No Pasa Nada

‘No pasa nada’ is the unofficial motto of Puerto Escondido, and you can see why, with its super-chilled, laid back atmosphere, there’s not a lot going on, which is why we’re here…especially as it’s the low season, ‘sin turistas’ – meaning we’ve pretty much got the place to ourselves, other than the friendly locals and…

Through the cave and beyond

Earlier this morning, we discovered it was low tide at La Punta, which enabled us to push through the cave entrance and out to the other side – revealing spectacular cliffs, huge gnarled and weathered tree-trunks (with one presenting an almost human face. Or is it an old elephant?) and an empty beach that stretched…

Riding the Mexican Pipeline – 2

Heading back towards town we eventually reached Zicatela Beach proper, and boy, they’re not kidding, the beach is enormous – wide and long – and the waves spectacular! I’m not familiar with surfing but I can guess these glass-like barrel tubes have to be some of the best waves to be had. Again, maybe one…

Riding the Mexican Pipeline – 1

According to those in the know (that’d be you JB), Zicatela has one of the largest and fastest waves in the world. We’re told that the ‘Mexican Pipeline’ is for experienced surfers only which is probably why La Punta, at the southern end, and where we’re located, is popular with both locals and travellers and,…

Mad Dogs and Englishmen….

‘Casa Nando’ where we’re staying in La Punta, Zicatela has become our home away from home. Yes, it’s a tad basic compared to the recent places we’ve stayed, but as we’ve been saying to each other since we arrived, it has a private pool in a gorgeous tropical garden, which is not to be sniffed…

Playa Carrizalillo – Small is beautiful

This is one perfect little palm fringed beach right in the heart of Puerto Escondido and just a A$3 cab ride from La Punta Beach (where we’re living) – actually, everywhere in PE is A$3. Accessed by 157 steps, Carrizalillo is a sheltered cove fringed with palapa beach bars where two day beds and an…

Life in La Punta

Heavy rain overnight (this is the rainy season after all) which sent the green tree frogs and geckos into a frenzy – a real jungle cacophony if ever there was, yet somehow quite soporific. There are also large toads in the garden that look for all the world like rocks – even when you’re almost…

Point Break, Mexican Style

We’ve woken up in a different world, more ‘Point Break’ than ancient Zapotec…. We’re in an outlying part of Puerto Escondido – ‘Hidden Port’, not so hidden any longer – on the coast of Oaxaca, a bit further out from Zicatela and smashed up against the lighthouse with caves, steep rocky roads, cactus fields and…

Adios Oaxaca

What a great time we’ve had in Oaxaca. We’ve been here long enough now to get a real sense of the place, hanging with the locals and living with Yoko and Michael, our house Chihuahuas who wander in and out at all times of the day and night…. “Hola Paul y Anthony, siento molestarte, solo…