Playa Carrizalillo: Ultimate First Timer Guide (2023)

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Playa Carrizalillo is known as one of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido. If I’m honest, it is the best beach in Puerto Escondido and was definitely our favourite.

Whilst it might be a bit of a challenge to reach (you have to walk down at least 160 steps to get there!), it’s worth it. And even if you don’t make it all the way to the bottom of the steps, the sunset views from the top are incredible.

When you’re visiting Puerto Escondido, make sure you visit Playa Carrizalillo. It might be small (and it does get busy!) but it’s worth it.

In this guide, I explain everything you need to know about Playa Carrizalillo. From the location to the facilities, sunset views and swimming rules, I’ve covered everything about this beautiful beach.

So, let’s get started!

This post is part of a beaches in Puerto Escondido series:

• Best Beaches in Puerto Escondido: A Complete Guide (2022)
• Playa Manzanillo, Puerto Escondido: Ultimate Guide (2022)
• Playa Bacocho: Everything You Need To Know (2022)

Playa Carrizalillo Summary

🏖️ Best for: sunset views, medium-sized waves that are still suitable for swimming and surfing, glistening blue water, live music and a fun atmosphere

📍 Location: North of Centro, in the middle of the Rinconada restaurant strip. Access is via 160-200 steps which lead directly onto the beach.

🌅 Sunset view: Yes – one of the best in Puerto Escondido!

🤑 Budget: Medium

🚽 Facilities: Sunloungers, a lifeguard, a few beach bars and toilets.

🏊‍♂‍ Swimming?: Yes. Make sure to always check the signs before getting in the water (‘no nadar’ means no swimming).

🏄 Surfing?: Yes

🍔 Best restaurant/bar close by: Espadin Restaurant, or El Cafecito in Rinconada. The beach bars only serve drinks or bar snacks, and close at 5pm.

Other facts about Playa Carrizalillo:

• Technically, dogs are not allowed in Playa Carrizalillo, but we’ve seen so many dogs playing in the sea here! I don’t think there’s anyone actually checking or monitoring this.
• The water here is the North Pacific Ocean.
• Playa Carrizalillo’s water is warm enough to swim in 365 days a year.

Where is Playa Carrizalillo?

Playa Carrizalillo is in the Rinconada neighbourhood, right in the middle of the Rinconada restaurant strip. The entrance is in the middle of El Cafecito and El Sultan (conveniently two of our favourite restaurants in Puerto Escondido!)

If you’re walking from Centro, it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes. Any further than this (Zicatela, La Punta), it would be best to grab a taxi, jump on a colectivo or hire a scooter for the day.

Whilst Google maps may say it’s an hour’s walk from Zicatela, it won’t be due to the number of pathways and walkways that are blocked and closed in Puerto Escondido.

Need help getting around Puerto Escondido? Check out my detailed post here: Getting Around Puerto Escondido in 2022: A Complete Guide

How to get to Playa Carrizalillo

When you reach the entrance to Playa Carrizalillo, you will come across around 160 concrete steps down towards the beach. They’re well-maintained and have a handlebar, and aren’t too bad (coming back up though, that’s another story!).

If you walk slowly enough, you can enjoy the views of the coastline and surrounding cliffs. At sunset, the stairs become quite busy, as it’s a great photo opportunity!

There’s also free parking for scooters and cars at the main entrance, right at the top of the stairs.

What to expect at Playa Carrizalillo

Playa Carrizalillo is known as the ‘prettiest’ beach in Puerto Escondido. With white, soft sand, and clear, turquoise waters full of colourful fish and sea life, it’s a beach in Puerto Escondido you will return to again and again.

The small, 300m long beach is surrounded by lush green palm trees and plants, as well as towering cliffs to create postcard-esque scenery.

Depending on the time of year, time of the month and the weather, Playa Carrizalillo often has medium-sized waves (although we have been there when they’ve been pretty big). The constant wave point around the rocks makes Playa Carrizalillo the perfect spot for beginner surfers.

The atmosphere is best at sunset, as both backpackers and locals gather to watch the sky turn from blue to blood-orange and deep pink. It does get busy though, so you’ll want to arrive at least 60-90 minutes before to get a spot!

Sadly, as Playa Carrizalillo is becoming more popular, there isn’t always a lot of room to spread out and relax. It can become quite cramped, as everyone wants a slice of the Playa Carrizalillo action. It’s understandable, it’s a beautiful beach!

But if you want a bit more tranquillity, I’d recommend heading there early in the morning.

Top tip: Don’t pick a sunbathing spot too close to the water. The tide changes quickly, and in an instant, it can change, coming in halfway up the beach! I’ll admit, we did find it pretty funny watching sunbathers become completely submerged in giant waves all of a sudden. Don’t let this be you!

Facilities at Playa Carrizalillo

At the time of writing this, there aren’t many facilities at Playa Carrizalillo.

There are public bathrooms, but there isn’t any Wifi or much phone signal. The beach bars close around 5pm, so if you’re using a sunlounger, you will have to stop using it by this time.

There aren’t any shops apart from the restaurants (which are more like bars). However, there are a few surf shacks which allow you to rent a board and book some surfing lessons.

If you need lunch or dinner, it’s best to head back up to Rinconada where there are more options, the food is a lot cheaper, and there are bigger portion sizes.

Where to eat at Playa Carrizalillo

The restaurants along the beach are open for a few hours each day. They’re expensive and way out of a backpacker’s budget. However, if you have your heart set on dining at Playa Carrizalillo, I recommend trying some of their fresh seafood!

We found that often the restaurants only served bar snacks. This may have been because it was close to closing time (they all close by 5pm). Just be sure to check if you’re wanting to order something from the menu.

If you’re a budget backpacker like us, head back up to Rinconada. Rinconada has a whole ton of restaurants that fitted nicely into our budget, and the food there is fantastic. I highly recommend:

• El Cafecito – for traditional Mexican food at an excellent price. It was our favourite restaurant in Puerto Escondido!
• El Sultan – 2 for 1 falafel wraps on a Wednesday!
• Dulce Tierra bakery – they do amazing coffee and red velvet cake and have Wifi.
• Pinches Tacos – order your tacos and then top it up yourself with salsas and salads at the bar!

Surfing at Playa Carrizalillo

Surfing is a popular activity at Playa Carrizalillo because of the waves. Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate, it’s one of the best places in Puerto Escondido to go surfing.

Wave breaks on Playa Carrizalillo start around 50 metres offshore, and you’ll see surfers in the distance hanging around to catch a wave at all times of the day.

If you don’t have your own board, you can rent or hire one from one of the surf shacks.

• Cost of hiring a board: £10 ($15) an hour or £40 ($50) for a day
• Surf lessons depend as you can barter these. Anything between £17-30 an hour ($20-35)

Top tip: Playa Carrizalillo is one of the only beginner surfer spots in Puerto Escondido (apart from La Punta) due to the size of the waves. It can get busy, but it’s worth it!

Snorkelling at Playa Carrizalillo

Playa Carrizalillo is an excellent spot in Puerto Escondido for snorkelling. It is best around the rocks, where all the colourful fish and corals are. However, it can get extremely choppy here, so make sure the water is calm enough for you to swim in before setting off. The tide can also change quickly.

Need a mask and snorkel? Either buy one before your trip, or pick one up at the giant Chedrai (Mexican supermarket) in Centro, or on one of the market stands. Just make sure you check the size, and so many markets stalls only sell kids’ ones!

Visiting Puerto Escondido for the first time? Check out my other posts:

• How To Get From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido (2022 Guide)
• Puerto Escondido in November: Weather, Tips + More (2022)
• Turtle Release Puerto Escondido, Playa Bacocho (2022)
• Other Puerto Escondido guides

Best time to visit Playa Carrizalillo

The best time to visit Playa Carrizalillo really depends on what you want from your visit. If you want a quiet, secluded beach spot, you’re going to need to head there early in the morning.

If you want to see the sunset, head down to Playa Carrizalillo around 60-90 minutes before sundown. This would ensure you get a good spot on the beach.

For snorkelling, swimming and surfing, any time of day is best to visit Playa Carrizalillo. Personally, I wouldn’t visit in the peak midday sun, unless I was planning on being in the ocean the whole time!

We liked to head down to Playa Carrizalillo at around 4pm, to have an after-work dip in the ocean and watch the sunset before dinner.

Can you see the sunset at Playa Carrizalillo?

Yes! The sunset views from Playa Carrizalillo are some of the best in Puerto Escondido. As Playa Carrizalillo faces west, the sunset views here are unbeatable.

You can watch the sun set and change the colour of the sky from a bright blue to blood-orange and deep pink.

It’s pretty incredible, and something you’ll want to see with your own eyes!

Can you swim in the water at Playa Carrizalillo?

Yes! The water at Playa Carrizalillo is perfect for swimming, and is one of the most popular spots in Puerto Escondido. The water is clear and blue, and the seabed is sandy and soft. There’s little chance of any jellyfish or unwanted creatures, and there are some beautiful, colourful corals to see by the rocks.

Where to stay near Playa Carrizalillo and in Puerto Escondido

🛏️ Best hostel in Puerto Escondido for backpackers: Book here

If you’re a solo traveller and looking to party in Puerto Escondido, I recommend this hostel in La Punta. It’s known for its wild events and activities, has its own pool and isn’t far from the beach.

If you’re not a solo traveller in Puerto Escondido, I actually recommend staying out of La Punta. It depends on the vibe you’re looking for, but we found La Punta to be centred around backpackers and partying. If you need a bit of a calmer vibe (still with a good atmosphere of course!) I recommend either Rinconada, Centro or north of Zicatela.

Getting around Puerto Escondido is easy, and if you prefer one area to another, taxis are cheap and widely available.

Best apartment in Rinconada, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Bungalow in Centro, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Apartment in Zicatela, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Other things to do in Puerto Escondido

There are so many things to do in Puerto Escondido! That’s part of the reason why we decided to live there for a while. From daytime adventure activities to weekend trips and late-night dinners, Puerto Escondido is one of the best places in Mexico for digital nomads and backpackers.

Here are some of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido:

• Release baby turtles on Playa Bacocho
• Try surfing for the first time, or take a surfing lesson
• Spot dolphins, whales and turtles on a boat tour
• Learn Spanish in one of the friendly Spanish schools
• Dine in the restaurants on the Rinconada strip (our favourites being Pinches tacos and El Sultan)
• Go kayaking in the mangroves of Laguna Manialtepec
• Take a day or overnight trip to Mazunte
• Do a skydive
• Relax on the beach
• Go horseback riding during sunset
• Watch the unbeatable sunset from Playa Carrizalillo
• Party the night away at La Punta
• Watch a world-class surfing tournament at Playa Zicatela
• Go snorkelling or scuba diving
• Wake up early to watch the sunrise
• Drink a cocos frios on the beach
• Take a walk around Puerto Escondido’s biggest market, Mercado Benito Juarez
• Go on a day or overnight trip to Chacahua

Getting around Puerto Escondido

Getting around Puerto Esconido is easy, and most commonly either by scooter, colectivo or taxi. It is possible to walk, but journeys like La Punta to Bacocho would take a couple of hours, and it’s HOT!

If you need to know the ins and outs of getting around Puerto Escondido, check out my post: Getting Around Puerto Escondido in 2022: A Complete Guide.

Playa Carrizalillo Guide: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Playa Carrizalillo in Puerto Escondido.

When you’re planning a trip to Puerto Escondido, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Mexico content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

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