Puerto Escondido SØNDAG 17. MARS 2013

Synne in Tacoland

Why yes, i do frequently burst out in song! :D Norwegian 
girl in Mexico. Photographer and travel lover sharing silly
 moments :)

SØNDAG 17. MARS 2013

Puerto Escondido

We arrived in Puerto Escondido on the Oaxacan coast the following morning
 and checked in to our hostel with an amazing view of Zicatela beach. Since
 the others came from freezing Norway and I live in Xalapa which has no beach
 to brag about, we all wanted to spend a few days just soaking on the different
 beaches in the area.

Puerto Angelito was our definite favorite. It is secluded, with nice beach 
restaurants where we got beds, coconuts and delicious seafood lunch.

Part of a reason for them coming, second to seeing me I hope, was to celebrate my moms 60^th birthday, which we spent on a boat, snorkeling and looking for dolphins and turtles (who never showed up for the celebration btw) It was only us and a bunch of mexican tourists, the party music was booming and the liquor floating :P 

To my big happiness, as this is something I have always wanted to do, me and my sister
 went to check out liberation of baby turtles on another beach some 20 min
 away. And it was AMAAAAZING!

We get there and see around 200 tiny baby turtles that was born the day 
before, crawling around in this little tank not having a clue on what adventure
 awaits them!

We got a couple of 20 babies that was our responsibility and we got to play 
and photograph them for about an hour before we all went down to the water 
to let them go. Oh my monkey, sooooo cute!!! And the little babies knew
 exactly what they were doing! We put them down on the beach and they
 ran out into the sunset as nobodies business. It was absolutely beautiful!

After a few days of suntanning (or burning for some of us who never learn :/ ) we had to move on if we wanted to get through everything. So Monday morning we met up for a bus to Oaxaca City some 6 hours away, on 1^stclass we thought. Not really true…. It was a tiny van which was full after a few minutes. And it wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t for the fact that the road over the mountains is twirly and nasty. So the young couple with a baby next to me couldn’t really handle it and they both threw up like crazy, in the same bag I might add, which they kept with them for the next hours until the break. Great!! Breath with your mouth....

Oaxaca City, are you ready? :)

Huatulco Tour

Punta Cometa 2013 Video

Puerto Escondido – A Nocturnal Dream | SheSighted Puerto Escondido. 4:00am, 1 Valium and 6hrs into our bus ride from Acapulco to Puerto Escondido, I wake to find frost bite on my nose and 2 balaclaved men ... shesighted.wordpress.com/.../puerto-escondido-a-nocturnal-dr...

Puerto Escondido – A Nocturnal Dream | SheSighted
Puerto Escondido. 4:00am, 1 Valium and 6hrs into our bus ride from Acapulco to Puerto Escondido, I wake to find frost bite on my nose and 2 balaclaved men ...
shesighted.wordpress.com/.../puerto-escondido-a-nocturnal-dr...

Puerto Escondido – A Nocturnal 

Dream

GALLERY

Posted on March 16, 2013

Puerto Escondido

4:00am, 1 Valium and 6hrs into our bus ride from Acapulco to Puerto Escondido,
I wake to find
frost bite on my nose and 2 balaclaved men stalking down the aisle.

As I come too, I realise the bus has come to a complete stop and people are whispering in that “I’m-freaking-out-hypochondriac way”.
I look outside and there is at least 100 + balaclava heads that seem to be
forging some sort of human road block right in front of our bus
I immediately turn to the deep grumbling orchestra I call my boyfriend and try to wake him.
The 2 backpackers sitting in front of us look worried which spike my adrenaline to 10.
We were then “Asked”, key word ‘asked’, to “Please get off the bus, we’re taking over now”.

Being pitch black outside and having no clue where we are, I softly decline their offer and stay seated in my seat.

I soon realise this is no offer and immediately gather all our luggage and pile off the bus.
We are all standing in the pitch dark asking what the “fuck” is going on and of course my mind shoots straight to the worst kidnapping scenario on HBO.

Eventually we find someone who speaks a little english and explains to us that they are not here to rape, steal or kill us, in fact they would love to talk to us seeing as their ..dum dum dum…University students who are protesting against the government for the reduction in their education funds.

It was scary at the time ok, they could have done without the balaclava.

Anyway, we ended up getting a lift with the next van taxi which took us directly to Puerto Escondido, where our month of being nocturnalists begins…(please tell me that’s a word)

So, Puerto meaning- Port and Escondido meaning – essence..port essence or Essence of the port.. Could be good or bad, depending on which port you speak of.

Also depending on whether your intelligence is enough to know when im bullshitting..
HA!

So, Puerto Escondido was a month of relajate-ing (relaxing)
Put up in the best Aussie populated apartment ..hot water and all.. trust me, that’s luxury enough when travelling these parts of the world, not to mention a toilet with a seat.

I wont go into much detail here as it was a whole month blurred into one night, but you can only imagine the outcome of a month in a place which bares a similarity to our neighbouring party island “Bali” only 10x better.

With the luxury of our 5 star apartment, the people we met and the festivities we HAD to share in, we were reluctant to stray far from the nest.. The corner shop or our favourite restaurant, ‘Fish taco’ was about as far as we got.

However we did manage to boat it to Chacahua, a place known for its right hand point break..and, as we found out later, also renowned for its crocodiles, sharks and plagues of mosquitos. But don’t let that deter you as it’s still quite a thrill to experience; moonlight surfing (obviously previous to the knowledge of what lies beneath) whilst the bonfires burn on the beach and you come in from your surf to a feast cooked by Mumma Zita and get to shower the ‘local’ way by pouring water from a bucket over yourself.
Even funnier if you have a girlfriend named Bree who steals your clothes whilst you wash.

So to add it all up, Puerto is an awesome place where you eat amazing food, get crowded but pumping surf and meet awesome people ..
you know who you are 

Tips:
Getting here from Acapulco: Well, it really isn’t a bad ride on the bus besides the uni hijackers but that was a rare case and im sure you’ll be fine so stop winging and get on.
You catch it from the bus stop in acapulco..der.. it’s about 10hrs so id suggest doing the night bus.
Cost:$35
Alternatively a flight from Mex city should cost you the same and is only a fraction of the time.

Stayed: Possibly one of the best places we’ve stayed, ever, The famousAqua Luna, run by a passionate and professional couple who instantly become lovable characters and who attract only the best.
Not to mention the food was always up to standard and their wonderful staff, always helpful and with a jacuzzi on the top balcony..well, whats not to love! Hence the full month stay.

Food: Some of the best places I’ve also eaten; For breakfast “Dans Cafe” is well-known and does healthy juices for the conscious.
Another favourite was a little romantic place called “Paris”, about a 5 min taxi ride from town.
Another must is the broaster chicken with DIY tacos at across the road from Super Che, it looks a little dodge but super tasty and cheap.
Then Taco Brown, again sounds…RUDE.. but will feed a cave man, aka my boyfriend.
And last but certainly not least is our favourite trendy: Fish Taco- I reccommend..the fish taco..and recently opened (right next door to Fish Taco) is a place called “Cool Drink” Best salads and Chimmy Chengas I’ve eaten.
wow..so we ate a bit here huh.

To go out: Bar Fly and Kabbalah (i think that’s how you spell it) awesome for dance, live music and chilled beach cabana’s for drinks, not so chilled if  there’s a crazy chick who loves her tequila!!

ENJOY !!

Giancarlo Bruniera 13 hours ago Photo

Giancarlo Bruniera

13 hours ago 

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BC-LT-Travel-Trip-Mexico Calgary Herald BC-LT-Travel-Trip-Mexico-Zipolite, 1st Writethru Update:With AP Photos. Adds additional photo link See Photos NYET842-1228—2012—112245, ...

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Giancarlo Bruniera 6 hours ago via iOS San Augustin de las flores — at Zipolite.

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San Augustin de las flores — at Zipolite.

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John Kerry’s spring break advice: No ‘overdoing it’ By Olivier Knox, Yahoo! News | The Ticket – Wed, Mar 13, 2013

John Kerry’s spring break advice: No ‘overdoing it’

By Olivier Knox, Yahoo! News | The Ticket – Wed, Mar 13, 2013

Zipolite, Mexico (Jody Kurash/AP)OK, it’s not actually personal advice from Secretary of State John Kerry. But the U.S. State Department on Wednesday unveiled what it describes as “scary, but true” warnings to American students planning to head overseas for the annual debauchery that is spring break.

“Students are not invincible when they go abroad. Every year, there are incidents of travelers being arrested, injured, sexually assaulted, and even killed,” the department warns on one of several webpages.

In a triumph of optimism over experience, the department urges revelers to “avoid underage and excessive alcohol consumption.”

“'Overdoing it’ leads to the majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, rapes, and deaths suffered by American students on spring break,” it says. “As in the U.S., disturbing the peace, lewd behavior, littering, driving under the influence, drinking on the street or on public transportation may all be considered criminal activities by local authorities—is it worth it?”

No hard drugs. No weapons, especially guns. Be cautious about where and when you swim. Don’t take part in political demonstrations: “You can ‘stick it to the man,’" the department says, "but on your own soil.” If you keep making that face, it’ll freeze that way forever. OK, that last one is fake.

“Remember that standards of safety and supervision (i.e., for swimming pools or hotel balconies) may not reach those expected in the United States,” the department also notes. “The difference has contributed to the deaths of U.S. citizens overseas. It’s scary, but true.”

But for those who still can’t walk the line, the department advises: “If you find yourself in a legal jam, contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance.”

And the department offers a special program, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, to keep travelers up to date on warnings and help them stay in touch during emergencies.

Huatulco, Mexico: Hidden Gem in the Pacific Crown. Mexico For Kids Posted MAR 11 2013 by TRAVELWITHKIDS

HOME / TRAVEL BLOG / HUATULCO, MEXICO: HIDDEN GEM IN THE PACIFIC CROWN. MEXICO FOR KIDS

Huatulco, Mexico: Hidden Gem in the Pacific Crown. Mexico For Kids

Posted MAR 11 2013 by TRAVELWITHKIDS in BLOGGING AROUND, LATIN AMERICA WITH KIDS, MEXICO ARTICLES,ROAD REPORT with 0 COMMENTS

Mexico’s Pacific Riviera has seen many a tourist in its day with white sand beaches and sparkling nightlife in tourism giants like Acapulco, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. But, there are still some secret escapes that offer the more adventurous tourist tropical bays, secluded beaches and lots of fun. Huatulco is the crown jewel of these hidden gems. Mexico For Kids is fun for the entire family.

Located in the state of Oaxaca about 200 miles down the coast from Acapulco, Huatulco feels worlds away. Nine unspoiled bays and 34 pristine beaches, many of them only accessible by boat, line the coast here and each of them offer a unique perspective. The town itself blends old Mexico, with a brilliant Zocalo, or town square, with a huge Spanish colonial church next to chill-out style wood fired pizza bars with couches and Bob Marley music. Outside of town, there are coffee plantations, jungle trips, rafting and much more to appeal to tourists of all type.

Where to Stay

Development in Huatulco has been limited, which enhances the natural surrounds of this tropical paradise. There are a variety of budget and midrange hotels in town. Lining the bays south of town are upscale, all inclusive hotels, some of which cater to families.  We stayed atDreams Huatulco Resort & Spa. The four pools, some dedicated specifically to families, and beach front cabanas were a natural playground for our kids. Add to that a water trampoline, kayaks, Eurobungee, Kids’ Explorer Club and archery and you can say our kids were blinded by the shine of this sparkling gem! And, because the resort is all-inclusive, we didn’t feel like we had to say no…trampoline time, ice cream floats at the swim-up bar, archery lessons…sure, why not?  The beach at the resort felt very quaint, with a deep bay, small islet for exploring, and excellent snorkeling and huge schools of fish swarming the kids in the shallow waters.

What to Do

Although the resort was fabulous, it is not all Huatulco has to offer. When we wanted to get out of the resort, town was just a short taxi ride away (and less then $5).  But often time, we didn’t even need to take a taxi as the activity provider offered door to door service. We booked many of our activities through Amstar. Here’s what we did:

Scuba Diving Huatulco Mexico

Scuba Diving: We took Nathan (12) our certified diver, and Seamus (10) on a discover scuba dive with Hurricane Divers. On the way to our dive spot we spotted whales and saved a sea turtle. Our captain noticed the turtle was not diving down as it should when a boat approaches. He jumped overboard to investigate and found the turtle’s mouth and nostril covered with barnacles making it difficult to breathe. Nathan jumped in to assist in hauling the turtle on-board where both kids helped pry the barnacles off the turtle. When the turtle was released it paused for a look back at us and then dove down from the surface looking happy and healthy again.

Mud facials in Huatulco, Mexico

Coffee Plantation/Waterfall: Although this makes for a long day (we were out of the resort from about 9am-6pm) it offers a much more authentic look at this part of Mexico. We drove back roads through tiny villages where kids ran along the roads with goats and families chatted in front of small churches. We ended our drive at a coffee plantation where we learned how coffee is grown and processed and indulged in cuisine authentico prepared by locals. After lunch, we hiked to nearby waterfalls (think Jamaica’s Dunn’s RiverFalls without the gajillion tourists) where the kids had fun swinging on ropes like Tarzan, catching tadpoles and getting mud masks.

Kayaking, Huatulco, Mexico

Rafting/Tubing: The CopalitaRiver runs from offers Class III – IV rapids in the highlands, but we didn’t think our kids were quite ready for that. So, we opted for tubing Class I and II rapids on the lower river. After a couple of snags on rocks at the beginning, the kids started to get the hang of it and enjoy “steering” their tubes through the rapids, and avoiding the natural barriers. The trip ended at the ocean on a secluded beach and a hike along the coast to another small beach with a sand floor restaurant and surf shack.

Town: Even if you are staying at an all-inclusive place, be sure to take time to explore the town for a meal, shopping and the amazing family-friendly atmosphere of the town square. The church beside the square hosts incredible murals and just across the street families stroll the square as vendors sell every imaginable kid’s toy – balloons, wooden toys, kites, glow sticks, tops, you name it.  Everywhere we go, I ask taxi drivers and activity providers about the best restaurants – the place where the locals go. And every single one directed us to, not tacos…but pizza! La Crema Pizza, overlooking the town square from a second story balcony offered a bit of a hippy attitude with tall candles on each table and batik fabrics hung from the ceilings, and incredible thin crust pizza with a mind-spinning array of toppings.

Getting There

Huatulco is a five-hour flight from Texas.  At the time we went, there were only a couple of direct flights from the United States – via Houston and St.   Louis. Canada offers many more direct flights, which is why the kids made so many Canadian friends along the way.  Huatulco is also accessible by bus from Acapulco, Oaxaca City and Mexico   City.

When first suggested by our booking agent, Apple Vacations, I had never heard of Huatulco, and I am pretty well traveled in Mexico. I even lived just 250 miles away in Cuernavaca for a time. But now that I have been there, I can understand why this diamond is kept a secret. Its brilliance far and away outshines many of the more popular jewels in the Pacific Riviera.

Huatulco

Huatulco, Mexico, Jetski