The Puerto Escondido nightlife has some of the best parties that you’ll find in all of Oaxaca, Mexico. With an increase in popularity in recent years, a plethora of new bars and clubs have opened offering something for everyone, regardless of their music taste.
Not only will we recommend the best bars and clubs within this guide, but we will also break down what day of the week we’d recommend visiting them. So if you’re only in Puerto Escondido for a few nights feel free to skip ahead to the days you’re here.
Where To Party In Puerto Escondido
The Puerto Escondido nightlife can be found across two different areas in town, La Punta and Zicatela.
The La Punta district has some of the best bars in town and it is usually best to start the night here before moving on to Zicatela if you want to party late and check out the club scene.
The La Punta area only has the license to serve drinks until 11 pm and it is very rare that the bars in the area stay open later than 12 am so you won’t find any clubs here.
In Zicatela however, both the clubs and bars are open until at least 3 am – 5 am so you’ll be able to party here as late as you like. It is worth noting that the clubs don’t really hit their full stride until 1 am, however, so you’ll want to spend some time in the bars before getting there to avoid a lack of atmosphere.
Puerto Escondido Nightlife & Safety Tips
1 – The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 so it is recommended to bring some form of identification with you in case you are asked to show it, however, it is very rare you’ll be asked for it.
2- Depending on where you go most venues are accessible before 12 am however some venues have a cover charge of 100 to 150 pesos depending on if there are any events on.
3 – Most clubs are open until at least 5 am and serve alcohol until they shut.
4 – Tips are highly recommended in Mexico in general and the standard rate is anywhere from 10 – 20 percent.
5 – Drinking on the street in Puerto Escondido is allowed however you still need to act responsibly so as not to attract unwanted attention from the police.
6 – Do not go to the beach at night, do not urinate or fornicate in public or you can expect to pay a 2000 peso fine or spend the night in jail.
7 – Although the Puerto Escondido nightlife scene is safe in general be careful with pickpockets and phone snatchers if you’re walking on the street late at night. Where possible get a taxi if it is late at night to reduce the risk.
How expensive it is to party in Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is a cheap place to party in Mexico in comparison to Mexico City, Tulum, and other top tourist destinations in the country.
Backpackers will still pre-drink at their hostel before going out clubbing however you’ll usually have access to cheap beers or drink deals allowing you to drink at bars prior to clubbing.
Here is a basic overview of what you can expect to pay to enjoy the Puerto Escondido nightlife:
- Club entry: 100 pesos
- A bottle of beer: 35-50 pesos
- A basic spirit with mixer (eg. vodka & soda): 100 pesos
- A cocktail: 140 pesos
Monday Nightlife
Surprisingly Monday is one of the most popular nights for going out and partying if you’re in Puerto Escondido as it is renowned as the famous ‘blue Monday’.
The best bar in Puerto Escondido on a Monday – Savanna
On a Monday night, the best bar in Puerto Escondido to get the party started is Savanna. The bar is in La Punta and offers 2-for-1 cocktails which is a great deal to get amongst while watching the sun go down.
The venue has a wide selection of drinks and amazing food as well but the biggest highlight by far is the incredible view.
The best club on a Monday – Cactus
Monday nights in Puerto are all about Cactus for blue Monday. The venue starts taking off at around 1 – 2 am and it is open until 5 am.
If you’re tight on cash entry is free before 12 pm or 100 pesos after. The beers are cheap and you can dance the night away while watching the fire-twirling entertainment.
The club floor is sand so you don’t even need to wear any footwear if you don’t feel like it.
Puerto Escondido Nightlife on a Tuesday
Tuesday is probably one of the nights you’ll want to generally lay low in preparation for parties on other nights of the week in Puerto but with that being said you can always find some fun.
The best bars in Puerto Escondido on Tuesday – Mombasa & Esmeralda
On a Tuesday the best bars in Puerto Escondido that we would recommend are either Mombasa in La Punta or Esmeralda in Zicatela.
Mombasa is a great cocktail bar that is located in La Punta. The oysters are great and the party atmosphere is great until at least 11 pm.
Beers are around 50 pesos and cocktails are around 140 pesos each with the most popular cocktail being the Jonny Cash which includes Aperol, Gin, and grapefruit.
Esmeralda is a bar with at least 30 pool tables which makes for a great venue to hang out for some beers or cocktails while playing pool for free.
The best clubs on a Tuesday – Xcaanda & Chula
Chula has historically been where the party is at if you’re looking for one of the best clubs on a Tuesday however recently Xcaanda has introduced a Tuesday night party as well.
Wednesday Party
If you’re into Mezcal or salsa or both then Wednesday night in Puerto Escondido is when you’ll want to party the night away.
The best bar in Puerto Escondido on Wednesday – Juana Mezcala
If you’re looking to try Mezcal in Puerto then Juana Mezcala is where you’ll want to be. They have a wide selection of mezcal on the menu and the beers are more than affordable at a price of 40 pesos each.
The best club in Puerto Escondido on Wednesday– Congo
Congo is a combination of a bar and a club and it’s where the party finishes on a Wednesday night. The drinks are cheap and entry is only 50 pesos making it well worth the visit.
Thursday Puerto Escondido Nightlife
Thursday is open mic night and one of the most popular nights in Puerto for drawing out the ex-pats. Located in La Punta you’ll want to ensure that you’re here by 10 pm at the latest.
The best bar in Puerto Escondido on Wednesday – Punta Origen & Mombasa
Open mic night is hosted at Punta Origen in La Punta and this is one of the best places to get the night started. Open Mic carries on until at least 11 pm and it is a great vibe with well-priced beers.
After it is over sometimes people will stroll down to Mombasa or head straight to Chula.
The best club on a Thursday – Chula
Similar to that of a Thursday the best club to visit is either Chula or Xcaanda. Promoters at Mombasa will let you know if you’re already at the bar having a drink.
Friday & Saturday Puerto Escondido Nightlife
The weekend is here and there are a lot of options for experiencing the best of Puerto Escondido nightlife. Regardless if you’re looking for a bar or a club we’ll have a recommendation for you below.
Best bar on Friday & Saturday – Play Pong, Esmeralda, Juana Mezcala
Play Pong is located in Zicatela and is an amazing bar for drinking cheap beers while playing ping pong. The venue has 3 ping pong tables and as long as you get a drink or two they are free to use for patrons.
If ping pong isn’t you’re thing you’ll find Esmeralda located over the road with numerous pool tables and cheap drink deals.
If you’re looking for a bar in La Punta on a Friday we’d either recommend Juana Mezcala for a party atmosphere or Mombasa if you want to grab a cocktail.
Best clubs on the weekend in Puerto – Xcaanda, Mar & Wana, Iguana, and Cañabrava.
There are so many clubs to choose from on a Friday and Saturday and where you go just depends on the genre of music or atmosphere you’re looking for.
Xcaanda is an awesome option if you want to party with locals and enjoy reggaeton music. The dancefloor is undercover with an area behind it on the beach. As of 2022, they have opened upstairs as well so the venue is quite large however it is all undercover.
If it’s a good night and you want to be on a rooftop venue the top choice is Canabrava. They too play reggaeton and some pop music with a cover charge costing 100 pesos per person to go there.
Iguana isn’t open every night but if you’re looking for dance music this is where you’ll want to go on the weekend. They’re open very late and will run events from time to time so the cover charge can vary depending on this.
Where to Party on Sunday
You’d think that the Puerto Escondido nightlife would be over after Friday and Saturday antics but that is definitely not the case as a lot of people choose to party on a Sunday.
Best bar on Sunday – Punta Vida
Punta Vida is a bar that is attached to a hostel and it is a lot of fun on a Sunday straight after sunset at around 8 pm depending on the time of year you’re visiting.
Best club on Sunday – Chula
The club scene on a Sunday really depends on the time of year and who is around and looking to party. Our recommendation is always to go to Punta Vida and sus out the vibe and make a decision from there.
You’ll normally find promoters promoting afterparties if there are any events worth going to but usually on a Sunday the best option is Chula in Zicatela.
Puerto Escondido Nightlife Summary
The Puerto Escondido nightlife is awesome and apart from the parties the town is a must-visit if you’re in Oaxaca, Mexico. The beers are more than affordable and as long as you keep your wits about you the town is safe. It is often said that the people who come to party in Puerto Escondido end up buying property and staying indefinitely.
If you’re in town and want to get the latest advice or pre-organize tickets for any parties or events feel free to send us a message and we’ll put you in touch with some promoters to ensure you get the best Puerto Escondido party experience.
