About a mile west of Puerto Escondido [1], the picture-postcard little blue bays of Bahía Puerto Angelito and Bahía Carrizalillo nestle beneath the seacliff. Their sheltered gold-and-coral sands are perfect for tranquil picnicking, sunbathing, and swimming.
Here, snorkeling and scuba diving are tops, among shoals of bright fish grazing and darting among the close-in coral shelves and submerged rocky outcroppings. Get there by launch from Playa Principal [2] or by taxi. On foot (take a sun hat and water) follow the street that heads west from Pérez Gasga, uphill across from the Hotel Nayar. Continue to the second street on the left, Avenida 1 Poniente, turn left and go a long block to Avenida 5 Sur.
Turn right and continue straight ahead for about a half mile to Bahía Puerto Angelito, which shelters Playa Manzanillo at its inner edge. Follow the stairstep down the cliff. Even more pristine Bahía Carrizalillo, a petite strip of golden sand with a few palapa restaurants, is another mile farther west.
Playa Bachoco, yet another mile farther west, down the bluff from the Hotel Posada Real, is a long, scenic strip of breeze-swept sand, with thunderous waves and correspondingly menacing undertow. Swimming is much safer in the inviting pool of the adjacent Hotel Posada Real beach club.
If you’re strong, experienced, and can get past the breaking waves, snorkeling is said to be good around the little surf-dashed rocky islet 100 yards offshore.
Although Playa Bachoco’s rock-sheltered nooks appear inviting for beach camping, local people don’t recommend it because of occasional rateros (thugs and drunks) who roam Puerto Escondido [1] beaches at night.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/beaches-and-activities/playa-principal