Whether you go independently or by escorted tour, outings away from the Puerto Escondido [1] resort can reveal rewarding glimpses of flora and fauna, local cultures, and idyllic beaches seemingly half a world removed from the adoquín tourist hubbub. For escorted tour suggestions, see Tours [2].
Farthest afield, to the west of Puerto Escondido [1], are the colorful festivals, markets, and handicrafts of the indigenous Mixtec towns of Jamiltepec [3] and Pinotepa Nacional [4] and the crystalline beaches and wildlife-rich mangrove reaches of the Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua [5].
To the east lie the hidden beaches of Mazunte [6], Zipolite [7], and the picture-book Bahía de Puerto Ángel, with its turtle museum [8], au naturel sunbathing on Playa Zipolite, and very accessible off-beach snorkeling at Puerto Ángel [9].
A bit farther beckon the nine breezy Bahías de Huatulco [10], ripe for swimming, scuba diving, wildlife-viewing, biking, and river rafting.
Closer at hand, especially for wildlife lovers and beachgoers, are the jungly lagoons and pristine strands of the west-side Laguna Manialtepec [11], the nearby hot springs and Chatino sacred site of Atotonilco [12], and a duo of home-grown animal conservation sanctuaries, Iguana and Land Turtle Nursery [13] and Producción Ecoturístico Colotepec [14].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/recreation/tours
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/-mixtec-coast/santiago-jamiltepec
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/-mixtec-coast/pinotepa-nacional
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/parque-nacional-lagunas-de-chacahua
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-angel/sights-and-beaches/playas-san-agustinillo-and-mazunte
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-angel/sights-and-beaches/playa-zipolite
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-angel/sights-and-beaches/centro-mexicano-de-la-tortuga
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-angel
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/bahias-de-huatulco
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/excursions/laguna-manialtepec
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/excursions/aguas-termales-atotonilco
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/excursions/iguana-and-land-turtle-nursery
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/puerto-escondido/excursions/colotepec-reptile-sancutary