Day Pass in Puerto Escondido
Is a Puerto Escondido day pass for pools and beach access “worth it”?
December 26, 2023
Alicia Butler is a full-time traveler and freelance writer. She started traveling full time back in 2018, before it was cool to do so. Her favorite cities in the world are NYC, Oaxaca, Lisbon, and Edinburgh.
She was an NYC tour guide for eight years, so she can tell you all the best places to eat pizza, bagels, and falafel — as well as what to pack and what to leave home.
Puerto Escondido is one of the unsung beach heroes of Mexico. Located in the southern part of Oaxaca, this spot has become a haven for European, Canadian, and American surfers.
The beaches are the main draw here and are much quieter than the ones you’ll find in Cabo or Cancun.
The good news is that you don’t need to stay at a hotel with beach access, because there are plenty of beach club day passes in Puerto Escondido that are affordable. Many of these beach clubs offer amenities, such as pools, restaurants, bars, spas, and sports.
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Day Passes in Puerto Escondido
You don’t need to stay at a hotel to take advantage of amenities, such as the beach, pools, and spas. You can purchase a day pass in Puerto Escondido for any of these clubs and enjoy these amenities for the entire day.
Club de Playa Villasol
Club de Playa Villasol was easily my favorite beach club in Puerto Escondido. Grab a chair by the pool or one on the beach and camp out for the day.
If you’re staying at the Hotel Villasol, you can automatically use the nearby beach club for free!
But if you’re not staying here, it offers one of the best day passes in Puerto Escondido. The cost is around $18 (USD), but you can apply that amount to food and drink at the club.
Things to Do at Club de Playa Villasol Beach Club
There’s a lot to do if you purchase a PE day pass at the Club de Playa Villasol. In addition to all the services offered here, there are also showers and changing rooms available.
Pool – There is a gorgeous pool included in your PE day pass at Playa Villasol. It gets pretty crowded on the weekend, so arrive early if you want to get a good spot.
Beach – With your Club de Playa Villasol day pass, you get unlimited beach access. If you get there early enough, you can snag a table right on the beach and enjoy all the pool amenities, including table service with your feet nestled in the sand.
Paz Restaurant – I know this is a little dorky, but the restaurant at this beach club was my favorite in all of Puerto Escondido. You can feast on favorites like fish tacos, chilaquiles, and ceviche, as well as burgers, pasta, and salad. One of my favorite dishes was queso served in a rich tomato soup.
Spa – The onsite spa offers massages, scrubs, and facials.
Pool Bar – The pool bar opens at 11 a.m. and offers a different menu than the restaurant. Snack on poolside favorites like jalapeno poppers, nachos, and hot dogs. There’s also an extensive drink menu and happy hour is from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Tennis – If you want to practice your swing, there are two tennis courts you can reserve.
Puerto Escondido Turtle Release – If you’re planning on doing a turtle release in Puerto Escondido, I’d recommend using this beach club for the day because the turtle release is just next door!
Coconuts Beach Club
Located right next to Club Playa Villasol is the Coconuts Beach Club. If you’re trying to book a day pass in Puerto Escondido, you can purchase one here, too.
This beach club also has several pools, a restaurant, and access to the beach.
The entry fee is also about $18 (USD) and I believe you can get that as a credit toward food and drink here.
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La Isla Beach Club
Further into Puerto Escondido is La Isla Beach Club in Playa Manzanillo. This is another spot that offers day passes in Puerto Escondido.
Since this beach club is nestled between Playa Bacocho and Playa Zicatela, it’s a bit more crowded. But if you’re staying at Playa Zicatela and your hotel doesn’t have beach access, it’s a solid option.
It’s a bit smaller than Club Villasol and Coconuts and there’s no pool.
You don’t need to stay at a hotel with beach access, because there are plenty of beach club day passes in Puerto Escondido that are affordable. Many of these beach clubs offer amenities, such as pools, restaurants, bars, spas, and sports.
What to Know Before You Go to the Beach in Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondido isn’t overly developed like Cabo or Cancun. Yet, you’re still going to pay resort and tourist prices here, so I’d recommend buying anything you’ll need before you fly.
You can purchase suntan lotion, coverups, and water at any of the beach club shops. Yet, everything here is really expensive.
I always buy suntan lotion on Amazon before I go on a trip because I’ve been burned by resort prices before. Plus, there’s just more variety if you purchase this stuff beforehand.
I really like the Aveeno Sunscreen Stick with SPF 50 for the areas that burn really easily. But I also like to get a little tan while I’m at the beach so I also use Banana Boat Dry Oil for the first part of the day.
When I’m walking around, I use Aveda Inner Light Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 and the Supergoop Setting Powder with SPF 35. Supergoop costs about $35, which is a little pricey. If you want a more budget-friendly option, the Wyshli Brush-On Mineral Powder has an SPF 30 and is only about $25.
I also can’t seem to turn my brain off completely for an entire day, so I download a lot of reading material beforehand. To save money, I get a Kindle Unlimited subscription for magazines.
If you’re looking for a good beach read, check out my review of This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub!
Since bottled water can be a bit expensive at the beach clubs, you may want to stop at the grocery store or corner store beforehand to buy a few bottles. The Mini Super 69 in Bacocho is the closest one.
If you’re planning on showering at the beach club, you’ll need to bring your own body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I like to bring body wipes with me since they can be packed in a carry-on and can be used in the public restroom, too.
Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido
If you don’t want to stay at a hotel with a beach club, you don’t need to!
Since there are so many Puerto Escondido day passes for pools and beaches, you could easily stay at an Airbnb or a coliving space here.
When I visited Puerto Escondido, I rented an Airstream trailer that was close to the Villasol Beach Club. But there are plenty of other hotels near Villasol Beach as well as coliving spaces further into Puerto Escondido, including Casa Flow Coliving and Surf House and Bambú Corner.
If you’re flying into or out of Puerto Escondido through Mexico City (the easiest way to get to Puerto Escondido), I’d recommend staying at Outsite, which is one of the best coliving companies, in my opinion.
Day Pass Puerto Escondido FAQs
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions regarding day passes in Puerto Escondido — and a few logistics of how to get around the city and where you should stay.
How do you get around Puerto Escondido?
There are three main beaches in Puerto Escondido, including Playa Bacocho, Playa Carrizalillo, and Playa Zicatela.
If you’re staying near one of these beaches, you can easily get around these neighborhoods by foot. But if you want to travel to other beaches, you’ll need to take a taxi.
How many days do you need in Puerto Escondido?
If you’re planning on spending a few days at one of the beach clubs, using a day pass in Puerto Escondido, I’d recommend staying for at least five days.
There are a few activities, other than just “doing beach” here, including surfing, horseback riding, the PE turtle release, and luminescent boating.
Where can I walk in Puerto Escondido?
If you’re staying in Playa Bacocho or Playa Zicatela, you can easily walk around the neighboring towns.
I stayed in Playa Bacocho and could get to the neighboring town of Bacocho (where some of the best restaurants are located) on foot within about 15 minutes.
If you’re staying in Playa Zicatela, you can also get around on foot to nearby restaurants, shops, and hotels.
Can I Do a Temazcal in Puerto Escondido?
There’s no temazcal experience in Puerto Escondido, but you can do a Temazcal ceremony in Oaxaca, which is the closest neighboring city.
To get to Oaxaca City, you’ll need to take an overnight bus, or you can fly to Mexico City and then to Oaxaca. There’s also a small Cessna plane that flies between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido daily.