Town San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca Municipality of San Pedro Pochutla Oaxaca Coast
A small fishing port on a sheltered bay, with calm swimming beaches and boat trips to snorkel the coves nearby.
From Salina Cruz: 2 h 25 min by car (191 km by road) How to get there ↓
Near here
Plan your visit to Puerto Ángel
Where to stay near Puerto Ángel
Soraya Hotel · ★★★ · 90 m from the center Prices Pasión de Luna Hotel · ★★★ · 450 m from the center PricesTours to Puerto Ángel
Day trips around Mazunte sometimes stop in Puerto Ángel; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.
Tours from Huatulco
Tour to Copalitilla Magical Waterfalls from Huatulco with admission included
★ 4.9 (414) · From US$55
How to get to Puerto Ángel
- From Salina Cruz: about 2 h 25 min by road (~191 km)
- 7 km east of Mazunte
- Nearest airport: Huatulco (HUX), 44 min by car to Mazunte
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Tours from Huatulco, near Puerto Ángel
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel is a fishing town on a small, horseshoe-shaped bay about 7 kilometers east of Mazunte. It was founded in the 1850s, when the government of Benito Juárez built a wharf so the coffee and timber of the region could be shipped out, and for a while it was the busiest port in Oaxaca. The trade later moved elsewhere, and today the town lives mostly from fishing and from visitors.
Unlike the open beaches of Mazunte and Zipolite, the water inside the bay is usually calm, which makes it a good place to swim with children. Fishing boats pull up on the main beach in the morning, and the pier is the place to watch the catch come in. A short walk away, Playa Panteón is a small beach with clear water and rocks where you can snorkel among tropical fish.
The fishermen also run boat trips along the coast, to snorkel in nearby coves and, in season, to look for turtles, dolphins and whales offshore. Just east of town, Playa Estacahuite is a set of tiny coves known for snorkeling.
How to get to Puerto Ángel
Drive from Salina Cruz: 2 h 25 min, 191 km
Puerto Ángel is about 15 minutes east of Mazunte by car or taxi on the coastal road through San Agustinillo and Zipolite. Colectivo taxis run the route throughout the day, continuing on to Pochutla, the nearest bigger town.
7 km east of Mazunte
Directions from Mazunte on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Puerto Ángel
- Salina Cruz · 191 km by road, 2 h 25 min
- Juchitán · 234 km by road, 3 h 5 min
- Oaxaca · 240 km by road, 3 h 25 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
What to see in Puerto Ángel 3
Sights with their own page, closest to the centre first.
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Playa Estacahuite · Beach · 1 km from the centre
Tiny coves just past Puerto Ángel with clear, calm water, good for snorkeling over rocks and coral. -
Playa La Boquilla · Beach · 3 km from the centre
A small, sheltered sandy cove east of Puerto Ángel, good for snorkelling, reached by boat or by a rough dirt road. -
Zipolite · Beach · 3 km from the centre
A long, wild surf beach with a 1970s backpacker spirit, Mexico's best-known clothing-optional beach and big sunsets.
Map of Puerto Ángel
Day trips and tours from Puerto Ángel
The closest Pueblos Mágicos and places to visit, with the drive from Puerto Ángel and tours that leave from it.
Times marked ~ are estimated from the distance. Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Before you go: getting to and around Puerto Ángel
- The nearest airport is Huatulco (HUX).
- The best months to go are January, February, November, and December.
- Everything on this page is in or close to the centre: walk, or take a short taxi ride.
- For day trips a rental car gives the most freedom; the tours above leave from Puerto Ángel.
Before you go to Puerto Ángel: hours, prices and tips
- Best time of day
- Whale-and-snorkel boat trips leave Playa Panteón in the morning (around 10 am) and last about four hours. Earth Vagabonds · checked Oct 2026
- Best season
- The town's Día del Ángel fiesta fills the main bay on September 30 and October 1, with the Guelaguetza del Ángel del Mar. Oaxaca Tourism Secretariat · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- Optional. Whale-watching boat trips leave from Hotel Cordelias on the beach: about 3 hours with a Spanish/English guide, life jackets and a snorkel stop when the weather allows, from 1,100 pesos. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Civitatis · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Playa Panteón and the main beach are calm with almost no waves, but keep an eye out for the many fishing boats when you swim. Earth Vagabonds · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Puerto Ángel: what to see and do
Swim in the calm water of the bay at the main beach or at Playa Panteón.
Snorkel off the rocks at Playa Panteón; you can rent gear on the beach.
Take a boat trip with local fishermen along the coast; ask about turtles, dolphins and whales in season.
Eat fresh fish at the beach restaurants.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Puerto Ángel
Soraya Hotel · ★★★ · 90 m from the center Find on Expedia Pasión de Luna Hotel · ★★★ · 450 m from the center Find on Expedia Casa Bichú Hotel · ★★★ · 860 m from the center Find on Expedia La Buena Vista Hotel · ★★ · 370 m from the center Find on Expedia Hotel Puerto Ángel Hotel · ★★ · 650 m from the center Find on Expedia Villa Florencia Hotel · 90 m from the center Find on ExpediaTours & activities
Day trips around Mazunte sometimes stop in Puerto Ángel; a tour is the easy way to see it without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at HUX (Huatulco): about 44 min by road to Mazunte, then 7 km more to Puerto Ángel, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Huatulco (HUX), about 44 min by road from Mazunte, the base for Puerto Ángel.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Mazunte: download a map of the way to Puerto Ángel before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.
Photos
When to go to Puerto Ángel warm
Puerto Ángel shares the climate of Mazunte, 7 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, November, and December.
See the month-by-month climate of Mazunte
Weather in Puerto Ángel now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
Make Mazunte your base
Puerto Ángel is an easy trip from Mazunte, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Near Puerto Ángel
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.