Beach San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca Municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Oaxaca Coast
A small sheltered cove on Puerto Escondido's west side, reached by about 167 steps, with clear calm water for swimming, snorkelling and first surf lessons.
From Oaxaca: 2 h 45 min by car (191 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Playa Carrizalillo
Where to stay near Playa Carrizalillo
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Carrizalillo.
Tours to Playa Carrizalillo
Day trips and guided outings from Juquila often include Playa Carrizalillo; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Tours from Puerto Escondido
Dolphin & Whale Watching in Puerto Escondido
★ 4.8 (362) · From US$61
How to get to Playa Carrizalillo
- From Oaxaca: about 2 h 45 min by road (~191 km)
- Nearest airport: Puerto Escondido (PXM), 1 h 22 min by car to Juquila
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Tours from Puerto Escondido, near Playa Carrizalillo
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About Playa Carrizalillo
Playa Carrizalillo is a small cove on the western side of Puerto Escondido, about 600 m from the town's municipal agency, between the main bay and the long sweep of Bacocho. It is only around 130 m long and 25 m deep, closed in by green headlands and rocks, and there is no road down to it: the only way in is a stone staircase from the clifftop, counted at between 157 and 168 steps depending on who is counting. Wikivoyage calls it the most scenic and safest swimming beach in town.
The water in the cove is clear, warm and blue-green, and the sand is coarse and pale. Because the headlands block much of the swell, the waves are usually gentle and the current weak, which has made Carrizalillo the place where Puerto Escondido's beginners and local kids learn to surf; several surf schools teach here and boards can be rented on the beach. When big swells arrive, roughly March to October, the cove can still form proper tubes. The rocky edges are good for snorkelling, with sea turtles often seen in the cove.
A few palapa restaurants at the foot of the stairs serve fish, drinks and coconut water. During the rains, purple and red land crabs scuttle across the staircase, and a small freshwater spring rises close to the sea and keeps the almond trees around it green. The climb back up is steep, so bring water and take it slowly in the midday heat.
How to get to Playa Carrizalillo
Drive from Oaxaca: 2 h 45 min, 191 km
Carrizalillo is on the west side of Puerto Escondido, about 600 m from the municipal agency. A taxi from the centre takes a few minutes and drops you at the top of the stairs; on foot from Zicatela it is roughly half an hour to an hour. From the street it is about 167 steps down to the sand, so leave heavy bags behind; the stairs are not suitable for wheelchairs.
Directions to Playa Carrizalillo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Playa Carrizalillo
- Oaxaca · 191 km by road, 2 h 45 min
- Salina Cruz · 252 km by road, 3 h 25 min
- Juchitán · 295 km by road, 4 h 5 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Playa Carrizalillo: hours, prices and tips
- Best season
- Waves are usually gentle; from March to October bigger swells can form tubes in the cove. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Expect about 167 steps down to the beach and back up; bring water and sun protection. Wikivoyage · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Playa Carrizalillo: what to see and do
Walk down the stone staircase for the view over the cove.
Swim in the calm, clear water.
Take a beginner surf lesson or rent a board on the beach.
Snorkel along the rocks and look for sea turtles.
Have fish or coconut water at one of the palapas.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Playa Carrizalillo
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa Carrizalillo.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Juquila often include Playa Carrizalillo; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at PXM (Puerto Escondido): about 1 h 22 min by road to Juquila, then 48 km more to Playa Carrizalillo, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Escondido (PXM), about 1 h 22 min by road from Juquila, the base for Playa Carrizalillo.
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Carrizalillo, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Juquila: download a map of the way to Playa Carrizalillo before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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Photos
When to go to Playa Carrizalillo mild
Playa Carrizalillo shares the climate of Juquila, 48 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
Playa Carrizalillo is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (March, April, and May); in the rainiest ones (June, August, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.
See the month-by-month climate of Juquila
Weather in Playa Carrizalillo now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Juquila
Juquila is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Playa Carrizalillo, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Mazunte · Oaxaca · 60 km away
Closest to Playa Carrizalillo
-
Playa Puerto Angelito · Beach · 0 km away
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Puerto Escondido · Town · 1 km away
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Playa Bacocho · Beach · 2 km away
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Playa Zicatela · Beach · 3 km away
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La Punta (Playa Zicatela) · Beach · 5 km away
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Ventanilla · Village · 12 km away
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Laguna de Manialtepec · Lagoon · 15 km away
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Santa María Colotepec · Town · 16 km away
Near Playa Carrizalillo
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Playa Carrizalillo
Beaches in Oaxaca · 19 Beaches near Juquila · 6 Beaches near Mazunte · 16Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.