We were finally in some warm weather!! We spent the next couple of days wandering along the beach and exploring the town. We went on a horse ride to the Atononitco Hot Springs which was incredible. We rode for about 1.5 hours, crossing the river numerous times and eventually hopping off the horses and relaxing in the hot springs. It was another 1.5 hour ride back to where we started and this time we had full control of the pace and off we went! Such a great morning.
That afternoon we headed down the coast, about one hour away, to the small coastal town of Mazunte. Here we watched the sunset and the following day started with a huge walk around the point of Punta Cometa with some great views. We checked out the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga which holds five of Mexico’s seven turtle species plus some freshwater and land species and then headed back to Puerto where I said goodbye to my travel buddy who was then heading to Antigua in Guatemala.
I chilled out with some friends in Puerto Escondido on the beaches and spending a few nights out. Carrizalillo beach was a favourite of ours, great for swimming, snorkelling and just lazying about. The shwarma place on Rinconada was regularly frequented by us as was the Mercado Benito Juarez, which has some great fruit smoothies.
The month of November was a festive one in Puerto Escondido and we were lucky enough to check out a surf competition and numerous other events happening around the town.
The next few days were spent relaxing on Carrizalillo Beach with a few people from the hostel. Freshly cut up fruit, coconuts and snorkelling kept us entertained but eventually I needed a bit of a change and so went to stay down in La Punta (only a 5 minute taxi away) in El Lugar Hostel.
Now this was more my type of living.. Pretty much on the beach along a quaint ‘sandy’ road. I was even lucky enough to one evening, at dusk, witness the release of baby turtles into the Pacific Ocean.
Next stop was just down the road to La Punta, where I enjoyed a couple of nights chilling out (and releasing baby turtles into the wild!!) before a group of us head back down the coast to Mazunte (for the jazz festival) and Zipolite..
I was with a few people in Zipolite from the hostel in Puerto and we ended up staying for a few nights which involved a lot of relaxing on the beach, a snorkeling trip and good food. The water was crystal clear and great fun going under the waves and watch them break over you. A special mention to Pimentos – the best salad, sandwich and juice bar I have been to in a long time..!
This is where I received some good news – I received the job offer in the Cayman Islands!! Happy days..! Now back to La Punta in Puerto Escondidio to start working on my work permit.
My days in La Punta were spent lounging around on the beach, watching a Volcom surf comp, a few early morning runs/workouts on the beach and occasionally doing bits and pieces of my work permit application. Plus, of course, eating the amazing food Mexico (especially Oaxaca) has to offer.
I managed to go check out the bioluminescence in Manialtepec Lagoon –this was a pretty surreal experience. It reminded me of the movie, Avatar, and is mainly visible when there is no moon and no light pollution.. One of the best things is that you are unable to take pictures of it – it just doesn’t show up on the cameras..!
More of my daily activities in La Punta included morning yoga at the Sanctuary, surfing and stand up paddle boarding at sunset. Usually the day concluded with a drink (or five) of the deadly Mezcal which I definitely got used to the taste and is now one of my favourite drinks.. The evenings were spent with a great bunch of people I met and many games of pool were played with the help of the Mezcal..
More days spent on the beach swimming and surfing, having my daily coconut, playing beach volleyball, walking to the markets (Mercado Benito Juarez) for some yummy fresh food (including the Oaxacan delicacy, chapulines, sun-dried grasshoppers flavored with chili) and eating at the various joints around La Punta, Maui’s Fish & Chips being one of my favourites (best fish tacos)..!
Another great eating place in La Punta would be Café Ole which was ideal for a morning coffee and delicious crepes filled with goodness and shared with my fellow companions.
My all-time favour place to eat in La Punta however, was a very local restaurant called Taqueria la Cabanita which made the most delicious tlayudas, which are like a Oaxacan pizza. They don’t hold back on the toppings and at roughly 45 pesos (approximately $3), you cannot go wrong. The lot for me – breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Myself and a few others started to make a habit of heading to Mercado Benito Juarez to buy fresh produce and take in turns cooking for each other. These ‘family dinner’ nights were usually followed by heading to the bars on Zicatela and having a few drinks.
Now that I had finished my Cayman Islands’ work permit and sent it off, I was ready to do some more exploring, still sticking to the Mexican coast. Luckily I had two of my mates also ready for an adventure…..
