and there were no flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fri/Sat/Mon all left MC around noon, while Sun/Thu left at 5:15 PM. Good luck with the tickets.
We'll have a cold one or two in the refrigerator for you. Phyllis
Gosh, I never even thought about that. The dog pays my way. I have thought about leaving the fucking wife at home though. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (10-20-03 09:34)
i am loking for a flight to from edmonton or calgary to mex city direct i am bard in the us> tankyou yvan
I read on another form that A & H's renamed the restaurant End Zone Sports Bar. Anyone down there know if this is true? How's the weather lately, is the rainy season over? Looking forward to being in PE this coming January. saludo's
My wife and I are wanting a simpler life and love Mexico. We haven't been to Oaxaca yet, but have been reading and searching the internet. Puerto Vallarta and the other resort areas have become more expensive and we would like a low cost of living area by the Pacific. I am interested in the Puerto Escondito PA and Hautulco areas. I am thinking that PE would have a livelier more vibrant life than the others and would love to hear what others would like to share on places. Would like to have a small cantina/inn. We own a bar, night club now and had a B&B in the past. What are the obstacles to living and working/ owning a business there? Is it a difficult process to go through? How is the local government to work with? I would appreciate input and advice from knowlegable people who don't mind sharing.
Thanks, Seattle Mark
We'd like to be able to call or email home while in PE, but our cell phone won't work in Mexico. We have heard that some hotels rent cell phones to visitors. If possible, we'd also like to be able to receive and send emails. Are there places there with internet access, and if so, can we access either Yahoo or AOL accounts? If anyone has specific answers, it would be very helpful so we know who to contact before we come. We'll be in Oaxaca before and after PE, so maybe it would be easier to get a cell phone there. My only concern is that reception is low in PE. Thanks!
My cell phone won't work in Mexico and I don't know if there are internet locations there for sending and receiving emails (Yahoo or AOL). It would be optimal if we can do both, cell phone and email, to home in the SF Bay Area. Can we rent cell a cell phone in a hotel in PE or Oaxaca? Is the reception in PE ok? Do hotels have computers for use by clients? Thanks.
well PB another great anecdote from your Puerto experiences, keep them coming, however I would suggest you keep the wife and leave DOG at the doggy hotel somewhere near San Diego, it in the long run will be cheaper and less costly on the family assets, you've no doubt heard of the 50/50 share, stress not withstanding. Bob
lets not get started on art+harry;s.THE OWNER IS A RIP OFF..any one for golf or lets invest in some real estate.HE loves YOUR money and was a bust in toronto...lol
There are internet cafes everywhere here for 10 pesos per hour. I have not heard of renting cell phones but, depending on the time you are staying, you can buy one for 700 pesos and just keep buying the prepaid cards. Some cell phones from USA will work here but you must get them reprogrammed when you get here. <http://www.puertoconnection.com> [%sig%]
Reception is good in Puerto.
Telmex has recently made upgrades in many TELCEL sites up and down the Pacific coast. I noted vastly improved building penetration on my Nokia hand held during my last visit to Puerto in September. I also did not loose the signal while being mobile from Puerto to Huatulco. AT&T is my cellular provider here in Texas. Upon arriving in Puerto my phone automatically switches to extended area and never misses a beat.
This may or may not help.......great site radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/nation?ccode=mx&go.x=7&go.y=3
ooops..sorry about that....Thanks Grio
Sorry Bob, but if I left Dog in San Diego I would have nobody to kick when I get angry plus I am working on him to buy me a new vehicle for the next drive down. If I play my cards right I won't have to do the 50/50 thing. He will pay for the whole thing himself. He really likes the drive better than the flight even though he seemed to have a good time in Guadalajara. (I wonder what they did with him while I was not looking.) One part of the drive he does not like though, Bob, is Texas. (I think not many people like Texas either.) He gets a lot of stickers in his paws when he is stretching his legs and chasing his ball. We also have to be careful of which hotels we stay at because if he can see the pool from the room and he does not get to go in he gets upset. It is pretty cool these days with dogs and hotels though. Most allow dogs with no problem at all. We don't even tell them we have a dog anymore unless there is a sign that says that they would like to know because they are worried about guests that may have allergies and they have special rooms for dogs. At least at these hotels we know for sure that they will let Dog stay even though it is more expensive because we have to get him his own room. It is alright though, Bob, because Dog can afford it. It gets to be a little bit of a hassle because he does not know how to use the remote and I have to keep going back and forth to change the channels on the TV. Sometimes I get lucky and Animal Planet will have a couple of shows on in a row so that I don't have to worry about it. He does like the hotels in the U.S. better than Mexico though, Bob. The hotel people in Mexico have this phobia/fear/hatred/no understanding of dogs. Because of this they treat him like a dog. One place in Taxco treats him pretty well but the place in Matahuala has something against dogs. Don't worry though Bob, we get (sneak) him in and let him sleep on the couch because of their attitude. We would never let him sleep on the couch at home. (To dirty.) Of course he has his own bed at home.
He seems to like the smells in Mexico better than the United States for some reason. He always wants to put his head out of the car. Sometimes I just strap him to the roof of the car. At first it was kind of a bummer because it took a little while to pluck the bugs out of his eyes and teeth. We fixed that with goggles and he eats the bugs. Saves on Dog food. It is really weird when we cross the border. I swear that there are about 20 times more bugs in Mexico than in the U.S. I am not kidding. As soon as we cross the border!! I thought I noticed this one year but then I just figured I was hallucinating. But after picking the bugs out of Dog's teeth I now know for a fact that it is true. I wonder if anybody has any theories on why this is. Bob? Well anyway, I just can't seem to figure out a way to leave Dog behind when we get to go to Puerto, Bob. It just does not seem fair. Us having all the fun and him staying home and guarding. Anyway that is what a guard dog is for. Isn't it? PB
wow, I thought I'd get a response but not in this direction. I'm not buying property from anyone, just a cold beer and watch a game. Great sunsets I might add; after a long day on la playa! I was just trying to get more threads going as it's fall and people are thinking of getting back to a place we all love (P.E.)
Where do you go to purchase the cell phone for 700 pesos
Any recommendations for a very nice hotel in Oaxaca? We're into comfort and wouldn't even mind some elegance. Most people are looking for a bargain on the Oaxaca pages, but we're a bit tired of what you get with a bargain. I'll take luxury at this point in life. No one seems to respond much to questions on the Oaxaca pages, so I'm asking here on the PE page where you've got nice folks like Bill and Dave who seem to know their way around and will talk about it all.
expedia.com $490 ord to hux............priceline.com is even less.. or 350$ or so on several airlines ord to mex city round trip then bus it to pe for about 50$ each way if time permits.
try possibly 2 cups and a long string
ritz carlton, oaxaca city
ok a+h lost 1/2 of his sun set due to honest development next door..lol.this boy is in big **** with the fed's.he can only pay them off for so long...then lights out.
I bought mine at the cell phone store across from Ahorara...the grocery store. It came with 300 pesos of time but that may have been a special offer. I did this about a year ago.
[%sig%]
Yes, as has been said here numerous times, Art & Harry`s is no more. There is another bar there with all of the things you`re leaving home to see. As far as sunsets, they are pretty much a thing of the past from the north side of the road. The beachfront is so heavily built up you`d think people are carrying surfboards through the center of town. Rain has pretty much stopped now, still morning and evening clouds, and the odd rumble of thunder from the mountains. Fiestas of November coming up, the party begins.
The converted convent is probably the most expensive hotel in Oaxaca. The name escapes me. Probably listed in Oaxaca Life. Try doing a search.
Kris, I think it is called El Presidente. It is a great hotel. It should be easy to book a room on the internet. At least you should be able to get their phone number. PB
Good ribs, though. And cute waitresses. Always cute waitresses. Cold beer. Happy hour. Super Bowl. I have enjoyed a few memorable afternoons which turned into nights that I can't remember at Art and Harry's. First time was in 1985 when I believe it was called Los Arcos. I've heard many a story about the owner, but I don't always believe the storytellers. For they are most often the ones who have spent too much time in PE without a reality check back home. You know the ones I'm talking about. They swagger thru the streets and look like they're not all that thrilled to be there. They form communities with thier own kind, (and strangely have no loyalty amongst themselves, as is evident from the Art and Harry's bashing) and make the short stay visitors feel like they are not included or welcome. They act as if they actually live there, as if it's their town, where the truth is we are all visitors to PE, be it for a week long visit or a winter. Smile, crusty. You are in paradise!
Check that. It is called the Camino Real I think. Sorry. PB
Dawn, we stayed at a B&B called Las Bugambilias a couple of years ago. It was a nice place that I would recommend. Friendly people. Good restaurant.
Las Bugambilias is an excellent B&B. My hubby and I stayed there a few years ago with our teenage son and his friend. Rene (the owner) is very nice and arranged a tour to Monte Alban for us. By the way, he and his wife now own another B&B in Oaxaca. You can get the name by contacting Las Bugambilias.
what is the best hotel with the nicest beach in puerto...must have good service ,nice rooms,air-cond,good restuarant.....going for special occasion...
Hi, I'm a student, 21years old. Going to Puerto EScondido and Oaxaca city for christmas. Any suggestions for bars and partys? How is the night life? [%sig%]
Dennis Miller, isn't this up your ally? [%sig%]
Thanks...
The Santa Fe on zicatela.
My wife and I stayed at the Camino Real, or El Presidente, several years ago. It was very nice, just the ticket to recover from a case of food poisoning picked up in P.E. (Never happened since then.) Lovely rooms, 3 foot thick walls with window seats, beautiful gardens and pool area. Guide book quote: "Flowery secluded courtyards, massive arched portals, soaring beamed ceilings, a big blue pool and impeccable bar and restaurant service combine to create a refined but relaxed old world atmosphere." All of this doesn't come cheap. It was worth the splurge. Chaz
Used to be "Tres Osos" many years ago and was just about the last business on the beach. It was a great place to stop for breakfast on the way back from the point. Perhaps enough Jeff bashing, as some of it might rub off on Patty, and no one wants that. Great lady.
Thanks for the POSITIVE feed back, Kris what are they building on the beach across the street from A&H's? I know the white castle thing was there in March; not much else? Jeff was talking about putting something over on the beach with music and cheap beers? Yes I like Jeff and Patty; your right Chaz she is a great lady.
Agree, Santa Fe, I love that place. Don't expect Hilton style luxury, though; it's much more low-key than that. Check out the photos on its web site, link through the "hotels" page on this site.
In PE your choices will be few. Just head downtown to the Adoquin (pedestrian mall), the happening bars will be obvious. Re: parties, it's a surf town, just hang out and look friendly and willing to chat, you'll have no problem finding parties. Don't wander on Zicatela beach at night unless you're in a group. Can't speak for Oaxaca. Please share with us how you liked the place when you return.
Last time I checked it was around 200$ a nite. T.
If you are not looking for a bargain Camino Real can be your option. If I´m not wrong is the most expensive hotel in the state. Camino Real is a chain of five stars hotels that runs busines with sheraton in México. You will find all that comes with five star hotels plus a perfect location walking distance from el zócalo, santo domingo, la soledad...
Someone built a disco-bar-restaurant thing much to the chagrin and complaints of the people on the opposite side of the road. As has been stted in other postings, all of these things are supposedly illegal, because there is no sewer or water service there. The construction was stopped several times, but finally completed. I don't know the circumstances exactly, but shall we say their occupancy permit caught fire? A burnt out shell now graces the beachfront. The remainder of the beach, all the way back to the front of the Santa Fe, who bought the beach across the road, (which is supposed to be federal land, not municipal) has been covered with bars, restaurants etc. It's too long a story to go into here, but it's pretty disappointing to many people who wanted the beach left au natural.
To all you Puerto tourists....just remember as you're sitting out there in those palapas on the beach, eating those cheap meals and drinking those cold beers that you're really supporting the destruction of this beautiful beach and encouraging all those illegal facilites to continue by giving them business. Where we once used to be able to sit in Bruno's, Arcos Iris's, Ines's or even Art & Harry's and watch the sunsets and the surfers, now we just look at the back of funky trashy palapas, gas tanks and piles of debris. They're not getting one peso of my hardearned money....I care too much about the future of Puerto.
Just to update everyone, two nights ago THREE buses were robbed - the same night - the same route - on the way from Acapulco to Puerto somewhere outside of Pinotepa Nacional. A friend of mine was taking the night bus from Acapulco and although his bus wasn't one robbed, it took him 10 hours to get to Puerto as the police stopped all the following buses and made them travel caravan style (3-4 together) putting armed guards on each bus. They is getting more and more crazy......beware about the night buses.
All of the buildings and "stuff" were built in the middle of the famed Frisbee golf course. The shame. Of course, those things are now the "holes" on the course. Golfers Adapt! [%sig%]
Coming attraction? Night of the Adaptive Frisbee Tourist Revenge Golfers. Prizes? jan
Thanx for the tips! I will tell you all about it when i come back!
Alright, now you have my attention. Spent last December at Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel. Loved it and had a great desire to see more of Mexico. On the advise of another Hotel guest we chose Oxaca as our next destination. We started researching the state and settled on Puerto Excondido as the place that we would use as our base. We chose a casita near Carizillo beach and have given a deposit. We have purchased our plane tickets and are to arrive in December. The post "an interesting read" and the following coments were read with great interest and now your alert of more bus robberies has us wondering if we have made a grave error. No one wants to subject themselves and love one(s) to robberies, rape and possibly worse. It is up to me to decide whether or not to proceed knowing the risks. However, should we proceed with our travel plans, where in Puerto is the best place to go to get a heads up on travel warnings. .
Are you taking the bus from Acapulco to Puerto ? If not why worry about it. Puerto is a wonderful place on the Pacific ocean. The people who live in Puerto are wonderful , the beaches , restaurants , etc are wonderful. But Puerto is not Cancun, etc. It is a living, working town for the natives and we are allowed to enjoy it with them. Precautions are just the same as you would do in your town.
I'm thinking a plate of ribs from The Split Coconut would be appropriate. I'd like to give a big shout out to the former national champion of Frisbee golf, Mr Matt of the Tequila Aunrise.
National Champion of Frisbee Golf Gunter [%sig%]
Puerto Escondido: It's hot as hell and the mosquitos are horrendous! [%sig%]
For a special occasion why not the newly renovated villas overlooking Playa Carrazalillo? That's where this boy would stay. The Sante Fe is so whatever.
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Den: Don't let the bus thing scare you; as is the way with all chat boards, much is being made here of what is still a very isolated and unusual occurrence in this area. I've been to Puerto for vacations five times (last time two years ago) and have never seen or had cause to be concerned about my personal safety. I very much look forward to the next time I can go back. In fact I like it so much I still check this board every day, for a fix of "armchair" vacationing. Granted, Puerto is a little rougher around the edges than the other two places you mention; but it's a "real" working town much concerned with the usual coastal type of commerce, with a small-scale but growing tourism industry. There's not much in the way of glitz or glamor, but there are nice hotels, nice restaurants, great beaches, and lots of friendly people. Will you enjoy it? Depends a lot on what kind of traveler you are and what you're looking for. If you stayed in fancy, exclusive places in Playa and Cozumel, and gravitated to the upscale shopping/restaurants, etc., you won't find that here. But if you want to get off the beaten tourist track and experience more of the "real" Mexico, and especially if you like ocean, surf and sun, and friendly, appreciative locals who aren't jaded by tourists, Puerto Escondido is the place. For safety, the basic personal awareness tips that would apply anywhere in North America will do you fine.
p.s. If you go to Puerto, you may want to also check out Huatulco. It's only a day trip away, and is much more upscale than Puerto, being developed specifically as a tourist destination by the Mexican Government within the past 10 years or so. Quite a notch up in the comfort scale over Puerto, but in my view Puerto not as interesting.
Sorry, my last sentence should have read "in my view not as interesting". Meaning I find Puerto more so than Huatulco.
My favorite hotel is the Posada Real. Although 5 minutes by taxi from the center of town, the beach, pool and beach club are wonderful. The view from high up on the cliff where the hotel is located is unbeliveable as the sun sets. Check out their web site for more info & photos. Been there 4 times & going back in Feb. 04.
Hello all. This will be my 10thyr of going to P.E. and from what I can gather,sitting here in Ontario Can. from friends already there , the price of Accomadation for houses(2-3 mths) is going through the roof. What is going on?, this is not Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta, 7, 8 yrs ago this was a nice quaint "hidden"place to go, what has happened, maybe the U.S.$ was too strong and it was soo cheap for travelers from the U.S., and prices jumped, but I am not blaming my friends south of the border, but those who have been going to P.E for some time will have to admit that it is changing, and we are seeing better roads , more paved roads, my god even steps to Carrazilillo ,!a cafecito in the Rinconada! Progess can not be stopped, at what cost? Gord
Gord: lets start with mentioning the presence of this very discussion board where the tourist comunity can talk and spread all over the very usefull "secret" information to get to this "hidden" and not for so long "cheap" gem.
In Oaxaca try el "Candela" if you like salsa (It´s close to Santo Domingo). "La costumbre" y "las monjas" are two other places close to Santo Domingo. And you can find many other bars while walking in the andador turisico.:
Hi My wife and I are seriously considering selling our bar/night club in Seattle and moving to PE. Before we owned the night club we had started a bed and breakfast. What we would like to do is... purchase a small inn with cantina/ bar. Not big. We would also like to start a clothing manufacurting internet business with our own small work facility to employ seamstress' and pattern makers. My wife is very creative and we have a family friend (who is more like family) who is in sales and marketing. Does this sound feasable in PE. The tomzap.com web page has sold us on this area which involves you and your community reader board (what valuable info you have made available to us and thank you!). Are we at all realistic? Can we make a living if we have the skills? How is the local govt to work with? Are the local people receptive? And what do we have to do to make this happen? We have been in Mexico many times (primarily the West Coast and love the people, culture, history, and landscape (although very limited Spanish). I would love input from people living in the immediate area for their honest, straight forward opinions. Please inform us of things we should consider, obstacles, ...etc. that may be useful. I very much appreciate this.
Thank you for the forum you have created, and now I get to glean from.j Sincerly, Mark Weber
That's right. The internet and airports are making PE geographically closer to the rest of the world.
Jan mentioned that "Mario's" is still for sale. Is that the pizza place at the end of the Adoquin? Last year we ate there quite a few times and enjoyed the food . I think the owner has a restaurant in Mexico City also.He said he was from Italy
Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice place to eat on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day? I'm staying near Carrizalillo Beach. And is it difficult to get taxis on the 24th and 25th? Is the supermarket open? For that matter, is anything open? Generally, is it easy to get around town on foot? Thanks for any help and advice. LRH
Thanks RAP, a voice of levity. I don't think that I am too much of an alarmist by nature but it never hurts to be careful. What got me going is that are planning several trips out of Puerto while we are there. One of them includes a trip to Pinotepa Nacional. This seems to be a little close to the bears den. Almost all of our day trips will be by bus and this is what concerns me.
No, I am not taking the bus from Acapulco to Puerto. We are taking a flight to Puerto airport and are being picked up directly there. And no I did not stay in a fancy exclusive place in Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen. Nor am I staying in one in Puerto, though it certainly seems that they are available. I don't really know what kind of a traveller I am because I have been busy raising a family for the last 20 years and now feel that I am ready to spread my wings so to speak. I do know that I am looking for something different than Hawaii or Disneyland and Europe seems too busy and too expensive. If the people of Puerto are friendly, the snorkelling is decent, there is plenty of flora and fauna, culture and a good cup of coffee, then I should be there. I just don't want to compromise my personal saftey too much and it seems that I should be ok.
As far as I know he lives most of the time in Oaxaca and probably has a business there. Pizzaland has been on sale for the last 4 years I think. I hear the price is 350K US$. Some cabañas in the back of the restaurant are included. T.
den, you are not compromising your personal safety by going to Puerto and if you are like 99.99% of the people that go to Puerto, you will be planning your next trip as soon as you get home. Oh sure you may think that you will want to visit someplace else in Mexico after visiting Puerto because your visit will be so good and you may actually go someplace else but I am sure you will end up coming back to Puerto because Puerto is everything the other places are not. By the way, what makes you want to go to Pinotepa Nacional? Just wondering is all. PB
I fly into Huatulco from ORD via MEX almost ever year. Take a taxi from out by the road in front of the Huatulco airport going to PE for around 45 US $. Never Always get a friendly taxi driver and have a safe ride. Never have had a problem around PE, walking the beaches or the streets. Low end hotels seem to stay as calm as the high end. Stayed in Huatulco twice and the atmosphere was that of Ixtapa or Cozmel. That's fine if thats what your after. Very safe in PE, great food, low prices, beautiful beaches, very friendly locals, and you may get the feeling that you'll have to always go back. I usually stay at the Posada Real and have never found that the 5 minute ride to town was an inconvience.
The beautiful people of Puerto Escondido that make going there such a wonderful and growing experience.
.
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Yes, rents are getting higher. It's still possible to get reasonable places, but more and more people want ahouse with a pool, and are willing to pay for it. I guess when you think of what things cost in Florida, or Southern California, $1000 or so for a month isn't bad. The problem is that when people go onto one of the rental websites and pay what I consider too much for one of these places, the precedent has been set. From that point, the owner wants big bucks for rental, and will let the place sit empty rather than consider reducing the rent. The same thing goes for other things too. Prices in general are going up. Don't think that you're doing anyone a favour by paying high prices. What you're doing is raising the cost of living for the people who live and work here, and earn 150 pesos a day. Progress can't be stopped, and Puerto isn't going to be Huatulco or Cancun, but there are gringos here that are only interested in making money from their real estae investments, and the picture isn't pretty.
You're asking for a free maekt analysis and business plan. There are all kinds of people who have tried the businesses you mention, separately, and maybe in combination. Some hotels do well, most bars don't, you can buy t-shirts 4 for 100 pesos all over town. The government seems to like any type of investment. The bottom line of it is, the business has to be in the right part of town to attract the clientel it is set up for. There are areas where some businesses will work and others not. The amswer is to come here and spend time. A bar that does well in winter may sit empty for the other 9 months of the year. Even if tyhe business is successful, you can't expect to make the kind of money you did back home.
Puerto is getting more expensive but it is still cheaper than a lot of places.Try to pay $1000 for the same house in Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, or Mazatlan. Don't even think about Cabo or Hawaii. Gord you are right that Puerto is not one of these places. IT IS BETTER. otherwise you would be going to the other places and not going to Puerto. There are still some outrageous bargains to be had in Puerto but you have to look and they probably will not come with a maid. You can get a meal, a great meal for under $40 pesos. Or cheaper. Everything everywhere is more expensive but I will bet that you have more money than you use to have too. I don't think the airport has much to do with the prices. If anything it may keep people away because of the cost to fly in. I don't know how the local people live on $150 pesos a day but a lot of them manage to. PB
Everything but the banks and government offices are open. All of the restaurants offering gringo Christmas will advertise in El Sol.
myself & 2 friends arrive in puerto for the first time in peak season on dec 22. any good ideas for accom. on zicatela?
Puerto Bill's article is now archived at <http://www.tomzap.com/HOS.html> Can some of you with digital cameras send me some illustrations, e.g. photos of the stores mentioned in the article? tomzap tom@tomzap.com
Try Rockaway. Cabañas, pool, clean and cheap. Last year Rock had places all through Christmas week. Who can know for sure this year. PB
Please tell us that your "R.V. hookups" aren't going to be the same as last year. IMHO, parking R.V.'s and trailers on a residential street and running hoses and extension cords to them doesn't do much to increase the beauty of the neighbourhood.
Thanks for your input. This is the information that I am looking. We are planning on coming and spending time this winter and checking the area and talking to people. We don't expect to make the same money, we are wanting to trade the money for less stress but still have a comfortable life. Hope that is possible. It sounds like PE is positioning itself for becoming a more popular tourist destination. Is this your impression? And do most ex-pats head north for the summer or the hills where it is cooler? Also, what do foreigners do for health insurance if you have the F2 or F3 status? Thanks to anyone responding in advance. I value your impressions and knowledge.
Seattle Mark
The hotel provides the service to those who want it as well as the many tour buses that come to Puerto. It is much better than parking on the beach or in a parking lot. Having a safe place to hookup is what many people are looking for and that is why the hotel offers the service.
K, It was a great time to be your assisten, and another good friend in Mexico ! see you pronto! EL sol brilla aqui en PE! Gracias Gina
$ 150 pesos a day. That is a GOOD salary since the minimum salary acording to the law is around 38 - 40 pesos for 8 hours a day. I´m sure that A LOT of people in puerto earn less than 150 $ pesos a day.
I completely agree with Karen's comments! Gina is not only the Information Goddess, but in my heart she is also Puerto's Queen! Puerto would not be the same without Gina. My husband Jim & I were in Puerto last January, and are going back this next January. I cannot say enough about Gina Machorro Espinosa. She is all that Karen says and more. She instantly makes you feel totally at home in an unfamiliar place. She treats you like a member of her family. She not only knows all the best places to go and see, shares advise on where to stay and what to do, but also provides information on where to get the things you might need. My husband is a diabetic, and had some diabetic problems while we were in Puerto. This was a scary thing to have happen being so far from home with no 911 to call! But Gina came to our rescue by helping us find what we needed. While we were on a tour with Gina, my husband took his blood sugar level which he does periodically throughout the day. Gina turned this into a learning experience for a few different local Puerto families, by explaining what he was doing and why, and how important it is to take responsibility for your health. Gina's information booth is the first stop you should make when you get to Puerto. She will answer all your questions. She is bi-lingual, helpful, very knowledgeable and has a GREAT sense of humor! When you leave Puerto you will not only be sad to leave the town, but also Gina, who becomes a friend. (We miss you Gina! See you in January!) Roxanne and Jim [%sig%]
Puerto has fewer transient gringos than it used to due to the increasing difficulty in getting here by air. There is still a lot of surfer/backpacker traffic, but that is a niche group that doesn't usually have much disposable cash. There are a quickly growing number of Mexican tourists coming here to escape the high costs in places like Acapulco and Huatulco, and there are many hotels springing up in town to serve their needs. The Mexican tourists have different ideas about vacations than gringos, often travelling long hours by bus for one day at the beach, and not expecting the luxuries of an All-Inclusive package holiday. That is the growth that most of us see here, although there are a few gringos trickling in each year and buying places to live here year round. There is also a snowbird population, but we're talking about several hundred people, not the thousands that go to other places. Puerto can't support the amenities that attract the majority of gringo tourists, such as a golf course. That is what adds to the attraction of Puerto, for me anyway.
I really, really hope to never see a gringo golf course in puerto. It is one of the worst things that could happen in such a nice place.
Just wondering if any travelers have had the chance to visit Laguna Manialtepec and have come across a guide by the name of Margarito Bustamante. He is a sole entrepreneur, owns a canoe, generally hangs out at El Cafecito in Zicatela, and takes tourists for personal excursions by canoe through the Laguna. I have known him since 1995 and visited him and his family many times over the years. Since being married I have not had the opportunity to travel back to PE since 2000 and I am wondering how he is getting along.
His services as a guide are unique and extraordinary. This man is an exceptional individual. He takes great pride in his business and in the satisfaction of his customers. For those into ecotourism, getting off the beaten track, and experiencing how the natives really live, he is the one to go to. His tours of the lagoon are an absolutely incredible experience, and I have camped a number of times on the beach where the river feeding into the lagoon empties during the rainy season. I have never seen more beautiful scenery even at our national parks. I highly recommend a trip with him for those interested in some adventure.
If anyone knows about him I would enjoy hearing from you.
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Hi I'm wondering if anyone has stayed in Zicatela Properties "Cabanas El Maguey"? Might be booking a place there and wanted to get some impressions other folks might have had. Any information would be great. Thanks Ben [%sig%]
My wife and I went out with him winter of 2001 and 2002. Wife has been out with him 4+ times. I was in Puerto Escondido in October, 2003, and didn't see him in the Cafecito/Zicatela/Marinero area, where he usually hangs out. That said, there's been other Octobers when I haven't seen him either. I assume he gears more to the "tourist" season, Nov-Feb. I saw him numerous time last December - January.
He's highly recommended by us also. Assuming he's still around, I'll see him in December-January this year if you want me to forward a message to him.
I've only seen the area change since 1999, but I'd still call the Rinconada area "somewhat quiet". Cafecito opened a new restaurant/bakery there this year. There's a new entrance to Carrizalillo, with a walkway/steps down to the beach. There are taxis available, but you might have to wait 5+ minutes or so for one to come by. I can't remember a bus going by, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't on a bus route.
The area between Rinconada and the cliffs above Carrizalillo, stretching to the west, is being sold off as expensive lots. There haven't been too many homes built yet(3 or 4?), but development is coming.
Lie down with dog, get up with fleas! Take your head out of that smelly place!
Mark, to be frank, I am not sure if there is a lack of bars in P.E. Many people have tried to open business of that kind in P.E. Some made it but most didn't . If you depend on a regular income from your business, it may be a good idea to check on one of the charter flight destinations which are supplied year round with daily loads of fresh consumers from Canada the U.S. and Europe. In P.E. you can count on a 3 months season , mid Nov till mid Jan, Easter week and the Mexican school holidays in July. And that's about it. In that time you have to make enough money to last you for the remaining time of the year. It can be hard. Any business based on tourism can be tricky in P.E. Some years are good , others really bad. As for health insurance: the basic thing to get in Mexico is the IMSS government health scheme. It´s cheap but the service in general is kind of a socialist polyclinic system. It`s good in some areas, not so good in others. I live in MEX-City and here they do have good places. The IMSS place in P.E. is rather small and not that well equipped. Many people go to the clinics in Oaxaca or Salina Cruz. Usually you have to wait in line for hours to get attended. If you are young and healthy, the IMSS may suffice but if your health is a little fragile, a private insurance that would cover major surgery and gives you access to private docs and hospitals may be recommended. It´s not cheap. It can be bought with Mexican insurance companies and I guess in the U.S. as well. For minor things you can always pay for your doctors services. A mayor illness with adequate treatment however can come very expensive Best of luck.T.
Thanks for your response, Dennis. I'd been reminiscing about my travels to Oaxaca and felt an urge to reach out and see if anyone has shared a common experience. The stresses and anxieties we get from this crazy place we call civilization (So Calif in my case) makes me want to escape to somewhere that is real. I have never had a more satisfying experience than my trips to PE and I am really missing it. For those who have been there and are in the know, it seems to hold a very special place in our hearts.
Margarito lives in the village of Las Negras 10 miles outside of town. There is a road sign and some topes announcing your arrival, but there is not much else there. The restaurant Flor de Pacifico is the best land mark, and there are about 300 residents in the community. It did not even have telephone service up until a couple of years ago. I actually went native a few times and stayed with his family in their very humble dwelling. I know many of the inhabitants there quite well, and I've been welcomed into many of their homes. The charm of the people more than made up for the lack of comforts we are so accustomed to.
I was getting ready at one time to abandon everything I have here and relocate to PE. My thoughts were to partner up with him in some sort of ecotourism enterprise, supplemented by the investment income I could generate. It would have been a very modest existence by SoCal standards, but I learned from my stays in Las Negras how little we really need to get by. I often think that life would be more satisfying there - more exercise, fresh food and air, a simpler life, surrounded by friendly locals, and relatively little mind pollution from the omnipresent media that we have here.
That is my story. You can generally locate Margarito by asking around for him at El Cafecito (his "office"), or even inquire at Flor de Pacifico - just about everyone in the community seems to be a cousin, niece or nephew. The best trips I have experienced were the overnight stays on La Barra where we would build a fire on the sand and cook the fish I had caught. The mornings were phenomenal. Hope you catch up with him and give him my regards. Saludos, Craig
Puerto Escondido: It's hot as hell and the mosquitos are horrendous! [%sig%]
David is trying to keep gringos out so he can retain his frisbee title. The mosquitos are thinning out a bit, but we've had rain a couple of days this week, and they keep trying. It is getting hotter though. With the end of the rain comes the end of the cloud cover. Gets pretty hot by 10.
To the person responsible..........when in Mexico, may your ATM card be eaten up on your first attempt to get cash.
totally pissing me off! May a stray dog piss all over you!
The bus runs from about 6:30 am to 8)) pm. It goes west on Av. Benito Juarez, up to the Mercado, back down past the Agencia. Taxis are so frequent that we sit at the IFOPE Library and watch them run into each other as a pastime. I wouldn't say that Rinconada is the place to be, but it is quieter at night than Zicatela, close enough to both Centro and the Adoquin that you can walk, and has lots of accomodations in apartments and houses, from inexpensive to too expensive.
Swimming 12 miles off shore in the deep blue with "guide" Omar, out of Puerto Angelito. 300+ dolphins. The faster I swam away from the boat, the closer the dolphins came. Both sides of me, rolling under me, within arms length.
May something else get eaten up on the first attempt to get l.....T.
I love pop ups, especially cherry flavored pop ups.
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Hello to everyone...
My name is Rachel and Im new to your site. I grew up in Puerto as a teenager, for those of you who might have been there at the time, and might remember, my parents owned and operated "La Parrilla del Gitano" ("The Gypsy's Grill") restaurant. I have been searching for more recent pics of Puerto (havent been there since '91), and I am also trying to contact an old friend of mine (I lost his address when I married and moved out of my parents house a few years ago), his name is Heriberto Ramirez Estrada. If anyone knows him, or has a way of contacting him, please let him know I am looking for him, and feel free to have him contact me. Thank you for your time. Website is great, Im so happy to find people who love that beautiful town as much as I do. Thanks! [%sig%]
Me and my girlfriend were there last January. We had a great time there and Pat (who takes charge of the place for the owners) was very helpful with all kind of information about P.E. We're planning to come back to P.E. again in January and we will surely get in touch again with her to find a new place to go (just because we like to change) The place is really cute and simple, well decorated, and pretty intimate as there are only 2 others bungalows in the same lot. The location is great, near the playa and the restaurants, but you have to take a short walk by the road to get to the adoquin where the bars are. The kitchenette and fridge were really appreciated after a couple of weeks eating in restaurants. So if you want a quiet and intimate place to go but near everything, go for it! Oh yes, if you are a sushi lover don't forget to go to that japanese place on Zicatela... it's heaven in your mouth! Bye
Eric, Thanks for the info! I am a sushi lover! The place sounds great. Exactly what I am looking for, and Pat has already been really helpful. My girlfriend and I will be there over the holidays and I'm certain already that we'll love it. Thanks again. Ben [%sig%]
I am travelling to P.E. in december by myself to go surfing. I am 17 and know little spanish so I was wondering if anyone had any advice on where I could stay for under $400US a month near Zicatela Beach. Thanks
I would just find Cafecito on Zicatela Beach which is the "in" place for all that's going on with surfers and somebody can probably hook you up with a place to stay. Besides it is a great place to eat.
Hi We're heading back to Puerto in Feb. I am probably going to buy a laptop (with CD burner) during the Boxing Day sales and take it with me down to PE. However, in case I don't -- does anyone know of any internet cafe in PE that would let me burn photos from my digital camera onto a cd, so I don't have to worry about bringing a ton of memory cards down? I'd bring software, connections, CDs etc..
Ideas? Thanks in advance
As of last July Hotel Arco Iris in the Zicatela area was for me the best place. I checked into the office and they took me to another office and allowed me to make cds. The price was nominal, and they were very friendly about it. There are a couple of other hotels that have the capability, but you probably need to be staying there. Not true for the Arco Iris. I checked at many internet cafes (though not all by any means) and none had the capability. However, when we were there the year before, there were very few internet cafes, and now they are everywhere. I'd be surprised if at least a couple didn't have the service.
The process worked very well, and allowed me to take photos at any resolution. I'm sure you, too, are trying to not have to spend a fortune on memory cards. I was worried about it myself (see previous messages: 6/15/03 & 8/14/03), but not to worry. You don't need to spend all your cash on memory. Save some of it for the walking tour with Gina Macchoro.
If you are interested, some Puerto photos can be found at the following URL <http://community.webshots.com/user/warddowns> Good luck.
Thanks Ward! I'll definitely check out the Arco Iris if I decide not to bring a laptop. We'll be staying up in Rinconada at a condo so no luck for accessing hotel internet/cd burners. Oh, and I had a look at your photos. Very nice! You have a great eye. I'm going to have to go back and revisit them as the grey days of winter descend. Wonderful to see pics from around the region.
Thanks again.
Seeking advice: Zihuatanejo to Puerto Escondido My wife and I are flying into Zihua in the middle of Jan, arriving about 4:00 pm on a Wednesday.We had planned on taking the bus overnight to P.E., but with all the buzz lately about robberies we've decided we're not comfortable with that. We know the obvious about not carrying or wearing lots of cash or valuables, but we'll be staying for a month, travelling light, so everything we're carrying will be valuable to us.
Would it work to try to catch a bus to Acapulco, or part way, Wednesday evening after flying in that afternoon? How long might it take to get through migration at the airport, then taxi to the bus station? I'm presuming there are frequent buses, and about a 5 hour trip, so we might arrive in Acapulco about 10pm or midnight. Is that too late? I realize it's silly to try to schedule things too closely, because that leaves no room for the unexpected. We've been considering staying in Pie de la Cuesta, about 10Km on the Zihua side of Acapulco. Has anyone stayed there, or does anyone have other advice on where to stay for a night? We prefer apartment type units rather than just rooms, and are comfortable paying up to the $50 range. Would reservations be a good idea, considering our plans are kind of loose? One more question. Is the Ejido bus station the same as el Centro Camionero Sur? (and is that the station to catch a 1st class bus to P.E.?) Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Hello experts, We are planning a trip to PE at the end of the year: 2 adults plus two teenage sons 13 & 15 years old. My partner/boyfriend & I have been to PE several times; last time was almost 3 years ago in February, but this will be our first time bringing the "kids".
We are trying to avoid them having to miss too much school. I just located airfare 12/29/03 thru 1/7/2004 within our price range from LAX to Huatulco (not as low as I was hoping, but it's do-able). I had planned to purchase the tickets tomorrow & then book the hotel. We have previously stayed at the Santa Fe, Flor de Maria & Arco Iris on previous trips. Arco Iris is where we had hoped to stay this time.
However, today I have heard (from a reliable source) that all the hotels on Zicatela are booked the whole time we plan to be there. Yikes! Is this true? Any suggestions? I am trying not to panic, but I need to decide quickly ... need expert input to help me decide whether to cancel, wing it, completely change dates or keep trying ... We would like to be on or very near Zicatela for proximity to surf. Don't need luxury, but want basic comfort.
Thanks so much for any ideas, Sarah
I know that it a little far away but walkable , the condos at Eglantina are great. There might be something available for that time . Just go on tomzap and look for condos for sale/rent
Sarah, I would go for it. It is the last couple of days of the holiday and the only trouble you may have is when you first get there. Try calling the Arco, Flor or Santa Fe and see what they say. Last year there was a lot available rooms throughout the whole Xmas Holidays although this changes every year. Try sending Dave an email at puertoconnection.com. He may be able to help you. Have fun. PB
I would forget about getting from Zihuatanejo to Aca. after your flight. I would bet that you would not get to Aca until after midnight. If you are going to do it anyway, Pie de la Cuesta is a good place to stay but I do not know if they have apartments. Decent hotel rooms yes. Apartments I don't know. How long are you going to stay there? It sounds like just one night so don't worry about the apartment thing. Small hotels around the Zocolo is a good idea also. If you stay the night in Zihuat you can take the trip from Zihuatanejo to Puerto Escondido in one day during the day. Even if you leave Zihuat the next day and stay in Aca for a couple/few days you will be cool. There are plenty to chose from in Pie de la Cuesta. Or at least there was the last time I was there. (Now that I think about it it was over 10 years ago. My how time flies. Maybe I don't know anything about Pie de la Cuesta anymore). I don't know if Ejido is the same as Centro Camionero Sur. If it is different you can easily take a cab to Ejido. It will be fast and cheap.Ejido is the station to Puerto and I do not know what time the busses leave. I hope this helps. PB
The sweet smell of ganga floating through the air
has the old runway area (rinconada) become busy? it used to be somewhat quiet. is there now taxi and bus service?? [%sig%]
You´d think a guy would get a grasp on the language after15& years!!!
Whoa, Sancho, you just wake up or something? Thanks for sharing your bile...
When you speak of the Indian ladies with their chickens, etc are they at the Market or someplace else on Saturdays ?
Un placer
the day we caught so many tuna in our little 14 ft. aluminum that the dolphin circled us in a tail dance and yelled at us as if to say "time to head back home....you've caught enough." T. . .....................The day we shut down the motor on the little boat about 12 miles offshore and a leather back turtle about the size of a VW bug came out of the water looked right at us ,let out a long hiss and went back down into the ocean..........A.
Thanks everyone ... we decided to delay a month and will be coming end of January instead. Didn't want to fight the crowds. The kids will have an educational trip worth missing a bit of school! [%sig%]
Phyl. I am talking about the Indian ladies inside the mercado. Saturdays are best, Wedsdays are second best but they are there everyday. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (11-12-03 10:57)
It is not really "busy" by any strectch but a fair amount of traffic. Generally there are taxi's around. There is a really great restaurant at the far end of the street called El Torre . I have never seen a bus on the street.
Thanks for the kind words...Mikey, the Argentine bass player and his wife just had a baby (if you checked the links, you´ll know from the 100´s of fotos)and that´s a reason the site has´nt been upgraded recently: We´re jammin´with Mexpipe Brandi´s brother Dárcy and if all goes well we´ll be taking it out to air soon! That´s if we can find a place to play!!!.
Standing up on the monument (staircase) by the Santa Fe Hotel riffling a frizzbe down to the first hole (bench) and taking in the view of playa Zectela.
You should find better things to do with you time besides bash people on the internet. If people are stupid enough to get ripped off then I think they deserve it.
Have "they" gotten rid of the dogs this year as "they" did last year?,, sure did increase the cat population though!! GORD
Acually sancho, I agree with you. For some reason I just can't seem to learn to speak Spanish as well as I think I should. I think some people pick up languages easier than others and I seem to be one of those who have trouble with it. I have a friend who learns foreign languages so easily it makes me sick. If he is in a foreign country for about 20 minutes he is having conversations with the locals about anything he wants. It's not fair as far as I am concerned. In reality though I may speak Spanish better than I think. Other people think I speak better than I think I do. I tell them that I know enough to know that I don't speak it very well. It is interesting, though, that when I am around most of my gringo friends when they are trying to speak Spanish I feel that I could say the thing that they are trying to say much better than they say it. I also have Mexican friends that tell me that I speak Spanish well. I seem to do ok if I can take the conversation where I want to take it but if the conversation goes in a direction that I am not familiar with I get pretty frustrated. Having said that, I have had to deal with a lot of things in Spanish that I never thought I would or could deal with. Also if going into a hardware store and not knowing the name for something is an indication of my inability to speak Spanish than I guess I do not speak English much better. I mean what is the name of those little plastic plugs that you put in the hole that you have drilled in the cement wall to hang a picture or something so that I can put a screw in the cement. That is what I thought. You don't know either. Also sheetrock screws are called screws. (Tornillos). So is every other kind of screw. So I don't feel stupid about not knowing the name of those. There is no name for those. The "O" rings where only a problem because of the size. They would have been a problem in English as well but I would have been able to tell the guy it was idiotic that he did not have them in English whereas I didn't do that in Spanish. (Now that I think about it though, I could have.) I also admit that I don't/didn't know the name of the guitar thingy and I still don't know the name for coat hangers even though I have bought them several times. I know I should study Spanish more but I guess I am too lazy or busy or don't care enough. I promise that I will try harder in the future. By the way sancho, do you know the name for Magic Wood? Do you know what to use it for? PB
The Rinconada is the place to be. El Cafecito (of Zicatela fame) has an outlet there. It is getting to be where the elite meet in Bococho. Of course there is the world famous International Friends of Puerto Book Store located there too. Don't forget Granny's (I don't know if that is the real name) where there is cold beer and internet and football on TV. There is a pool supply store a couple/three more restaurants and at one end is Hostel Shalom. If you go to the far end of the strip and around the corner and a block or two you will come to Hotel Jardin Real that has a real nice pool and a swim up bar and the Split Coconut Restaurant. Anybody can go to the pool and have a good time and it is becoming the place to be in Puerto but don't tell anybody because it is a secret. Also, cinderella, they have a happy hour on Thursdays where women of the girl persuasion get to drink for .........................................free. PB
Well PB, how about a book on the local area, I know you'll put Fodors to shame, just an Idea for your sparetime, I'll buy the first copy, signed of course! Bob
Hello: I am planning to come to Puerto Escondido for language school in early December '03 and want to bring my 9'-6" surfboard with me. I know I can get it on the plane to Acapulco, but will the buses that run from Acapulco to Pto. permit me to bring my board? Anybody know? Thanks so much, Pamela
The bus companies have web sites...estrella blanca is the main 1st class carrier from Aca>pto but there are others. Search them out!
Ay Carrumba, another x-spert gringo driving away business...tanks J Wiily!
PB: El nombre de esos "plastic plugs" que al parecer empleas tanto es TAQUETE en singular y TAQUETES en plural. Creo que es díficil encontrar en donde los vendan por separado ya que casi siempre se venden por bolsas de al menos unos 20. OJO: no necesariamente todos los taquetes son de plástico, también hay de madera así es que tienes que específicar. Por otro lado, el nombre de esos "O" rings" que tanto trabajo y dificultades te han causado es RONDANAS (en plural) y esos sí los venden por separado en todas partes, solamente que el precio (cómo en el caso de los tornillos) viene marcado por Kilo. Son tan baratas que si solamente necesitas unas pocas lo más probable es que te las regalen o vendan en uno o dos pesos.
Espero que esto te ayude en algo.
Z
Por cierto, no tengo idea de que sea eso que en inglés llaman "Magic Wood" pero si me explicas qué es y para qué sirve, con mucho gusto te puedo decir cual es su nombre en español, donde conseguirlo y cómo pedirlo (si es que se consigue acá en México). Probablemente con esto te pueda ahorrar algunas trabajosas vueltas en tu próxima estancia en Puerto Escondido. Puedes explicarme en inglés qué es y para que sirve, de hecho I´m curious to know what the hell is it.
Salud z
Conoces la palabra/cosa "acote o aquote"? Pienso es "acote". Uso para encender un fuego para carbon.
And by the way Zap, thanks for the tip about the taquetes. As far as the "O" rings are concerned when I showed them to the different guys they all said they were "O"rings. Go figure. I do know that the Spanish that they speak on the coast and especially on the coast of Oaxaca is different than in Mexico City or elsewhere. I don't know that I would say it is a different dialect as opposed to a simpler form of Spanish. The truth is I really don't know anything because I am not a linguist. I was pretty stoked to be able to read your Spanish and understand it but by the end of it I was pretty stressed. Thanks again, PB
You of course know that you can buy and then sell the board in Puerto and avoid the whole board on the plane/bus/taxi/donkey thing? [%sig%]
Thanks for answering my post.
Now I know: "Magic wood" = Ocote cheers
Zap, thanks for the correction on the spelling. The stuff is better than any charcoal lighter that can be bought in the U.S. For anybody who is not familiar with "ocote" it is wood that has a lot of "sap" or "pitch" in it and lights easily and will start the carbon (charcoal) for a BBQ. Kind of like kindling but much better because it stays lit much longer. bobinbc, thanks for the kind words but I would think that most people think my posts are self-serving trash. It is just fun, sometimes, to spew forth when I have some extra time on my hands. I get as much enjoyment reading other people's recollections of Puerto and the coast of Oaxaca. PB [%sig%] Post Edited (11-18-03 13:29)
PB, Do not sell yourself short.
You have the gift of writing words people want to read.
Thank you, gg
Agree w/ gg, keep it up Bill, we like your stuff! BTW, your question about those little plastic plugs to hold screw in walls got me going too; I went downstairs where I remembered I had a unused package of them and found they are called "wall anchors." Who knows how that'd translate, though....
The beautiful view of Playa Bacocho from the cliffs of the Posada Real, and then going back every year to enjoy it!
A friend and I are thinking of flying in to huatulco then going to PE. How far is it from Hux to PE and about how much? We can't wait to leave the midwest. We are planning to stay at least 5 months. Will see what happens.......We should be in PE around mid Jan............maybe we can make some new freinds in PE........Thanxs Chuy [%sig%]
I am probably coming to PE in January, will I be able to buy a used surfboard there?
Hi I am looking for a phone number and address for the Zapatera de Canada? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
yes
I have a rather over the top question. What happens if an American dies in Puerto. Can that person be cremated there and brought back to the states. This is a serious question.
Yes.
Can any one help? I'm flying from London to Mexico for the first time in December to visit my boyfriend in Puebla. We're then planning on visiting Oaxaca City and then heading to the coast for Christmas. Can anyone suggest a place which might have rooms available over that week? Im worried everywhere might already be booked up. In an ideal world, we're looking for somewhere quiet, romantic ( it's been four months since i've seen him...) and reasonably comfortable. Of course, if it's all booked up we're happy just to find a bed for the night anywhere! Any suggestions gratefully accepted - free beers for whoever can help if we're ever in the same part of the world! Thanks Kate
I'd say no problem. Lots of shops/individuals along the Zicatela area with used boards for sale. You might not find the exact length/type you want, but you'll find something close. Probably expect $150-250 USD for a good used board, less for something that will hold you up adequately.
There's a thread on the Huatulco site about Vista World Travel, at <http://www.tomzap.com/frm/read.php?f=3&i=4064&t=4064> I posted the following there, but it deserves repeating here: We started going to Huatulco/ Puerto Escondido in 1998. I can't remember if we used Vista World Travel on our first trip, but we've used Gene/Vista ever since. At least 3 trips per year since 2000, (to Puerto Escondido now). He's most highly recommended by me. I've never met him(I'm in Alaska, he's in Austin), and I have absolutely nothing to "gain" by a strong recommendation of what they do and their services.
You might be able to find a slightly cheaper fare after lengthly Internet search. You might be able to avoid a small service charge that they have charged me in the past. BUT, when Mexicana or Aerocaribe change their flight times, doesn't notify you, you miss your flight, you'll deal with the consequenses for not having a reputable agent such as Vista World keeping track of your travel plans for you.
I've been quite impressed with Mexicana's service, but that impression has been made possible by Gene/Vista World keeping us informed of flight time changes, logistics, etc.
At least 3 years ago, I put a quote from Vista World Travel on my web site: "We have really been working on that area for about 6 years and know most of the tricks to get a good airfare. Also we have an excellent relationship with Mexicana and can get seats cleared sometimes when space is not really available in the computer." I wouldn't air-travel to the Oaxaca area without their support. Again, I have absolutely nothing to gain by this strong recommendation... Their number is 800-880-8068 - Austin, TX
I was looking at some pages about Puerto Escondido and found this page called Puerto Escondido Music, I think the idea is pretty good, would like to see that site updated more often. Anyway I'm planning to be down in Puerto again this season, any good live music arround ? Now I heard the Split moved and Cafe Ole is not in Zicatela anymore, where are we soposed to party ?
Ok thanks for the tip, nice site, too bad is in a free server and you have to stand those #"##$$% popups. By the way the adress for the site is http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/mrnice69 .
Phunny you should ask Phyllis. Last year somebody brought this subject up while I was in Puerto. I don't know about cremation but the local funeral/casket place can handle everything. Apparently. Next to the Pemex station in town. PB
We are a family of four from New Zealand and are looking for a villa or condo to rent from Dec 18 for about 3 weeks. This could be in Puerto Escondido or Huetlco Does anyone know of, or have any suitable. They can contact me at obsontour@hotmail.com Regards Mark
We are planning to drive from Puerto Vallarta to PE in the next week so will can you know. Does any one have any advise apart from the non night driving that could assist.
Thanx Mark
Perhaps Gina the information goddess could answer this question.
Mark, a couple of years back I made the coast route trip driving south from P.V. to P.E. Beautiful scenery out of P.V. Make sure and top your tank off before leaving as you will not find another pemex for quite some kilometers. No traffic to speak of but very slow going do to narrow roads and switch backs. Stayed the 1st. night in Tecoman. Day two, leaving before dawn and driving to Acapulco, taking the bypass and staying out by the airport.That is a long days hard drive with no pleasure stops. Day 3 on to Puerto Escondido. OX. Stay alert and keep on your game. Happy traveling. Dan
sheet rock screws...tornillos para tabla roca magic woody...if I use it for what I think you suggest, it may cause some discomfort!
PB, Ocote, or Magic Wood is the same as "fat wood" up north. What I've been told is that it is from the stump of pine trees which is full of resin. I buy a 2 foot length about as round as a mans wrist at the market as soon as we hit PE and it will last our stay and we grill alot. You really want to stand upwind though when you light up.
I've read some about fishing in PE on this site in the past, but have questions. Any special area to go to when looking for a boat & guide ?? How far do the boats go out, and how early? Anyone know the cost? Thanks - - Ken
I'm not a sport fisherman but my best advice is to ask Gina, the information goddess, at the information booth at the west end of the Adoquin once you arrive in PE. She can tell you who is reputable, who is not, how much you should expect to pay, etc. Besides, most of the boats go out of the Playa Municipal which is right behind Gina.
Good luck.
Does anyone