FAQs

Question

What kind of weather should I be prepared for?

Answer

Puerto is HOT... and we mean that! We're strategically having our wedding in the winter to keep you all as cool as possible, but it will still be hot & humid. The UV is also strong between 11am-5pm so please plan accordingly (SPF, hat, sunglasses, lightweight protective clothing are a good idea). Puerto is also mostly made of dirt roads and sandy beaches, so prepare for a dusty, sweaty, salty few days -- it's part of the magic, I promise!

Question

What is the vibe of Puerto Escondido?

Answer

Puerto has a strong local community and is also home to many ex-pats. It is a beach town - shoes are optional, nothing is fancy, and it has a relaxed vibe. Dogs and surfers roam the streets and the key mode of transportation is motor scooter or barefoot. It's developing quickly; there is a lot of construction. We hope you embrace the beautiful complexities of such an environment and know that you'll kindly respect the habitat and community that welcomes us Americans!

Question

Are there insects and mosquitos?

Answer

Yes, the coast of Oaxaca does have mosquitos, spiders, geckos, etc. If you have a mosquito repellent of choice, go ahead and bring it! We will also have some for you deet-free.

Question

What do I need to know about safety?

Answer

The top things to know on safety are: 1) Swimming in the ocean is not safe in much of Puerto. Do not swim at Playa Zicatela. For ocean swims, please visit playas Carrizalillo, Manzanillo, or Angelito and proceed with extreme caution anywhere else. The swell can be big and the current strong. 2) Do not drink the tap water -- pretty sure we all know this. Most hotels/accommodations will have filtered water readily available. Around town you'll see stations that say "menos plastica, mas vida" (less plastic, more life) where you can re-fill your water bottle with safe, filtered water from an Ecofiltro. 3) Stray dogs are part of life in Puerto. While they are mostly very friendly and harmless, we don't recommend petting.

Question

What should I bring?

Answer

SPF, hat, sunglasses, re-fillable water bottle, hot weather clothing, sandals, swimsuit, mosquito repellent, your wedding outfit... you don't need much here to be comfortable! Don't bring more than one laptop -- it's not allowed through customs and you'll be fined. Lastly, for sake of flight flexibility/ease, we recommend bringing a carry-on only.

Question

Is there air conditioning?

Answer

The wedding and reception will be on the beach outside, so no! But you can look for a hotel/accommodation that has AC.

Question

Can I pay with credit card in Puerto?

Answer

Yes and no. Most restaurants and cafes will accept cards (though they may charge an additional fee of around 5% and they may not accept American Express). Taxis and other direct services will be cash only. We recommend being prepared with cash, especially to avoid any confusion around fees/charges. At time of writing this, the exchange rate is around 19:1 (MX Peso:USD). If you're willing to round up to 20, a quick trick is to drop the last digit and divide by 2 (ex: $1000 MX = around $50 USD).

Question

Should I leave a tip?

Answer

Yes, tipping is customary in Mexico at 10-15%.

Question

What's the lay of the land?

Answer

Puerto Escondido is centered around Playa Zicatela, which is famous for its surf wave (professionals only). There are three main parts of town for tourism -- from south to north they are: La Punta, Zicatela, and Rinconada. All have access to great cafes, restaurants, and shops. La Punta is probably the most bustling/touristy these days. Zicatela is great for watching professional surfers; it's also where the nightlife exists. Rinconada is furthest north, but is where most of our favorite restaurants are. We live in La Punta.

Question

Where is the wedding?

Answer

The wedding will be held at Casa Yuma, a beach hotel about 15 minutes south of town in Los Naranjos (transportation will be provided for those staying in town).

Question

How should I get to Puerto Escondido?

Answer

We are committed to helping you find the most efficient & optimal route to Puerto! We recommend bringing a carry-on only for more flexibility with flight times. The Puerto Escondido airport code is PXM. It is an easy, one hour flight from Mexico City, which has direct flights from NYC airports, SFO, and LAX. Our recommendation is to book your flights separately (first to MEX, then MEX-->PXM) as there are almost no airlines that go all the way through. Alternatively, if you intend to spend time in Oaxaca City or your city has a direct flight to OAX, you could take a 3 hour bus ride from there (it's a comfortable bus). Here are our recommendations for travel — if you are coming from somewhere else, reach out to Lucy directly and I’ll help you find the most efficient route! NYC Area: 1) Take your preferred morning or afternoon flight from NYC-->MEX (there are several options); layover in MEX until the 8:20pm flight MEX-->PXM (VB1188) that gets in around 9:30pm. 2) Puerto is newly international! There's a direct flight from Houston on Thursday 12/4 that departs at 9:46am and lands in Puerto at 12:35pm on United Airlines (UA6318). To make this, you'll need to take a 6am flight from Laguardia or Newark (also offered through United) and be up for a quick 1 hour layover. If this is your style, it would be a super efficient way to get here! Upstate CT Folks: If you're going from BDL, my recommendation is to take a morning flight to MEX (you'll have a short layover in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, or Miami). Then take the 8:20pm flight MEX-->PXM (VB1188) that gets in around 9:30pm. SF/Bay Area Folks: I’ll reach out to you all directly to help here — there are more factors and indirect options coming from SF, that it will depend on what your unique situation is! LA Folks: Take your preferred direct flight to MEX (I recommend the 11:50am that gets in at 5:30pm on Aeromexico/Delta) and then the 8:20pm flight MEX-->PXM (VB1188) that gets in around 9:30pm.

Question

What do I need to know about going through customs?

Answer

When you de-plane, follow the signs for customs & immigration (migracion o aduanas). Same as anywhere, they will ask you what you're here for ("vacaciones" = vacation) and how long and then stamp your passport. Then you'll proceed onto customs before exiting the airport (to go to your domestic terminal for flight to PXM). You'll put your luggage through the x-ray machine - the key thing to know there is that you can't bring more than one laptop into Mexico.