Playa Coral, Puerto Escondido: A Complete Guide (2023)

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Playa Coral is one of the prettiest and quietest beaches in Puerto Escondido. The water is calm enough to swim in, and it’s the perfect spot for snorkelling or paddleboarding.

Accessed mainly by scrambling over some rocks via Playa Bacocho, Playa Coral is still one of the most ‘hidden’ beaches in Puerto Escondido. No matter the weather or time of day, the crowd never gets too big, and there’s always enough room to have an area to yourself.

If you don’t feel like climbing over jagged rocks to reach Playa Coral, you can pay a small fee to the Villa Mexicana Hotel to enter.

In this guide, I explain everything you need to know about Playa Coral. From the location within Puerto Escondido, to the facilities, and how to visit as a budget backpacker.

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 Bacocho: Everything You Need To Know (2022)
• Playa Manzanillo, Puerto Escondido: Ultimate Guide (2022)
• Playa Carrizalillo: Ultimate First Timer Guide (2022)

Psst! I have lots more videos and photos of backpacking Mexico over on my Instagram. If you want to check them out, they’re all saved in my highlights! You can follow me here!

Playa Coral: A Summary

🏖️ Best for: blue, clear waters, calm waves to swim in, white sand and giant palm trees. Great for snorkelling and paddle boarding.

📍 Location: North of Puerto Escondido centre, right next to Playa Bacocho. Access is via either the Villa Mexicana Hotel (80 pesos) or scrambling across rocks from Playa Bacocho.

🌅 Sunset view: Yes

🤑 Budget: Low

🚽 Facilities: Toilets are located in the hotel, as well as a burger and refreshment bar. No sun loungers are available, so take your own parasol and towel to lay on (there is little to no shade on Playa Coral!)

🏊‍♂‍ Swimming?: Yes

🏄 Surfing?: No

🍔 Best restaurant: Villa Mexicana Hotel (a beer and a burger costs 80 pesos)

Other facts about Playa Coral:

• It is considered the ‘nudist’ beach in Puerto Escondido. However, we found more people had their swimwear on rather than off every time we visited. But just bear this in mind if you’re taking photos or social media shots!
• The water here is the North Pacific Ocean.
• Playa Bacocho is less than 200m from Playa Coral. Visit Playa Bacocho after a long day of sunbathing on Playa Coral for the turtle release. It happens every day at 5pm!

Where is Playa Coral?

Playa Coral is located right next to Playa Bacocho, in the north of Puerto Escondido. The best way to reach Playa Coral is by taxi, colectivo or scooter. If you’re getting a taxi, you can say either Playa Coral or the Villa Mexicana hotel.

It is around 3km from Centro, and 7.5km from La Punta.

If you’re travelling from Centro or Rinconada, the roads are well-maintained and easy to walk on. We still jumped in a taxi from Rinconada to reach Playa Coral, which cost around 50 pesos (£2.50/$3) one way.

Taxis from La Punta or Zicatela will cost more due to the distance.

There are colectivos on the main road which do trips to Playa Bacocho. You can then walk from Bacocho over to Playa Coral, which is the budget-backpacker way to reach the beach!

The colectivo shouldn’t cost more than 7-8 pesos. There should be a Playa Bacocho sign at the front of the colectivo letting you know its route, but if you’re unsure, just ask!

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How to get to Playa Coral

In summary, Playa Coral can be accessed in 2 ways:

• Via Playa Bacocho. This is a FREE way to visit Playa Coral. Turn left at the turtle release centre, and continue walking for around 500m to reach an area full of rocks and large boulders. Climb over and through these rocks (avoiding giant iguanas and giant waves) to reach Playa Coral.

• Via the Villa Mexicana Hotel. You do have to pay to access Playa Coral this way. You will walk down outside stairs and a steep hill to reach the beach. Playa Coral is located just after their abandoned water park (you’ll see what I mean when you visit!)

The fee to enter via the hotel (80 pesos) and includes either water and a beer, or water and a burger per person.

Need more information on colectivos and getting around Puerto Escondido? Check out my post: Getting Around Puerto Escondido in 2022: A Complete Guide

Booking buses in Mexico? I highly recommend the ADO bus when moving from place to place. It’s safe, clean, modern and has toilets! You can compare prices and book tickets here.

What to expect at Playa Coral

Playa Coral is still one of the most ‘hidden’ beaches in Puerto Escondido, as it’s a bit of a task to get there. 

Access is only via the rocks between Coral and Playa Bacocho, or the Villa Mexicana Hotel, where you have to pay 80 pesos to enter. This fee does cover the cost of a beer and water, or water and a burger.

This includes beach access all day, but there are no sun loungers or parasols to hire, so make sure you bring your own.

Playa Coral has turquoise blue water, with waves that are big enough to swim in but not get swept away by! Snorkelling is a popular activity here, as there are colourful fish and corals, and the water is completely clear.

We really enjoyed our time at Playa Coral, as it was peaceful and quiet, but still had a good atmosphere. Many people had their own speakers and brought their own beers, and set up camp to stay for the day. Even on a busy Sunday afternoon, there were no more than 30 people on the whole beach!

If you’re crossing the rocks from Bacocho over to Playa Coral, keep your eye out for giant iguanas. Many live and sunbathe in between the rocks here!

Going in and out of the water, snorkelling, diving or surfing in Mexico? Don’t forget your GoPro to capture all of your amazing memories!

Facilities at Playa Coral

There aren’t many facilities at Playa Coral, even though it’s connected to a hotel.

At Playa Coral there are:

• Toilets within the hotel
• A small food stall which serves burgers, beers and water. This will be included in your Playa Coral entrance fee.
• No sun loungers and few areas of shade – make sure to take a towel to lay on and a parasol for cover.
• A swimming pool is attached to the hotel and can be used by visitors who have a wristband. You’re given this wristband if you enter via the hotel.
• There is no lifeguard.
• No shops to hire or buy snorkel masks, so be sure to take your own.

Remember Playa Coral is technically a nudist beach, so be careful where you’re pointing your camera! We found most people were wearing swimwear each time we visited, but it’s good to know.

If you need lunch or dinner, head back up to the Rinconada restaurant strip for the cheapest and best food options.

Where to eat at Playa Coral

As previously mentioned, there aren’t many options when it comes to food at Playa Coral. You can walk back over to Playa Bacocho and visit one of the high-end beach clubs, but if you’re like us on a backpacker’s budget, this won’t be feasible!

Your best option (and what we always did) is to head back up to the Rinconada restaurant strip. There are a lot more options that are on a backpacker’s budget – and the food is delicious. I recommend the following:

• El Cafecito (£) – for traditional Mexican food and home comforts like pesto pasta
• El Sultan (£) – for delicious falafel wraps which are actually 2 for 1 on a Wednesday!
• Pinches Tacos (£) – some of the best tacos in Puerto Escondido.
• Dulce Tierre (£) – for bakery snacks and wifi.

Surfing at Playa Coral

You cannot surf at Playa Coral. The waves are not big enough and the beach is too small. But the water is perfect for swimming and snorkelling!

Playa Coral Puerto Escondido is for swimming and snorkelling only.

Looking for a surfing beach in Puerto Escondido? Check out Playa Bacocho, Playa Zicatela, Playa Carrizalillo and La Punta!

Snorkelling at Playa Coral

Snorkelling at Playa Manzanillo is a popular activity, and you’ll see lots of people in the water with a mask and snorkel on! However, there are no shops on Playa Coral to buy or hire a mask, so be sure to bring your own!

Playa Coral has blue, clear water, and the waves are calm and easy to swim in. We loved snorkelling here because of the colourful corals and fish, and spent most of our time under the water than on the beach!

Best time to visit Playa Coral

Any time the sun is shining is a great time to visit Playa Coral! We visited on both the weekend and during the week, and found it never became too busy. Our favourite time to visit was a Sunday afternoon, as it had a laid-back atmosphere and a relaxed vibe.

If you want the beach to be totally empty, head to Playa Coral in the mornings. Any time before 11am, you’ll have the place to yourself.

Puerto Escondido is sometimes referred to as a sleepy town during the day, and places become a lot busier late afternoons and evening!

Can you see the sunset at Playa Coral?

Yes, you can see the sunset at Playa Coral, but I would recommend walking over to Playa Bacocho for better views. Playa Bacocho has nothing obstructing the landscape (cliffs, rocks, buildings), whereas Playa Coral does.

The sunset in Puerto Escondido is magical. I highly recommend blocking out some time to watch the sunset each night from different locations. Our favourite spots were Playa Carrizalillo and Playa Bacocho.

Can you swim in the water at Playa Coral?

Yes! Swimming in the ocean at Playa Coral is safe and one of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido. The water is calm and shallow at first, becoming deeper the further out you swim. Most of the water is crystal clear, so you can see the sandbeds and what you’re stepping on throughout.

Playa Coral is one of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido for swimming and snorkelling.

The tap water in Puerto Escondido and Mexico is not safe to drink. Make sure you carry a water filter bottle with you wherever you go, to avoid dehydration and getting sick. It filters instantly, so you can drink from any water source across the country!

Where to stay 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 other 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 Playa Coral to La Punta would take a LONG time, and Puerto Escondido is 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 Coral, Puerto Escondido: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Playa Coral 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

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

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

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