The Best Destination For A First Time Female Digital Nomad

You’ve decided to work fully remote and start travelling AKA become a digital nomad. Congrats! The first time you embark on your digital nomad journey is always a little scary but remember, there are now thousands of female digital nomads that are doing it and have been for years, myself included. So take it from me, you’ve got this and once you start, you won’t look back!

Figuring out where to go for the first time as a female digital nomad can be confusing and a little daunting, you’ve got the whole world to choose from! So you need to get it right. You want the best, most comfortable experience as it sets the precedent for your new life.

For your first digital nomad destination you’ll want:
– a good mix of like-minded people doing the same thing (so you can easily make friends!)
– Friendly locals
– Of course you need to feel safe
– Somewhere that is easy to get around
– Good working cafes or coworking spaces with internet
– Let’s not forget the good weather!

I know the perfect spot for a first time, female digital nomad!

Viva La Mexico!

Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico it holds a very special place in my heart. It’s got a laid back surfer vibe, welcoming people and the internet gets a tick too (starlink!). It honestly feels like a little piece of paradise and has a small community feel that you are immediately part of.

I spent 7 months living in Puerto Escondido and felt at home as soon as I landed. Some of my best travel friends I have met here and the locals are super friendly and helpful. It’s fairly cheap and the beaches are amazing. There is enough to keep you busy and some great working spots. Do you need anymore convincing?

Puerto Escondido; The Ideal Digital Nomad Destination

Here is my guide on everything you need to know about being a Female Digital Nomad in Puerto Escondido.

Currency: Mexican Peso (most places don’t take card so keep enough cash on you) There are a few cash machines easily accessible.
Language: Spanish. I recommend you learn some basic Spanish as the locals don’t speak much English, and it’s nice to make an effort in a different country. There are a few places in the area that offer Spanish lessons.
Mexico Visa: You’ll get issued a tourist visa on arrival in Mexico and depending on where you are from, you’ll be issued UP TO 6 months. Do check how long they have given you before leaving immigration. I once got issued a 2 week visa and my boyfriend got issued 6 months!
Vaccines: You don’t need a Covid vaccine to get in to Mexico or any other vaccines, though some are recommended. Do your research and check to see what you’ve had already.
How to get to Puerto Escondido: You’ll need to fly to Mexico City Airport or Cancun Airport and get a connecting flight to Puerto Escondido airport, it only takes about 1.5 hours and costs around £50 without luggage. Puerto Escondido is a small airport, as soon as you step outside, taxis are available. They are a little more expensive than what you pay outside of the airport but that is to be expected.
Best time to visit Puerto Escondido: I have visited in October – November, January – May. It was around 30 degrees everyday, quite humid but you get used to it. The rainy season is from May – October so you may want to avoid this time and it gets even hotter!
Local Hospital: Hospital Ángel del Mar. I have been here and can confirm the facilities are good, you can even whatsapp them to book an appointment. There are a few other hospitals but I personally haven’t been to them. As with anything like this, always do your research.
Mexican sim card: I used Telcel and this gave me great coverage across all the places I visited in Mexico, including good 4G coverage in Puerto Escondidio. You’ll need to find a phone shop and take your passport with you, they will set everything up. You can top either online through the Telcel website or go back to the shop. When I’m travelling I tend to buy Internet only packages.
Getting around Puerto Escondido: There is no Uber but Taxis are readily available, however my preferred method of transport is scooter. I always rent from Dorados Scooter Rental Puerto Escondido. You can walk to places but as it’s very hot and humid I wouldn’t recommend this.

Where To Stay In Puerto Escondido As A Digital Nomad

Depending on the vibe you are looking for there are a few different spots you can consider:
– La Punta Zicatela is a lively area with more hostel options and tonnes of cool, quirky cafes and restaurants. It’s a great place to start if you are travelling on your own and want to meet people. It does get very busy there and is slightly more expensive due to it being more touristy. If you are looking for great surfing and parties, this is the perfect spot.
– Brisas De Zicatela/Playa Zicatela is another great area that has plenty to do, the beach feels more quiet compared to La Punta and everything is easily accessible. A Selina is situated here too which is a co-living/co-working spot so great for meeting people. There are an abundance of cafes and restaurants on your doorsteps and cute shops.
– Rinconada is my favourite area to stay. It’s more quiet but has the best beaches and you can easily jump in a taxi or on your scooter to reach the livelier spots when you feel like it. Accommodation is slightly cheaper and there’s some great shared houses where you can meet likeminded people. Cafes and restaurants in the area are limited but there are enough good ones.
– Centro is good if you want to have lots of shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants around you that feel more local and authentic. I personally found Centro too noisy and compact, plus I like to be right by the beach.

My Favourite Spots In Puerto Escondido

Cafes to work from and Co-working hubs in Puerto Escondido:
– Cafe Finca Las Nieves in Zicatela, the internet is sketchy so you’ll need to tether from your phone.
– Co-work and Cafe Losodeli, there is also a hostel here if you need somewhere to stay.
– Spirulina is a great cafe to work from during the week but does get very busy at weekends. Try the pancakes!
– Elephant Garden is a cute brunch spot.
– Pauline Creative Hub is a co-working spot with a rooftop bar.
– Selina Co-work and cafe.
– Cafe choc in Rinconada is a good option for an iced coffee and catching up on emails.
– Puerto Brewing Company, I always work better after a beer or 2! No really, as well as being a great place to chill, drink and eat, it’s also a co-work space!

Best Beaches in Puerto Escondido:
– Probably the most famous beach of Puerto Escondido is Playa Carrizalillo. It’s a beautiful bay, great for surfing and sunbathing. Though it does get extremely busy and be prepared for a long walk down steep steps to get there. Go early in the mornings to avoid the crowds.
– La Coral is a beautiful secluded bay, a little tricky to get to but worth it. Drive to Playa Bacocho beach, once you are on the beach facing the sea, walk left for about 10 mins, you’ll need to climb over some rocks then you’re at a Playa Coral.
– Playa Bacocho is also a gorgeous long stretch of beach but the waves can get pretty rough. Great for an evening stroll.
– La Punta is a fun sunset spot, grab some beers or a coconut and sit amongst the crowds enjoying the view and watching the surfers.
– Playa Manzanillo is a cute cove with small waves so great for swimming and snorkelling!

Restaurants to try in Puerto Escondido:
– La Olita, Zicatela for delicious Mezcalitas and vegan tacos.
– When you need a break from Mexican food, try Rabbit Wok.
– Head to Los Alebrijes on a Sunday night for live music with the owner and her friends taking centre stage, but feel free to join in! They have a few instruments you can play too.
– There’s a few El Cafecito’s dotted around that are perfect for when you want to grab a quick bite.
– Pepe’s fish tacos for authentic and cheap Mexican tacos.
– Alivo in La Punta to get your Italian fix.
– Savanna is a great place to watch the surfers and sunset whilst drinking a cold beer.
– Espacio Cometa in La Punta has lots of pop up food huts with a bar, also a great place to meet fellow nomads.
This only scratches the surface for great restaurants in Puerto Escondido. I am vegetarian and never had a problem finding good vegetarian/vegan food here.

My favourite Beach club in Puerto Escondido:
I don’t want to tell people about El Origin beach club because it’s so special and mostly unknown at the moment. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride to get there but 100% worth it. El Origen is a small beach club situated on a big secluded beach. You can sit and watch the rays jumping out of the water whilst the sun goes down and sipping on a Pina Colada. It’s only a small beach club so you’ll need to book ahead which you can do via whatsapp.

Supermarkets/Food stores across Puerto Escondido: If you plan on cooking at home or just fancy a snack, these are some great options for food shopping and supermarkets in Puerto Escondido.
– Chedraui supermarket has everything you need to get you set up.
– If you’re looking for more locally sourced food, try Verde Puerto Rinconada. They have a farm where all their produce is grown and you can even book a tour of their farm! It’s quite small but they have lots of good options.
– Canela is a health food store, so a little more on the expensive side but lots of great natural products.
– Moringa Fresh and Wild in La Punta sells lots of vegan products, you have to try their vegan cheesecake!
– Mercado de Zicatela is situated just off the highway so it’s easily accessible wherever you are. It has lots of restaurants as well as food stalls and shops. There’s even a sewing shop here where I got my bag fixed!

Things To Do In Puerto Escondido

You will never run out of things to do in Puerto Escondido:
– Baby Turtle release on Playa Bacocho, you walk onto the beach and you’ll see the hut set up, it costs around 50 pesos.

– Turtle Nesting (seasonal, I went in November) is an incredible experience. You can watch 1000s of turtles come onto the beach, dig their nest, lay their eggs and then go back into the sea. I have never witnessed anything like it. You’ll need to go with a guide to do this. More information here.

– Surfing and surf lessons are easily available across all of Puerto Escondido.
– Spanish lessons
– Sunset Yoga class is always a beautiful way to finish the day, you can find plenty across Puerto Escondido
– Snorkelling tours are available but if you have your own gear you can go by yourself. Go to Puerto Angelito, turn left on the beach and walk 5 mins to Playa Manzanillo, as soon as you go underwater you’ll see fish, coral, rays and turtles!
– Whale and Dolphin watching (seasonal, I went in January and February) this was one of the best experiences of my life. There’s no guarantee what you’ll see and it depends on the time of year. I went twice and the first time was amazing. We saw whale after whale and we even swam with Dolphins! The second time we didn’t see anywhere near as much, but it’s still nice to be out on the water during sunrise. Go to Puerto Angelito to book a tour. It costs around 500 pesos per person but this depends on your group size.
– Kayaking / SUP is available at the Bioluminiscencia Laguna Manialtepec and is worth going to just to see the pure beauty of this lake. It’s also the warmest lake I have ever swam in! They do tours that will collect you from your hostel/AirBnb.

– Boxing classes to stay fit. I started weekly boxing lessons during my travels and met my favourite Mexican friend and boxing trainer, Azael. He would bring fruit to our lessons or we would go for a beer afterwards. Genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met and I highly recommend booking a class with him. Click here for Azael’s details.

– Day trips to Mazunte which is another small beach town good for surf and a nice change of scenery. You can either get a taxi, bus or drive yourself by scooter. Next to Mazunte is a Crocodile tour at Laguna Ventanilla.
– Ping pong and snooker bars in Zicatela for fun nights out with your new friends.

Is Puerto Escondido Safe For Female Travellers?

As with anywhere in the world, you always have to be careful and make smart decisions about your safety. In general, I always felt safe in Puerto Escondido. I have walked home on my own at night but only if I knew the area and it was well lit. I also met plenty of other female travellers that haven’t had a bad experience, but you do hear stories. Here’s some advice:
– Don’t go onto the beach alone at night.
– As with anywhere in the world, be wary of who you trust.
– ALWAYS wear your helmet when on a scooter, for safety reasons and you don’t want to get pulled over by the Mexican police.
– Don’t drink the tap water!

I loved my time in Puerto Escondido! And once you are settled in, it will feel like a home away from home and you’ll get to experience how much this place has to offer. If you have any questions about Puerto Escondido, please drop them in the comments and I will reply.

Amber x

Not sure what you need to pack as a Digital Nomad? Read my post Tried And Tested Travel Essentials For A Digital Nomad.