Baby + Puerto Escondido

the actual life · field notes

Puerto Escondido with a baby:
what we learned

Puerto Escondido is known for surfing, not strollers. We learned that the hard way — and we'd still do it again.

JUN 5 · WRITTEN BY ELAINE CORDOVA

FILED UNDER: TRAVEL WITH KIDS READ TIME: 4 MIN LOCATION: OAXACA, MX

Everyone told us Puerto Escondido was a surf town. What they didn't mention is what that means once you're there with a baby, a dog, and none of the built-in conveniences a bigger destination hands you. Here's what we wish we knew going in.

Book near a supermarket

With a baby, you're not "grabbing food whenever." You need easy access to snacks, water, and emergency supplies. Proximity to a market saved us more than once.

Get AC — seriously

We didn't. Emmy got heat rash. We got no sleep. If you're traveling with a little one, this isn't the place to rough it.

A vehicle changes everything

We rented a four-wheeler and it became our favorite part of the trip. Emmy in her carrier, Cali in hers strapped to the front — as long as you're safe, it opens up the whole area and makes logistics so much easier.

Know the beaches before you book

Most beaches here have intense waves — great for surfers, not for babies. There's really only one baby-friendly beach with smaller waves. If beach days are your priority, stay close to that one.

Keep expectations loose

We expected full beach days every day. Reality was different — the waves, the heat, the logistics. But here's what we learned: it's really about what you make of it. Nothing went as planned, and it still turned into one of our favorite stories.

You can do hard things — and sometimes the hardest trips teach you the most.

The takeaway

Traveling with a baby is a different game. It asks more of you — more planning, more patience, more letting go of the version of the trip you pictured. But it's still worth it, and it's still one of ours.

FROM elsewhere together — family travel, told straight.