Puerto Escondido (English: "Hidden Port") is a small port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Before the 1930s, there was no city. The bay has been used as an intermittent harbor to send coffee, but there is no permanent settlement due to lack of drinking water. The name "Puerto Escondido" has the roots of the legend of a woman who escaped from her captors and hides here. The Nahuatl word for this area is Zicatela, which means "great thorn place". Today, it refers to the most famous beaches in the area.
Puerto Escondido is one of the most important sights on the Oaxacan coast. It caters to the more downscale and eclectic customers of neighboring Huatulco, most of the surfers, backpackers and Mexican families. The main attraction is the beach: Zicatela Beach hosts a major surfing competition, while other beaches have gentle waves. West of the city is a popular large lagoon area for fishing and bird watching.
Video Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
History
The area around Puerto Escondido has been inhabited by native populations for centuries, but no city of any size was established during the pre-Hispanic or colonial era. The bay is known as Bahia de la Escondida (Bay of the Hidden Woman) because of the legend associated with this place. The story states that a vicious pirate, Andrà © drake, brother of Sir Francis Drake, tethered his ship at bay when the area was completely uninhabited, to rest for several days without interruption by the authorities.
A few weeks earlier, he and his crew abducted a young Mixtec woman from the village of Santa MarÃÆ'a Huatulco and took his prisoner. While in the bay, the woman escaped from the cabin where she was detained, and became a good swimmer, jumped into the sea to hide and hide in the woods beyond the shore. Since then, the pirates refer to the woman as "La Escondida" (hidden) and every time the ship returns to these waters, the captain orders his crew to search the area around the bay, however, they never find him. Therefore, the area is known as BahÃÆ'a de la Escondida.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was known as Punta Escondida (Hidden Point), then, Puerto Escondido. At that time, it was just a small fishing village that was intermittently used to send coffee. At that time, Puerto Escondido suffered from a shortage of drinking water, though the Colotepec River was nearby. This causes people to settle elsewhere. Some stayed, including Nazario Castellanos and EscolÃÆ'¡stica Valencia, who became night guards for nearby coffee plantations and were considered the first inhabitants of the city. There was no real city until the 1930s, when the activities of Puerto Escondido as a port established more.
Puerto Escondido belongs to the municipality of Santa MarÃÆ'a Colotepec. However, eventually citizens petitioned to change the jurisdiction to another nearby municipality, San Pedro Mixtepec, given in the 1940s.
From 1940 to 1960s, a church was built and the first school was built. The well was dug to alleviate the problem of water supply, and generators bought to supply electricity to pumps and some street lamps. However, there is still a problem getting outside supply needs such as sugar. These commodities only arrive when a merchant ship enters the bay to sell its goods. Sometimes, this will not happen for months. Locals encountered with local products such as fish, poultry, iguanas, chicken and turtle eggs. After the Sola de Vega road to the capital city of Oaxaca was built, the problem was somewhat resolved.
In the 1960s, Highway 200 was built, connecting the coastal cities of Oaxacan with Acapulco. Surfers and other travelers began to find quiet beaches around Puerto Escondido and tourism began to flourish. Its function as a port decreases as coffee begins to be sent by truck. Other added infrastructure included them to supply areas with drinking water, a small airport where Rinconada now, postal services and some government offices. However, in 1970 only about 400 people lived in Puerto Escondido.
Over time, Puerto Escondido's interest as a tourist attraction increases, with hotels and resorts being built. For years, restaurants were almost exclusively in "palapas" (shrimp ponds) with fishermen preparing their catch; However, this is mostly given way to modern tourist facilities. Puerto Escondido is one of the most important tourist sites on the coast of Oaxacan.
The Puerto Escondido community is shared between two municipalities. The Zicatela Beach side belongs to the municipality of Santa MarÃÆ'a Colotepec and the western part of San Pedro Mixtepec. The boundary between these two municipalities is being disputed, leaving many businesses limbo, sometimes paying taxes to the two municipalities.. Puerto Escondido is lobbying for a more independent status with the Oaxaca state Congress, against opposition from San Pedro Mixtepec. 69% of the inhabitants of this town live in Puerto Escondido. In addition to the above issues, the size supporters state that while the community generates the majority of municipal revenues, it does not receive support from city seats. In August 2008, residents of Puerto Escondido blocked the highway into downtown San Pedro Mixtepec to protest the lack of money for infrastructure in the city. In the 2009 census, Puerto Escondido had a population of 20,178
On July 30, 2009, the state congress declared Puerto Escondido to be a city. However, the declaration did not resolve the boundary dispute between San Pedro Mixtepec and Santa MarÃÆ'a Colotepec.
Maps Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
City
Puerto Escondido is mostly located in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec on the western coast of Oaxaca also known as Emerald Beach. The bay is united by a number of rocky cliffs, whose height varies between 15 and 30 meters. The city center is located on the north side of the bay. The climate is tropical and humid, with an average annual temperature of 28 Â ° C (82 Â ° F) with the rainy season in summer.
Puerto Escondido is the oldest tourist attraction in the region, and is a major center of tourist activities, both for citizens and foreigners. The big wave of Zicatela Beach puts it into the top ten surfing destinations. This harbor continues to support commercial fishing activities, and also attracts people for deep-sea fishing (especially for sailfish).
Puerto Escondido is not as well known or visited as other beach resort areas such as Acapulco or Cancun as there are only domestic flights, which disappoints a number of visitors. The bus ride from the capital Oaxacan takes seven hours more than the bend of flops as it trails down the Sierra del Sur mountains. Most bus terminals coming from Oaxaca are located in the city center.
Puerto Escondido is mostly downscale and rural, with many small and medium-sized hotels and restaurants, but there are some upscale hotels. Most dishes are based on local seafood and crops, which include eleven types of bananas, chocolate, and coffee. It also has several Italian restaurants, opened by recent Italian immigrants.
The Puerto Escondido tourist center is not a plaza but PÃÆ' Â © rez Gazga Avenue, known locally as "El Adoquin" or "La Zona Adoquinada" (paving stone street). Starting with the statue of Benito JuÃÆ'¡rez found bars, hotels, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, craft shops, internet cafes, corner shops, tour operators and scuba diving rentals. It also serves as a promenade as it is parallel to the city's main beach, and is only pedestrian after 17:00. At night the place is packed with locals and tourists alike. This is one of the areas to buy Mexican, especially Oaxacan, handicrafts such as loose blouses, shirts, vests, wraps, rugs, bags, bags, jackets, hammocks, carved stone jewelry, silver and sea shells. However, the main market in the city center is where you get a competitive Mexican price. Away from the beach above Adoquin is Coastal Highway 200.
The Andador EscÃÆ'Â © nico (Scenic Walkway) is a set of paths, stairs and bridges that begin at the city's main beach and winding on a rocky oceanside cliff, pass under the lighthouse to search for a named SueÃÆ' Â ± o Posible (Possible Dream). In some places, the sidewalks are very close to the sea and wet with the waves.
Every year, the city celebrates Carnival starting with "quema de mal humor" or bad mood burning. This is done with a statue with the aim of clearing people of bad thoughts and moods to enjoy the celebration.
Education
Universidad del Mar has one of the campuses here.
Beach
The main attraction of Puerto Escondido is its beaches, which have become internationally renowned. This area is also interesting for divers because of the variety of fish, oysters, lobsters, and manta rays. Although the Pacific coast of Mexico generally runs in the north-south, this beach section in Oaxaca runs east-west, Playa Zicatela is on the east end.
Puerto Escondido became famous for the surfing competition held at Zicatela Beach every year in November. This competition brings competitors from different countries. Dubbed the "Mexican Pipe" due to the same strength and shape of the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, the ruptured waves at Zicatela Beach attracted the international crowd of surfers, bodyboarders and their entourage. Mid to late summer is a quiet season for tourists, but it is a prime time for waves and international tournaments. A number of international competitions such as ESPN X Games, and MexPipe Challenge have taken place. The beach is separated from other beaches by rocks called "El Morro" (the nose). This beach has a width of 50 to 100 meters and a length of four kilometers with large waves that reach sixty feet high. Lifeguards are placed on these high-risk beaches as well as on other beaches. About half are professionals and half the other volunteers. Zicatela is still a beach of surfers, with strong currents making the area unsuitable for swimming. The Zicatela Beach tourist area caters to surfers, including specials on surfing rentals. The beach now has a balcony, with flowers and shrubs throughout the restaurant, many of which were recently established.
The western part of Zicatela on the rocky cliff of El Moro is Playa Marinero, which is the best beach for swimming because of the waves and much less current. There are some waves, but soft enough to start surfers and bodyboarding.
West of Playa Marinero is Playa Principal, or the main beach, right in front of the city. The beach has boats and water taxis anchored near the beach. Here, fishermen arrive in the dawn to sell their catch to local restaurants and families. It is 500 meters long with fine, gray sand and low to medium surfing. This is a prime place to rent boats that take tourists to inaccessible beaches, to see dolphins and sea turtles or to deep sea fishing. The beach is also popular with Mexican families for picnics and playing soccer.
West of the Playa Principal is a beacon with a stone path, Andador EscÃÆ'Â n nico, underneath. From the end of the trail, and a little further west, are the twin beaches of Puerto Angelito and Manzanillo, among which are small rocks that are exposed. It's in a sheltered bay, making it safe to swim, with Manzanillo having a bit more surfing. Angelito Beach has a small family-owned restaurant located in palapas (open straw structure). These beaches have water that varies in color from green emerald to turquoise blue. Puerto Angelito tends to be crowded and frequented by many visitors. Playa Manzanillo is quieter because there is no road access.
West of this beach is Playa Carrizalillo which has white sand and cobalt blue water with bright green eyes. This 300-meter high beach is in a small bay. There was no road to this beach, and the path down the steep slope on the recently installed stone steps. It takes about fifteen minutes to walk here from town. A water taxi ride from Playa Principal is another option to access Carrizalillo. Waves are usually soft, except for zones that open directly to the oceans where the waves are big enough to surf. Difficult access means that the beach is not as crowded as walking merchants like Puerto Angelito Beach. There are several restaurants and this area is generally cleaner. On the eastern and western sides of the bay are the rocks that are the habitat for various species of fish and coral, making it popular for snorkeling. Near Carrizalillo is Rinconada, a former landing strip that is now filled with restaurants, salons and shops. It also contains a loan library run by a local charity run by expatriates.
The westernmost beach is Playa Bacocho with an upscale beach club. It has fine sand, soft, palm trees, warm water, blue-green and moderate surfing although the far western part of the coast can have a strong current. Overlooking the southwest, offering beautiful sunset views. West of Bacocho is still an undeveloped beach.
Transportation
Puerto Escondido International Airport has flights to the cities of Oaxaca, Monterrey and Mexico City.
The commercial bus from Oaxaca city takes about seven hours.
The new 3-line supercarretera from Oaxaca will come to Ventanillas, Oaxaca, about 13 km east of Puerto Escondido, where it meets an old coastal highway 200. The current completion date is around 2018. It will cut travel time from Oaxaca is more than half.
Media
There are AM and FM radio stations and Spanish weekly newspapers. Ã,¡Viva Puerto! http://vivapuerto.com is a local, bilingual magazine.
Fiestas de Noviembre
The Fiestas de Noviembre (Festivals of November) is held during the month to early December. Events are scheduled in San Pedro Mixtepec and the jurisdiction of Santa MarÃÆ'a Colotepec and there is little coordination between events. This usually means a large number of events, more than a few meetings and competing for participants. Zicatela events are often staged at Playa Zicatela while important events are often held at Playa Principal or town square in the west and above the main beach. Some great events include motocross events, sailing competitions, beach dance festivals and surf tournaments.
Laguna de Manialtepec
About ten miles from Puerto Escondido is the Laguna de Manialtepec. There is a small village on the street called Bajos de Chila as well as a small archaeological zone of the Chatino culture. This site has the Sun Stone representing the sun god and the statue of a high priest. The lagoon is full of mangrove forests and many birds such as pelicans, seagulls, ibis, storks, herons, jacanas, eagles, kingfishers, geese and other species. Other wildlife here include raccoons, weasels, deer, wild pigs, foxes and crocodiles. These numbers are in danger because of poaching. In the middle of the lagoon is an island called Gallo, where according to legend, a rooster can be heard singing every year on December 24th.
See also
- Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
- Alejandra Robles
External links
- Puerto Escondido wikivoyage.org Free Travel Guide
- Manialtepec Lagoon Magazines
- Ã,¡Viva Puerto! El Sol de la Costa
- magazine
- Many sections of Puerto Escondido
- Guide to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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