Hey, I guess the new server means new threads - and we have to start all over again - describing the beautiful beaches of Qaxaca state. We are leaving tonight (can't wait!!) for 10 days once again visiting in Pto Angel. Will report latest news/info on our return.
Now is the time to vote for where the best prepared "Catch of the Day" can be found??
Hey Howlin, I won't be far behind you, I leave next week for my 5th visit. I usually stay at the Capy, good folks and a great resaurant. There's a place I like to go to the left of the pier that has great red snapper. I also like Casa El Faro for a great margaritta. Look me up while in P.A. Hasta, gary
How about Beto's? Or if you include Zipolite, Huachinango a la parilla (charbroiled red snapper) at La Choza in the Roca Blanca section...
The woman at the Alta Mira, whose name I've already forgotten (sigh) makes a wonderful tuna. She cooks it (or whatever the fresh catch is) in several styles, which I've also forgotten the names of, but they're worth the walk up the hill...so is the view from your table if you go when it's still light
Is this place still there? Has anyone stayed there? How much are hammocks going for these days?
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Right off the Puerto Angel beach!!
When I was last there, if you caught the fishermen unloading tuna off the boats in the morning you could buy a huge beautiful fish for 50 pesos right on the spot. We would take them to back to zipolite, stuff them full of veggies, wrap them in foil and drop them on a campfire. flip it over after 20 minutes, and then 20 minutes more and you had enough of the best tasting fish youve ever eaten to feed 15 people!!
Have the taxi wars stopped, or is it still off in Zipolite and wait for another ride?
Still going on I´m afraid.
We just got home from our fabulous trip last night. I can't believe the rain, cold and darkness we came back to. I'd have to say my favourite dinner in PA was the tuna veracruziana at Rincon del Mar. Great margarittas too and that view....!!!
Betos was also outstanding topped with the Mezcal they gave us "on the house".!
Beto's Why aren't I there now?
Same as me, JoAnn - "Si es mi suerte, que puedo hacer?" That and the necessity of working for a living. But to get a yellowfin fresh off the boat about 10am; cut off a chunk and start slicing it paper-thin; maybe a little sticky rice and seaweed wrap; a bit of wasabi - no need for flame nor heat!
The is a real problem for PA but drivers with empty cars or pick ups would stop and offer rides when they spotted us walking along the road from Zip to PA. Also collectivos will occasionally drop you off in PA. I think that was always towards the end of the day and they were stopped for passengers at the east end of Zip.
Beto's gets my vote as well. You can't beat the hospitality and the 'on the house' mezcal as well......three weeks, 3 days and 12 hours but, who is counting?
I'll be in Pto Angel for the 5th time w friends Feb. 21-25th. Love the place, but I get antsy quicker than they do, so I've been wondering about renting a moped to tour around in. Y'all think it's a reasonable idea? Yes? Maybe? No? Hell no?
If so, would I have to rent one in Huatulco or think I could rent one someplace in Pochutla or PA ?
G'ahead - I read this site daily. I'm ready for the smart-ass responses along with the incredibly insightful and warm-hearted ones... :-)
and get ready ... I'll have a million more q's in the days to come ...
Hi everyone!
I can't find the way to access the old comments that were entered on the Puerto Angel site in 2001, 2002 and the first days of January 2003. Anybody knows? Thanks.
Any runners going to PA? I'm looking for some people to run with on the week of Feb 24th, short or long distance (5 to 20 klms). I am not sure how my body will adapt from winter running in Canada to the heat of the tropics but, I'm willing to try. I guess it will be more of a problem coming back......
I love the view on a moon-lit calm night at Beto's , eating fabulous garlic tuna, and watching the few local people down below on the street. Even made it down the multitude of stairs after downing a couple margaritas! Beto's had an arbor of Luffa sponges the size I have never seen before growing on the doorway arbor.
There is another great place to eat up the street from the cemetery. Can't remember the name....Pappy's ?????.....I don't think that is right. They are known for superb Italian spaghetti and their Tuna is fantastic too. Climb the stairs and the roof-top view is superb.
A few years ago I went fishing in Zihautenjo with a local fisherman, ran into a school of Tuna, must have caught at least 30, my arms were so tired from pulling them in, gave them to the market, saved 1 and asked the kitchen at Rosie's where I was staying if they could make ceviche. They made a quick version, lime etc. and it was out of this world, a giant ceviche Tuna on a platter. This French lady was magnetized right to us..."you have absolutely the best meal in the world, can I share it with you?" The 3 of us couldn't even finish it all. She loved Mexico and wanted to retire there but kept saying, It doesn't seem to function here." And, that is what is so great, I say...go where it doesn't function.
John, I'm leaving next week for a week in Florida, visiting relatives!!!! Going to the Keys for a few days .I'm going to join in with the "falling asleep at the stop light group". Guess I'm getting that age! Oh, I have to get to Mexico sometime this winter...or summer... John, you have such a short drive down from Ok, ya know!!!
Have a great vacation MTPockets. You went last year about this time, didn't you?
JoAnn, just moved out of OK and back to Austin, cutting about 425 miles off the trip to the border - but the job change probably has me locked down 'til MAY, dammit! But THIS time, just a few nights in R Conejos luxury - I need some serious small-town-"no-hay-cambio"-on-a-rope-beneath-a-panga-diving-in-a-school-of-fish-"dos-más-té-helados" time. I'm thinking that if I get a nice yellow-fin I might schlep it up to Alberca Paraiso near Chacalapa and have them do half ceviche with the limes from one of their trees and the other half "al mojo de ajo", broiled in garlic butter. I hope I can find some folks down about the same time to ride up there with me.
Make sure you read a couple of Lawrence Shames' detective novels before you get down to Key West. It'll get your mood right!
MT, download the Puerto Angel street map and circle up the hillside through town. I walk, not run, but used to LOVE it about 2 or 3 am when NOBODY - hardly - was awake. Careful on the road to Zipolite, especially at night. You know the reasons.
John
Running at 2 or 3 am? I am an early riser but, not that early. I tried running at the first light of dawn a couple of times but, I attracted the curiousity of the local canine population. Walking doesn't get their attention but, running seems to agitate them and of course almost all dogs are not leashed.
The road to Mazunte and back would be a great run first thing in the morning but with one or two others - safety in numbers and all. My thinking also is that running clothes don't conceal much and the bad guys can see that.
B road daylight the road will be cool even if you're all by yourself. All the way to Mazunte? In the sun? You da MAN!
JoAnn
Thanks. I was there twice last year, December by myself and February with my wife and 3 friends.
This year we are arriving in DF on Feb 17th and taking about a week to get to PA, via Cuernavaca, Taxco, Acapulco, and Puerto Escondido. That will give us about 5 -7 days in the PA area - saving the R&R time for the last.
Hi John
Thanks for the advise. It should be toasty running but, I could take a quick refreshing dip along the way. I ran a half marathon (21.1k) in similar weather last year - high 80s with humidity. It wasn't easy but I did it. Tonight my running group is doing a 10k and we expect an balmy -20c to great us - yahoo, ya gotta love those Ottawa winters.
If anyone is in PA over the next couple of weeks and dropping into Beto's place, could you ask if he has the latest Santana CD. He is a big fan and if he hasn't got a copy yet, I'll like to pick one up for him.
I have put the 2001-2002 comments at
<http://www.tomzap.com/comments_angel2002.html>
Take it along, MT. If he already has it, maybe the collection at Bar La Puesta needs it!
Think I lost my last post. Guess we need to put in our name each time.
I'll read the book when I get back, John. Thanks. If my last post doesn't show up, I'll write it again. This is only a test. Repeat..this is o
Yep, dayam, as John would say, I lost my long commentary! (Shortened) If anyone has an expired travel voucher from an airline don't pitch it. I received one from AA in 2000 for $250 after a trip to Belize and never noticed an expiration date at that time. It was valid for one year! I asked AA if they would still honor it when buying tickets last week. AA took $150 off my ticket. I like those people!
John, do you still work for AA?
Sounds like a great trip! You're really going to be moving around. Are you driving a car or taking buses? They make all the silver jewelry in Taxco, don't they? My husband and I are heading to Key West to visit relatives... then he wants to snowmobile in West Yellowstone, this is getting too wierd for me! I like the park, but roaring through a herd of buffalo or elk isn't the tranquility I'm looking for. At least the Griz will be hibernating. I think that snowmobiling thing is because we haven't had a flake of snow here in Wisconsin until TODAY. The Mexican sounds, smells and sun are pulling at me.
Hey Michael....great questions. But, I really don't know the answers. I would think you could rent one in Pochutla and drive it to PA and up the coast to Zipolite. Watch out for the potholes though and the pigs that live under the culvert in PA.
Wow. A map of Puerto Angel. how cool is that? I don't run, but I love to explore urban jungles, had never seen the city map on Tomzap ... amazing how empowering a map can be ... thanks, guys.
Yes, it should be a good trip. We are taking the buses. I don't think there is a better way to see Mexico and have someone else do the driving. We are starting right at the DF airport to Cuernavaca - which is a short trip.
Taxco was one of the original mining sites started by the Spanish. I think I read that there are appoxiamately 300 silver shops in Taxco.
Your vacations sounds like quite an adventure, the Keys and then snowmobiling in Yellowstone. I don't know what to say about that. I am sure the scenery is spectacular and a snowmobile is a great way to get aroound.
No snow in Wisconsin? Wow! Don't you usually have a tougher winter than eastern Canada? We are having an average winter with regards to snowfall. I like the winter and being outside, skiing and stuff but by mid February, a dose of hot weather is something we look forward to. Mexico is just what the doctor ordered - as you well know.
Yes, It is still there as of last week!! (Just got back). It is located at the beginning of San Agustinillo beach. I don't know if they rent hammocks, but don't be afraid to drop in and ask; they are very friendly.
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Trip Report - January - Oaxaca/Pto Angel
Well, we've returned to the rainy NW coast after another gorgeous 2 weeks in Oaxaca State.
Arrived in Mexico City DF airport, International arrivals and departures are at the one end of the terminal (gates D, E and F I believe) and Domestic arrivals and departures are at the other (A, B and C). There is a large "food fair" and shops upstairs from the middle of the terminal. A number of ATM machines are available as well as currency exchanges.
Got on a Mexican flight to Oaxaca, spent a number of days there, then caught the mini-van to Pochutla and taxied to Pto Angel.
Caught the mini-van bus at 7:00 am from 101 Noria street in Oaxaca. We believe for 120 pesos it was a very good deal, comfortable and fairly quick (5.5 hours to Pochutla). Although there were many winding turns we didn't encounter the discomfort or sickness that has previously been described about the trip. I do believe it is best to take an early morning departure and get seats near the front row if at all possible. Take "Gravol" (dramamine) if you have a queasy stomach. Seats are allocated on a first-come first-served basis though - so book early! (We booked the day before).
One thing that was odd on our trip was that our drivers stop for lunch in the mountains at some rather decrepit tin huts and yet 20 minutes later we passed the hotel and restaurant at San Jose del Pacifico..?? Perhaps he got a better kickback from the people who own the huts, who knows.
Anyway, we arrived safely in Pochutla and got a collectivo on to Pto Angel.
Puerto Angel and the beaches:
We stayed in our friends' guesthouse in PA. It is surely the absolutely best location in the town, walk on to the beach, fabulous views, quiet and secure. We had a room with private bath and fully equipped kitchenette, fridge stocked with oranges for juicing, fresh water and our own rooftop terrace with hammocks overlooking the entire bay!! Our hostess took us on a tour of a couple of the beaches a little further away where we had a fantastic lunch and great snorkelling and body surfing. They're very discriminating on guests, but if you contact me I'll forward your address.
Once again we booked Byron's "Aventura Boat tours", did some fantastic snorkelling, fishing and visited 3 beaches. One of his helpers dove into the water and caught and held a turtle long enough for us to get a couple of photos, before releasing it unharmed to swim along on its way.
One big thing I noticed this time is that the camionetas (inexpensive, open pick-up trucks) are no longer running between Pto Angel and Zipolite; you must take a collectivo taxi for 30 pesos (2 people 15 pesos each, 4 people 8 pesos each).
Loved the views and the beaches as always. Stopped in and visited Ana and Jeff at their 'Posada Dona Sol' in SA. Visited Zipolite, San Agustinillo (love that beach!!!) as well as Huatulco and San Agustin.
We ate at Capy's (our personal favourite), Beto's (love that free Mescal shooter after dinner!) and lots of beach-front palapas. The Estachuite beach palapa restaurant was especially good. Fresh grilled fish, camarones, rice and cervezas - mmmm.
Awesome tanning, dining, snorkelling and body-surfing, what else could you hope for in a vacation? Already I'm looking forward to next year!!!!
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Does anyone have the address to send an email for Posada Canyon? Last year's address seems doesn't seem to be working.
Thanks.
Greg
I think you need to call them. I am going down Friday the 7th.
Let me know if I can help.
gg
We're getting snow today in Wisconsin, lots of snow in fact! The first this winter. The trees are drooping with it and there's more to come this weekend.
John, they definately have you working too much! Where is all your travel commentary and wonderful insight to help your fellow man?
Thx for the offer. I'll dig up an old card and try my luck. Looks like you may be from chicago as are we. We'll be arriving at the Posada 2/8 for 10 days. Perhaps our paths will cross.
greg
Ask me a question, ask me a question! I'll wax overlong and fully irritate those who find me a "pedandic boor", I believe was the phrase!
Snow. Let's see, that's the stuff that's the color of the sand on Playa Panteon but of a temperature not hospitable to man nor beast, right?
I am certain our paths will cross. The number I have is
011.52.958.4.3137. They answer the phone at 10am and 6 pm.
My phone is 708.383.7234 if you need any other help.
I will most likely see Mateo on Friday afternoon.
I doubt the hotel is full. It is just a matter of room preference.
gg
Exactly right, although it is 33 degrees today. That's a heat wave for here! I'm going to build a snowman today while the snow is moist before we're hit with the blizzard later tonight. Can't remember the last snowman I built. My snowman is going to be covered with goodies for the pheasants and deer, in other words...baiting for viewing pleasure. It's obvious that I need a vacation, eh?
OK - Is this blasphemous?: Could we rent a VCR or TV-VCR combination anywhere in Puerto Angel and rent any (English-speaking) videos in Pto. Angel?
Hardware would be difficult. Buy a cheap 9-13" with built-in VCR and carry it along. When you go home, you can trade it - fishing time from your favorite lanchero; nights of accomodation; a gift to someone you truly want to be remembered by; etc. Video rentals are easy to come by, especially in Pochutla. MOST are Spanish-subtitled mainstream US movies. If they say "Traducución" anywhere in print on the box, it's been over-dubbed and you won't understand it.
One of my _least_ favorite memories of our stay in Zipolite is the couple in the room next to ours who could find nothing better to do on their holiday in paradise than to watch TV on the little portable they'd brought along. Sound carries amazingly well through those open windows, plywood walls and palm frond ceilings. So yes, in my opinion, since you asked, it is "blasphemous." You can watch movies any time at home. Go to Puerto Angel to get a taste of a _different_ way of enjoying yourself, one that doesn't depend on some media conglomerate's idea of entertainment.
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Heading down to the pier in the evening to watch the moon and water and enjoy the local culture is more entertaining than any movie I've ever watched!
This came up on our intranet site at work. Obviously it dosn't apply to PA but for anyone heading further east/south I guess this would be a heads up. Does anyone know what is behind these incidents?
Mexico Public Announcement
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 31, 2003
This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the need
for caution when traveling in the State of Chiapas. It expires on May 29,
2003.
There have recently been disturbing incidents involving violence and threats
of violence against foreigners and establishments catering to foreign
tourists in remote areas. In many parts of Chiapas, there is no effective
law enforcement or police protection. U.S. citizens should avoid traveling
in the areas where disputes are known to be ongoing, including rural areas
east of Ocosingo, and the entire southeastern jungle portion of the State to
the east of Comitan.
For further information on security conditions in Chiapas and elsewhere in
Mexico, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information
Sheet and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, available at
http://travel.state.gov. Information regarding safety and security is also
available from the U.S. Embassy, located in Mexico City at Paseo de la
Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc. The Embassy's telephone from the United
States is 011-52-55-5080-2000. The number from within Mexico City is
5080-2000 and from other parts of Mexico is 01-5080-2000. Inquiries may
also be sent to the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx.
JoAnn
We are in the same heat wave here JoAnn. It was 32 yesterday or 0 C. That is a break from the minus 30 c we had here last week. Strange weather indeed in these parts. It will be a plus 4c tomorrow and on Thursday night it will drop to -34. Imagine how warm PA is going to feel after that?
Any info needed or comments appreciated...
Hey, Howlin', I really enjoyed your post and commented on the Oaxaca section. Was saving further comments for the pictures you're about to give us a link to...
Ongoing and escalating resistance by indigenous people to the Corporate Empire and its manifestations (e.g. tourism) is probably what's behind it.
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Great trip report, Howlin. Makes me feel homesick and I've only been there once. I'm glad you mentioned Capy's. I couldn't remember the name. Fantastic food and views at Beto's and Capy's .
It looks like the temp in PA is in the low 90's. Unbelievable! Had 3 more inches of snow here last night, am leaving for Key West next week. I know its' not going to be that warm there and I'm sure I'll be checking airfare to PA really, really soon.
I always learn new words from you,John. I have to look up "pedandic"...never heard it before. Let me think....questions.....When you were in PA last year did you see the oil paintings at Tio Chili's that Eva was doing? I was thrilled to see a self taught artist taking the time to do some very large canvas's. Hope Eva keeps painting.
I DID see Eva's work. She puts a lot of herself, her soul into those works. I sure wish she'd take them over to the zocalo in La Crucecita when they have one of their periodic art shows and sales. I'd like to see her get wider exposure to perhaps a little more affluent group of potential buyers.
That whole family is SO very talented in so many different ways...
I´m down here now and would love to see her work. Where in Puerto Angel is Tio Chili´s?
Joan, as you make the 90 degree curve in front of the pier in Puerto Angel, heading towards Pochutla, look to your right. It is past the Capitán del Puerto, past the Post Office, and past the telegraph office. It's right accross from an intersecting street by the fishermen's cooperativo. It's a small whitewashed building and usually has a table of fruits and veggies with a scale in front of one of the doorways. The natriarch is named Eva, but the paintings are done by her younger daughter, also named Eva. The older daughter is names Pati, as is the younger Eva's oldest child. The confusion clears up quickly. Pati and Eva's younger brother, Freddie, will help straighhten it out for you. Eva has a couple of younger kids under foot, but they make up for it by being really cute. Plus there's a whole cast of local characters in and out of the place all day. You can learn more about Puerto Angel sitting in front of a fan in Tío Chilo's than just about anywhere else I know.
Hi John; Sorry I didn't reply earlier - already back hard at the gig and working like a dawg!! (Wish I was still on the rooftop of my friends cabana draining a cerveza while overlooking the bay of Pto Angel.!!) Anyway, I don't have any pictures on my web-site from this year yet, but I do have pics from 2 yrs ago ...
...http://www3.telus.net/howlin/travels.htm
Regards
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hello all, well here goes, hope that you all can relate.........
we arrived by cab from crucecita to scoup out this place, the cab brought us to the beach with the graveyard on the hillside..... as the cab arrived at the end of the road, even before the driver could stop, we had three persons trying to get us to come to their restaurants. Grabbing at the doors and as we exited the cab grabbing at our packs.
We let one of them have at it and kind of threw our hands in the air not knowing what was what... very confusing. We had breakfast, eggs mexicana, toast and tortias. tea with lemon.... didn't want the beans, not very appitizing to us.
The waiter was very nice and he took the extra time to make sure that what we ordered was what he would bring us, bless him....... i was feeling a bit fluish sneezing lots and headachey.... the hotel we were staying was on a busy street in crucecitas residential section many dogs and roosters... not saying anything neg about them, just that this one tiny dog that wouldn't stop.... then it got the geese going.........
anyway.... we hung around puerto angel for a while and walked about but found nothing interesting in the village or the beach that really stood out.... the village seemed to be geared for local use only and we felt very out of place walking around. The beach is chairs only, no hammocks and we were not at all comfortable relaxing there.
The hotels were very cheap and only minutes to zipolite beach so we thought, what the hey, stay there for a few days and check out the turtle museun, (lol.... i'll save that for another day) mazunte, pochutla and we were closer to puerto escondido which was our next destination..... found a nice cheap place to stay 150 pesos a night, nice view.......
after securing the room we headed back to crucecita to spend our last night there and in the morning headed out to the hotel in puerto angel..... after checking in and unpacking we changed into our beach wear shorts nice shirt sunglasses and ball caps..... we walked down to the beach, but this time took the walkway along the shoreline.
as we entered the restaurant zone on the beach, again we were met with a number of people all wanting us to eat at there places.... same thing threw our hands in the air and let the most aggresive one lead the way..... same restaurant.... we wanted to just relax by the water and do a bit of reading and catch up on some letter writing before we ate, not really too impressed up to this point
i was feeling a bit under the weather with a stuffy head and a bit of a headache from lack of sleep the night before, dogs barking all night kept me up most of the night......
i ordered a pop and was going to order a tea with lemon but i was distracted by the federal police walking along the shore line, very disturbing seeing these 5 persons all in black carrying m16s and shotguns within 30feet of the beach chairs......
anyway, turn around and the waters gone.... brings 2 pop so i ask him for some glasses with ice... not afraid of the ice, (just the ice handler you should concern yourself).... then he comes with one glass with ice..... well ok..... all is well and we decide to eat and then head out to zipolite
they have hammocks that you can relax under to do some reading and writing and search for that perfect tan......
ok, so we ask to see the menu..... order eggs a la mexicana with rice and tortias toast and jam no beans please....... (it's all good except i look back and should have got him to run the order back to me)......... anyway..... dosent take long to come, just as long as would take to fry some french fries because thats what came.
order of french fries eggs a la mexicana with beans no rice no toast and no tortias........ lost it...... told him see ya, heres for the pop..... some load mouth trys to come to the rescue... i'm not havin any more of it. i'm stressed to the max
stayed for three days, checked out the beaches and the area.... its all good just that puerto angel... to me the beach, was a very intimidating adventure....
nice quiet hotel, roosters in the morning but no dogs all night, got some good nights sleep and mucho camomile tea with lemon and honey....... anyways i did go back to the restaurant the next day to say sorry but damage was already done by this loudmouth drunk that goes down and picks puerto angel as his kingdom.....
i think it all would have been good but for his influence...... intimitating is what it was, but there were some good people that took care for our well being..... even with all that said the beach with the graveyard did not have anything for us in the first place we enjoyed the hotel the people the bbq chicken the restaurants in the village and the ice cream at the main beach... the internet and all of it.
thanks for your time :)
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Thanks for an honest report. After more than 30 years of visiting Puerto Angel and Zipolite, I guess I've just grown accustomed to the patrols from the Navy base between the beaches in PA and the Army base in Zipolite. Takes a while to learn which restaurants as well. Of which restaurants are we speaking, anyway?
the one in town was across from the internet shop.... they had good icecream and the bbq chicken we ate was from a roadside grill just up the hill from there.... it was all good..... the one we first encountered was at the end of the road, bottom of the hill from the hotel we stayed for the three days.... never caught the name of that restaurant.......
the police were more distracting from the beauty of the place than anything else and I was more confused as to why they would be there in those numbers and carrying that artillery so near folks on vacation........ funny that we never saw one police at zipolite...
not that we were looking for them... just that if they were there they kept a lower profile... we were warned that zipolite was for crackheads and junkies... we walked up and down that beach played in the waves and ate at the beach restaurants... had a geat time and never saw one crackhead or junky.... i doubt very much i could tell the diff anyways......
a few pot heads and new age hippies lots of students and some very lovely girls... we were even offered a toke but that's not for us.... we are tolerant but we don't partake......
we had a very relaxing couple days at zipolite, read a book and caught up on some letter writing.... got drunk.... went up to pochutla on market day had some coffee at a cafe and bought tamales from the street stands... couple chicken and a couple iguana ones..... the chicken was good but the iguana was a little strong, good but a little strong.
the food was good we pigged out all day walking throught the market on market day.... very enjoyable in pochutla we spent the day walking around.... found out where to catch the bus to puerto escondido made a call back home then headed back to the hotel in puerto angel with some pollo para llevar and a six pack of sol..... never went back to that restaurant so can't tell you the name but karma will remember when she gets around to it......
Well, what you saw on the beach in Puerto Angel was Naval police. The Sector Naval base sits right accross the walkway along the rocks from Playa Panteón ( Panteón means graveyard), over on the edge of Playa Principal. The presense on the beach usually varies during the "training cycle', but nearly all of the sailors I've ever spokem with there in Puerto Angel are great folks themselves. The presence of armed military among the populace has been pretty firmly established in Mexico for decades if not longer. One of the two, uh, supermarkets, if I can stretch the word a little, is run by the navy.
And while there have been crackheads and junkies in Zipolite, they rarely last for long there, especially if the become a major nuisance. The unsavory side was greatly exagerated. And you would find virtually none of that feel if you explore a little further down the beach, towards San Augustinillo and Mazunte. Maybe next time you're down, you can try them.
hmm... i'm sure they were federal police, at least that's what was written on the backs of their black t-shirts.... i don't know, not that it was an issue anyway, only that their presence distracted me before i had a chance to order some tea with lemon.... got 2 squirts instead.
zipolite was a good beach to relax in a hammock, never saw millitary or any police..... i agree that the unsavory side is probably greatly exagerated... i would perfer them to the foul mouth drunk we encountered at playa panteon... could it be that zipolite has more to offer to those searching for the perfect tan... makes one wonder.
puerto angel was good from which to explore the area, hotels were cheap and all.... it was all good.
playa panteon was in my opinion.. a tourist trap.. and we got that impression right off because of the way the folks from the restaurants aggresivelly pulled at the door of the taxi even before we had stopped.... we had a good meal there while looking for a hotel and deceided to go back for a quick bite the next day before heading off to zipolite.... what can i say.... i didn't care much for playa panteon it had nothing for us.... we did have breakfast there the one day and it was good, cheap and we got what we ordered......
playa principal also had no hammocks.... we had an icecream on the pier and walked along the shore it was all good but we found zipolite a far better place to sun and snooze...... muy tranquillo
would i go back to puerto angel..... probably not... not geared for tourists in my opinion, locals or folks that have a guide along to keep the aggressive people at bay are better suited for puerto angel... we were looking for the perfect tan and snoozing under a palapa in a hammock.... it wasn't at playa panteon or playa principal.
I get a different impression about Playa Panteon. There may have been federales but I agree that they were more likely Naval Police. I remember one New Years Day when a squad from the barracks, which used to be right across the street from the base, formed up with a band and in full dress whites. The officer in charge was carrying a large white cake that they ceremoniously walked away with. Several times I watched the soldiers who were stationed by the barracks standing inside the pillbox with full uniform and rifle slung over their shoulder feeding parakeets that flocked around them. Just after the uprising in Chiapas, I was there for another New Years and the Navy was on full alert on New Years Day which meant that there were two empty oil drums with a two by four across them for a barrier. My point is that the Navy presence there is absolutely harmless. There are "greeters" who want to get you to their restaurant, but they are not nearly as aggressive as those I ran into when I went to Huatulco. I wouldn't go back to Huatulco if you paid me. I agree with the other poster that the very best beach is San Agustinillo with Mazunte a distant second. You don't mention your age, but I get the impression you are fairly young. Puerto Angel is more geared to Mexicans on vacation and geezers like us that enjoy a very tranquil atmosphere. Sorry about the drunk.
no sweat on the drunk....i am young at heart and old enough to know better than argue with a drunk who thinks he's the playa panteon guru.... had we of met on a level playing field i would have shown him little rocks up close.....
unless the navy police are dressed all in black and have federal police on the backs of their t-shirts then i guess that was the navy police, but i've seen the navy police in other places and they are were dressed all in white.... this may be different in puerto angel, i don't know.....
huatulco was ok, we went to playa la entrega and swam there... the restaurant we were at strung out a hammock for me, they did a good job of making us feel at home..... plus we met a guardian angel there... we didn't know at the time but we found out later at puerto angel when we needed a friend....
anyway.... yea, i have to agree with you on the greeters though, it wasn't something i was prepared for, and it most definately was a turn off.
Puerto Angel is a sleeply little fishing village with a naval base. The beaches really are not ideal for tourism by any stretch of the imagination - with the lovely exception of Ixtacahuite or Ecstacahuite or any of several other spellings, but the beach off the road as you go north out of town. A little harder to get to, but worth it. I've found Puerto Angel a great base of operations as the hotels are reasonable and the food is MUCH cheaper than Zipolite or Mazunte of just about anyplace else you could name along the coast. And some of the eateries are damned good! Gawd, what I wouldn't give for an ensalada atún from Betos right now... In my case, I also have 30 years of personal relationships with some of the people there. But discounting that factor, Puerto Angel is NOT the place to vegetate. You need to be mobile, to be able to run down to San Augustinillo or out to Tonameca or over to La Ventanilla. Or hire a boat to go snorkel La Tijera. If you're going to stay put, then San Augustinillo or Mazunte or even Zipolite would be a better choice.
The navy moved last summer. the base is empty.
gg
we liked puerto angel also for that reason... very central to all the beaches and the air seemed so fresh and clean there...... not steamy hot..... market day at pochutla was great too... but it was very hot and very crowded.. we were surprised at how big pochutla actually was.... all in all we enjoyed puerto angel and pochutla but found puerto escondido more to our liking.... if we were to return to oaxacas coast, puerto escondido would be the place we would return to.
actually we found the prices for meals better in puerto escondido and there was more of a variety than in puerto angel or huatulco.... just to give you an example we had burgers.. patty was about 1/2" thick with tomatoes lettuce and pickle on a toasted bun fresh baked from the bakery next door, fries and salad for 35 pesos.... coffee was 10 pesos which included up to three refills... really good coffee..... seafood pasta with camarones, octopus and snapper in a white sause, the pasta is made fresh and the cost was 50 pesos included was garlic bread.....
comida corrida was cheap at most places 18 pesos and you could have a choice... breakfast was great... 20 pesos got you eggs al gusto with ham, bacon, sausage or mex sausage with tortias or bread... there were tamalis and tacos al pastor from the street grills for 12 pesos later on in the day.... the pozole soup was the best..... the carnitas and bbq chicken were very tastey 1/4 chicken with rice, aztec soup and tortias 15 pesos.
the budget hotels were the same price as in puerto angel 150 pesos/nite not on the beach but a short stroll away.... we even found a nice one at 100 pesos/nite, but it was up in the town and in an area with lots of dogs and roosters..... taxis also were better priced in puerto escondido and with 15 pesos you could go to any of the beaches near town.
the turtle museun at mazunte was only an hour away by bus and camioneta.... the cost was less than taking a taxi from puerto angel 60 pesos each way from puerto angel vs 25 pesos each, each way from puerto escondido....
[%sig%]
I am a little surprised by your impression of PA, uno mano solo. I arrived by car in the same spot you did and when the guys came running, I asked them to find me a good parking place and they were more then helpful. When tourists arrive in an area the local restaurant guys and beach sellers whistle back and forth to let each other know there are new people to sell to. This happens all over Mexico. A simple but firm "no gracias" is all it takes to claim your space. . After they see you around for a few days or you no longer look so white and new (suntan) they no longer bother you for business and become your friends.
I was also surprised that you felt intimidated by the military. I have always felt they were there to keep an eye on things and protect you. A few years back 3 military police were standing at the doorway to my room which was on a hillside that looked over the village of Zihautenjo. They were little fellows with very old guns and very pleasant to say hi to. We listened to them have a friendly visit between themselves for an hour or so before several shots rang out. This was 11 pm at night. Don't know what they were shooting at, probably just the sky but kept our heads down just in case. I have never felt intimidated or threatened in Mexico, but Belize City and traveling away from the resorts in the Dominican Republic are a different story.
Hey John, we just got back from Key West. Very expensive and very GAY there! The highlight of my trip was going through Hemingway's house , petting the 6-7 toed cats, crabby they are, and chatting with new friend Rooonald over a drink at Crabby Dicks. Rooonald was all decked out for Valentine's day in his red velvet cowboy hat trimmed in white rabbit fur. (Made sure I identified the new friend since my husband has the same name although he doesn't pronounce it the same way!
we got the impression the beach in puerto angel was a tourist trap for that reason joana.. aggressive greeters.... there are only 3 restaurants at that beach and we just found it to be a turn off that even before the cab had stopped they were grabbing at the doors and all.... we didn't like that, what can i say....
the beach there had nothing for us ether, i guess it would be ok to sit there and have a bite while you wait to go out in a panga or have a drink after getting back and chatting about things, but we were looking for hammocks and to lay about and do some suntanning for the day... you can't do that on playa panteon or playa principal.... they don't have hammocks or lounge chairs.
we liked zipolite for that, many of the restaurants have hammocks and lounge chairs for use.... found a nice perch on that beach and enjoyed the days there..... don't get me wrong joann... we liked puerto angel, we stayed there for 3 days and went out from there to pochutla and some of the beaches close by. zipolite has far more restaurants and we weren't inundated with greeters.... as a matter of fact there were no greeters at all.. and i doubt very much you would have had issues finding a parking spot on your own... plenty of room, not like playa panteon.
we never felt intimidated by the millitary at all joann... we never saw the millitary or the navy.... we were distracted by the federal police presence though.... there were 5 in total 3 men and 2 women all dressed in black and wearing mirrored sunglasses... black boots black t-shirts and pants and carrying m16s and shotguns... federal police in white letters on there backs.... we've never seen woman police in mexico and i guess that's what kind of got us staring off.... they got everyones attention i think, not just ours.... we didn't feel intimidated at all but later wondered why they needed that show of force on tiny playa panteon...... after hearing of the drug problems on zipolite we were more than prepared to see more police on that beach but saw none.....
Well, for those of you who ARE planning to hit Puerto Angel in the future, here's a couple of places to get a decent burger: Tío Chilo's, which is a tremendous bargain, and Luncheria Oriental in the evenings, on the corner across from the pier. The ground beef is from the better cuts and ground right in the carnericeria adjoining the market.
I am here and yes it is really really hot down here.
Business is bad for the locals so, if you are planning a trip now is a good time. They need the help. A number of businesses have closed. There are no laundry services now - for example. We arrived a Penelope´s on Sunday and we were her only guests. She was full by Monday night. She says we bring her good luck. She has been a gracious host and a wealth of info for us and the other guests.
Anyone have any requests for information while we are here let me know. I´ll do the best I can to help. I am flying out on Sunday to DF.
ps. the internet connection in PA is bad. We had to come to Pochutla to get a good link....
Hey, MT - there's a couple of laundries in Zipolite. Also, if you talk to some of the locals, they can direct you to some ladies at Tonameca who do laundry the old-fashioned way, on the rocks v=by the river...
If you are still at Penelope's MTPockets please say hello to Patricia for me. I can almost hear her saying "you bring me good luck". She is just a sweetie!
I just got back from Key West, Fl. its OK, but not Mexico. The first thing I decided when I got home was that I still need a vacation. Checked the airfares for Mexico and found a really reasonable air only flight on Funjet to Zihautenjo. Am leaving March 14 . Didn't take too much to convince my husband since he did nothing but drive in Florida . This will be our 3rd time to Zihau. Reserved a room for the first night arriving and will go it from there . Hope everyone in PA will forgive me for being a trader this year. I shall go back to PA.
My neighbor Sue and her boyfriend were just turned away at the airport (chicago, I believe) and not allowed to board the plane to Cancun because one of them had a birth certificate for identification (which probably didn't have the raised seal and was a duplicate.) I don't have the exact details because they are fairly upset about losing out on flight and all-inclusive hotel ...expensive and all paid for . They are just out. I really like my passport. The more I can fill it up the better.
Heck, the Mexican authorities won't even stamp your passport unless you ask them to. I sure wouldn't leave home without it. Been known to carry my passport about for days at a time, hoping for the unexpected!
Airline officialdom, on the other hand, can get quite persnickadie (it's easier to spell anal - can I substitute that?) about your documentation. Give some people a whiff of power... Actually, they're covering their own posteriors; if a stickler in Migración decided not to accept your paperwork, the airline would have to fly you back on the next plane out...
You're exactly right, John. I always ask them to stamp my passport in Mexico, it makes the fellows laugh. Guess my neighbors boyfriend brought along his hospital birth certificate and they didn't like that. The poor couple then decided to head up to some cabins in Minnesota for a get-together with relatives and found out they were a week early. Got caught in a blizzard and 7 inches of snow. Then she has a gall bladder attack. They say they are home...forever.
I got some good priced tickets on Funjet to Zihau for March 14th. Didn't get any sun or fun in Key West so just had to take them. Check out last minute Funjet air only to Cancun...$199 round trip from Milwaukee. Should be less for you in Texas. The way I figure even from Cancun, hop a bus down the coast and you can get to wherever you like.
You ever try to get from the NE corner of the Yucatan to the rest of Mexico? It's not easy! Besides, were I to fly into Cancún, I think I'd have to slide down to Punta Alen and maybe Laguna Bacalar; even try to find some way to get out to those great reefs off Chetumal...
John , I only got as far as Tulum on a bus. The rest of the way is that bad, eh? It's just scrub jungle down by Tulum and then I suppose you have some really empty jungle dirt roads to travel, if there are roads. Its' probably easier to get to Chetumal from Belize. A lady from Caye Caulker drives a triuck up there to buy beer and borrow the tropical plants she finds along the roadside. She had some really cool plants when she came back. Does it get a little 'rough' in Chetumal? I have that impression.
I'm at work so I'll see if this post goes through.
Actually, I like Chetumal. You don't have that safe feeling you get on the Oaxacan Pacific, but you don't have that "continual danger" feel of Belize City, either. And the road from Cancún isn't all THAT bad, compared to some I've driven!
Hi
Well, I am back home and at work...ugh...The weather over the last two weeks has been like deep winter here. I am glad I was in Mexico. The night we got back it was - 20C. It was -40 with the wind chill the previous night. Our car was at the park and fly. It was buried and wouldn't start. Cab!!!
JoAnn, I did say hi to Patricia for you. We enjoyed our stay at Casa Penelope's. The accommodations are clean and comfortable. Patricia is a great host and has a lot of good information to share. We got the scoop on a lot of local politics - gov't and business. The price for a double is 250 pesos. I considered it good value.
We had a few meals at Beto's. The huachinango was excellent. I gave Beto the new Santana CD - so for anyone going there, just ask and he'll play it for dinner. He returned the favour with a CD of three Mexican bands - Elefante, Mana, and Juanes. Pretty good stuff. Mana seems to be the most popular band.
John, we chose the sink in our room to get us through the week - rather than pound clothes on the rocks. Not much need for clothes anyway - in that heat or especially Playa Zipolite .. :>)
The water was cooler than normal. I think it had something to do with storms at sea. It did bring the fish in. Snorkeling at Panteon was poor due to a lot a wave action within the bay.
All in all, it was a great two weeks. We arrived at Mexico city at 2:30 and were on a bus to Cuernavaca by 3:00. Cuernavaca is a colonial city with sping like weather year round. There is a good market there for silver. We have been told that the prices for silver there are cheaper than Taxco. The Zocalo is fair. Some good restaurants nearby. Lots of anti big business protests going on there. There is a large grocery store (Costco) and restaurant (California) that has them upset - taking business form the locals. We stayed at the Hotel Papagayo (577 pesos with breakfast included) - good location. It has a large pool to boot. The canine chorus was minimal in that area.
Acapulco was well, ..Acapulco. We found an excellent hotel on the cliffs near the Quebrada. It was called the Los Flamingos. Our room was about 30 feet from the edge of the cliff - which had a 450 ft drop to the ocean. Great view, sunsets, and a good restaurant. You would not know to were in Acapulco - which was a plus for us. Early in the mornings whales were out in front of the hotel feeding. The hotel has a great history to it. It was a second home to Johnny Weismuller and owned by members of the Hollywood crowd for a while - including John Wayne. Other regular guests included Red Skeleton, Errol Flynn, Fred McMurray, Richard Widmark to name a few. I enjoy old movies so this was a great experience for me. I considered this place good value at 700 pesos a night - taxes are the killer in Aca. We made one trip to the zocalo to pick up advance bus tickets. We couldn't get out of their quick enough. Far too many hustlers to enjoy it.
The next stop was a couple of days at Puerto Escondido - after an 8 hour bus trip from Acapulco. Please note, there is a 5 ft deep drain at the bottom of the street below the EB terminal. If you come in at night, be careful. We almost walked into it while looking around for a cab. That would have shortened our vacation.
We stayed at the Beach Hotel Ines, across from the main surf beach. It has a great pool area and the price was good as well. I think we paid 380 for a double. The main beach is long and a good place for walks/runs. The selection of restaurants and hotels are better than PA.
Finally we made the short bus ride to Pochutla and taxi trip to PA. It was like coming home. We spent 7 restful days in PA with lots of hamaca and Zipolite/Panteon beach time. What else do you need for a good vacation?
adios
Gosh, MT, only thing that'd made that trip sound better would be having been there as well. I can feel the leg muscles tighten on the last downhill stretch to Ixtaccahuite...
First time I heard Maná, I thought I was hearing Police with Sting doing spanish language vocals! This was a LONG time ago. Then I saw the band and was comPLETEly blown away. They put on an amazing show.
I still haven't manages to see El Tri live yet; they've been rocking for about 35 years. You should hear some of THEIR stuff, sometimes. Real political, too...
I am totally ignorant of Mexican music and bands but I am now learning some thanks to travel and the internet. So have you been hanging around Mexico long enough to attend the Avándano Festival? I was just reading el Tri's bio and found that little tidbit. A Mexican version of Woodstock eh? I wonder if Carlos Santana played that one?
I am always impressed by the Mexican passion for music. In the cities, live music seems to be everywhere. When we arrived in Cuernavaca, after many hours of planes, buses and automobiles, our first priority was beer and food. We made our way to a restaurant about a block away from our hotel. To our delight, an older gentleman was there playing a guitar. He was sitting at a table with 3 ladies who would join in when they knew the words. His voice had that deep, rich tone of Latino singers. He was a customer, not paid entertainment. We applauded his efforts and he responded with a broad smile and a slight bow. As we left, we walked by his table. He reached out and patted me on the back as I went by - as if we were old friends. We knew we had arrived in the real Mexico! That set the tone for the start of what turned into a great trip.
Actually, I found out from Charlie Ramos that El Tri has made the November music festival in Huatulco the last two years running. Guess where I plan to be NEXT November?
John
If you know the date of that festival, please advise. We are thinking of a November trip as well.
The guest house you stayed in in PA sounds great! I'll be down there from the 23rd through the 30th of March and would love to find out if it's available. It would be for my wife, 2-1/2 yr old daughter and myself. Appreciate if you could pass on the contact info to me or forward this on. Thanks.
my girlfriend and i were hoping to head to hondures from puerta angel via chiapas and guatemala, and were hoping to find out from other travelers that have used this route if they encountered any of the problems that the lonely planet has mentioned. i have not heard much from anyone that has been this way and would also like any travel tips for this route if there are any flying about.
I did talk to a group of three people from France who had traveled in Chiapas for several days, (Palenque, San Cristobol and other places). They had no problems and had not heard of any problems encountered by other travelers. They recommended it as a great place to travel. I talked to a resident of Puerto Angel who was familiar with Chiapas and they recommended going there as well. It sounds like a beautiful place to visit. I would say the same rules apply there as other places - keep your 'ear to the ground', avoid travel at night if possible, and keep to the well beaten paths. The state department notice did specify caution in remote areas. As Lonely Planet states, the eastern part of the state has a reputation for drug traffic lanes from Central America so, that is probably good advise too.
The only information I can share on Guatelmala is what I heard from two residents of Guatemela City last year in PA. Take extreme care in Guatemala City if you visit there. Avoid being out at night. They had some pretty convincing stories to support that advise.
With two kids off to college and just the 10 year old at home, we're thinking about a school year in Mexico. Our fifth grader gets a year to gain some perspective and a bi-lingual education. We get a sabbatical and do a dry run on retirement in Mexico. Any thoughts or experiences with schools in PA, Mazunte, Pochutla, PE, or Huatulco?
Remote Areas, Remote Areas, Remote Areas. There are remote areas near where I used to live in Northern California, that I would recommend everyone avoid. Folks growing marijuana and others who don't take kindly to strangers. You are unlikely to be traveling in remote areas unless you try real, real, hard. This warning is in response to an incident at Rancho Esmeraldo. A couple from South Dakota has had trouble establishing what they say is an ecotourism business there. Rancho is not too far from Acteal and the indigenous people there are a little sensitive about their land rights at the present time. Relax, Chiapas is a lovely state, and San Cristobal is a nice city. If you act like a political activist you will be treated accordingly, likewise if you act like a tourist. My son lived for several years in Chiapas and was more afraid of the federales and judiciales than of the local indigenous. On the other hand, he was a political activist!
Dear Howlin,
I read your Trip-Report and I'm very interesting on the address from the guesthouse and other informationes. We, that are my husband, my taughter and myself, go to Mexiko in 2 Weeks. The first stop will be (for a cuple of days) Puerto Angel. Than we
go by localbuses around Oaxaca and Chiapas.
So it would be nice, if you can help me.
Greating Peggy
yes...was there over new years.
and yes, they still sell wonderful hammocks.
price varies widely as to size and quality.
-c
I don't think the coast is the best place for a 10 year old to go to school. There are schools there, of course, but they are unlikely to be prepared for a gringo 10 year old unless he or she is fluent in Spanish. Oaxaca city would be a better bet. There are several bilingual schools as well as regular schools that might be more well rounded. I am not trying to trash Mexican schools. Sending a child to school in a very small community in, say, Humboldt County California who did not speak English would not be an optimum opportunity either. By the way, if your sabbatical is, in part, a dry run for retirement, I would also suggest that you seriously consider someplace other than Puerto Angel etc for yourselves as well. I have been going to Oaxaca and the coast for 12 years and will be moving to the city in a few months (hence "Jubilado"). Take my word for it, there isn't doodley squat to do on the coast except sit on the beach and tourist watch. This gets very old after two or three weeks. I know of two retired gringos living in Puerto Angel. One is drunk most of the time and the other isn't. We don't intend to get involved with the expat community in the city of Oaxaca, but there is far more to do there which is one of the reasons that there are a couple of thousand gringos living there. Considering it is a city of 300,000 -400,000, they can easily be ignored or sought depending on one's proclivities.
January Trip Report
I had all the good intentions of doing this trip report immediately, but life got in the way. Anyway, here goes.
We had 14 days in Oaxaca and wanted to see as much of the state while spending enough time relaxing that we felt we'd had a vacation when we got back to Canada. Our plan was, from Hualtco to Puerto Angel, then up the coast stopping somewhere else along the way and on to Puerto Escondido and over to Oaxaca City flying home from there.
The beautiful wall of heat awaited us as we got off the plane at the tiny airport in Hualtco. Our travel plans, at that point, included a flight from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca City. We thought it would be a great idea to make reservations for this leg of our trip while we were at the airport. Typical of a Mexican holiday, we found out that Aero Mexicana had cancelled all its flights to Oaxaca from PE for the month of January. 30 minutes into the trip and our plans were out the window.
Thanks to the info on this site, we walked to the highway and waited for the bus to Pochutla (10p each). Lots of cabs offered to take us, for all different prices, but we really wanted to take the bus, for the experience as much as anything. Got to try my muy poquito Espanol on a young girl standing in the shade, to make sure we were waiting in the right place. Loved the ride to Pochutla, watching all the locals getting on and off going about their business.
Grabbed a cab collectivo down to Puerto Angel (20p each) and got dropped off in the middle of town. We didn't have a reservation and it was hot walking around with our backpacks looking for a place. I had a list of possibilities from this site and we ended up staying at the El Almendra thinking we could move if we didn't like it. After looking, the next day, decided to stay put. The quiet charm, price and location of Almendra had grown on us and we wanted to get on with our trip, not spend time looking at hotel possibilities.
Restaurants we enjoyed: Betos, Rincon del Mar, Chaupline's for breakfast to watch the fishermen sell their catch of the morning, Gundi y Tomas, also for breakfast and that terrific view. Day trips to Estacahuite, La Ventanilla, Mazunte and Pochutla rounded out our stay in PA. We didn't spend much time on Playa Panteon, but preferred watching the locals on Principal. There was a midway in town so there was lots of activity on the pier at night with families and little ones going round and round on those rides.
Often, the service in restaurants was indifferent but never rude. The servers were greatly amused by our efforts to speak Spanish. We didn't encounter the aggressive behaviour of some of the reports from other travelers, but as we were there at the beginning of January, maybe they were resting for the next big onslaught of tourists.
We spent 4 days in Puerto Angel, 4 days in heavenly Mazunte, 3 days in Puerto Escondido and 4 days in Oaxaca City. We traveled collectivo between PA and Mazunte and by local bus between Mazunte and PE. We took the van from PE to Oaxaca. If we were to do this trip again, we would definitely do the city first and the beach after. It was a pretty big shock to go from the relaxed rhythm of the beach to the hustle and bustle of the city!
All in all...can't wait to go back!
If anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer...Adios
Hi,
I'm mauro, sardinia, Italy
I'm planning to travel to puerto angel the next november.
The place sounds good... me and my family are looking for a trip quiet enough, far to the big stream of tourists (acapulco, cancun etc.)..
My problem is if is safe travel to puerto angel with a child one year old... could U give me your opinion?
again, whats the best way to arrive to puerto angel or oxaca from mexico city (airport where i should arrive from italy)?
any other your impression abiut puerto angel (hotels, restaurants) is welcome.
thanks.
ciao
mauro
Hi,
I'm mauro, sardinia, Italy
I'm planning to travel to puerto angel the next november.
The place sounds good... me and my family are looking for a trip quiet enough, far to the big stream of tourists (acapulco, cancun etc.)..
My problem is if is safe travel to puerto angel with a child one year old... could U give me your opinion?
again, whats the best way to arrive to puerto angel or oxaca from mexico city (airport where i should arrive from italy)?
any other your impression abiut puerto angel (hotels, restaurants) is welcome.
thanks.
ciao
mauro
mauro wrote:
did you get a chanes to go to Huatulco. What did you thing about it if you went.
I'm planing to go in june. Which had better beaches and which are they.
Hi,
I'm mauro, sardinia, Italy
I'm planning to travel to puerto angel the next november.
The place sounds good... me and my family are looking for a trip quiet enough, far to the big stream of tourists (acapulco, cancun etc.)..
My problem is if is safe travel to puerto angel with a child one year old... could U give me your opinion?
again, whats the best way to arrive to puerto angel or oxaca from mexico city (airport where i should arrive from italy)?
any other your impression abiut puerto angel (hotels, restaurants) is welcome.
thanks.
ciao
mauro
Hi,
I'm mauro, sardinia, Italy
I'm planning to travel to puerto angel the next november.
The place sounds good... me and my family are looking for a trip quiet enough, far to the big stream of tourists (acapulco, cancun etc.)..
My problem is if is safe travel to puerto angel with a child one year old... could U give me your opinion?
again, whats the best way to arrive to puerto angel or oxaca from mexico city (airport where i should arrive from italy)?
any other your impression abiut puerto angel (hotels, restaurants) is welcome.
thanks.
ciao
mauro
I traveled to Oaxaca, and the Oaxacan coast, in 11/02 with 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters (ages 11 years and 11 months). Kids were great travelers. The baby loved the food (very partial to tamales, shark, and chicken with mole). We did 2 overnight bus trips and the girls slept through it all, including the army inspectors. It's an easy age for travel, although she was still crawling, not walking, and it would have been easier, and cleaner, to have her upright. We found we quickly adjusted our standards for cleanliness, and that the ocean cleaned her up quickly.
It's between
$35 and $ 50 per night if you want your own space.
gg
Hey, Mauro, did you know that there are enclaves of Italian ex-pats in Puerto Angel and in Mazunte? Visit Villa Florencia and talk to the folks there. I've seen some inCREDible beachfront villas in the area...
Javier, Huatulco is a resort. Puerto Angel, San Augustinillo, and Mazunte are fishing villages. If you need a lot of touristy infrastructure, then Huatulco is for you. If you like to strike out and do adventures, I'd suggest San Augustinillo as an ideal home base. The beaches are unbelievable in all the areas mentioned.
Javier, We didn't spend any time in Hualtco as we were looking for a place which wasn't a resort or too touristy so I can't comment on the beaches there. I understand they are wonderful. The beaches all up the coast are great and have a different feel from each other. We enjoyed looking at them all and choosing the ones which felt the best for us. We really enjoyed Mazunte and San Augustinillo.
Mauro, Regarding getting to Huatulco from Mexico City...we flew into the Huatulco airport and took the local bus to Pochutla and a taxi to Puerto Angel. You can take a taxi straight from the airport to PA if you prefer.
Since you are travelling with a small child, that might be a better way to go.
I can't comment too much on the safety of travelling with a little one, however the Mexican people love children and there were lots of babies and toddlers playing in the waves of all the beaches we visited. Pick a safe beach and use common sense regarding food, sunscreen and mosquitos and I think you'll be fine. Kids are amazing when it comes to travelling. If the parents are having a good time, the kids seem to love it too.
Mauro, I just returned from the Puerto Angel area and I too flew into Mexico City and rented a car. I did my first night in Acapulco (4 hours on the toll road) and then to Puerto Angel (8 hours on hwy 200.) We drove back via Oaxaca. My advice would be to fly to Huatulco and rent a car there. The drive from Mexico City is nice and interesting, but very long. As for infants, I saw some tourists with infants and toddlers. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. That said, I can't imagine traveling like this with an infant or toddler. Perhaps I am stodgy but the PA area is rather remote and all involved would enjoy it more when the children are a bit older. I picked up the travelers bug my last day, but what would happen if your infant got sick? My son is now 9 and I think of an age to enjoy such a trip. If you go, we stayed at Alta Mira in Mazunte which is very nice. Look them up on the web. The beach here was fairly calm and would be suitable for children. November I hear is a nice time to go. It may still be green!
We are 7(grandparents, parents, 3 children) trying to find a rental in Puerto Angel over the Christmas 2003 holidays. Does anyone know where to find information on available rentals? Our objective would be either a house or large condo with a pool.
Thanks in advance, Judy (drsjes@digisys.net)
Condo with a pool??? I think you want to be in Huatulco, not Puerto Angel!!
Zoe
Zoe's right on the mark with that one. There MAY be a copuple of places that would come close to your specs up by the lighthouse, but availability around Christmas would REALLY be doubtfull. I think Puerto Angel may be a WHOL:E lot more primative than you imagine. Pools? Not many, that's for sure - not even at the hotels. But from Residential Conejos in Huatulco - where you WILL find what you're looking for if you do it now - it's not an overly long drive to Puerto Angel and environs...
House with a pool???? In Puerto Angel???? For rent???? at Christmas 2003???? I cannot tolerate Huatulco, being a Puerto Angel type of person, so I won't recommend it - completely gringofied - outrageously expensive and mercenary beyond belief, but if these things don't bother you, you might try it. If you do, start now. Many places in Puerto Angel are already booked for Christmas and Huatulco is even more popular. My advice, lower expectations and take two or three rooms at, say, Buena Vista. Nice place, inexpensive and suprisingly lujo.
Just got back from Zihautanjo, north of Puerto Angel . Zihau has changed since I was last there four years ago. Noticed that the people were getting chubbier, the dogs were well-fed, very few beggars, no garbage strewn about and a new huge hotel is being built next to the Sotovento Hotel.
The governor flew into Ixtapa in his helicopter with escorts to assure people that more hotels will be built there.
The Zihau community is so happy, friendly and exciting. I had forgotten how nice they are. Had a great time fishing for Blue Fin Tuna, sailing, snorkeling, hammock relaxing, running the streets, eating, admiring the foliage and swimming in the sea. Stayed at the Sotovento on the beach which from our room on the first floor had 72 steps down to the beach and 111 steps up to the lobby. Walk these a few times a day and you're bound to lose weight!
Met several interesting travelers. One retired couple had flown into Acapulco last October, rented a car and had driven down to Puerto Escondito and Puerto Angel. After staying there for a few weeks, they headed back to Acapulco. Said the city was jammed with partying Spring breakers and had to buy ear plugs to sleep at night because the disco next to them was going strong even at 4 am. They watched the bungee jumpers and cliff divers. They left Zihau to head north up the coast but the wife was anxious to get rid of their car. She said her hubby had learned to drive like a macho maniac.
Another couple had driven down from Colorado along the entire Mexican Pacific coast and were heading down to Guatemala. Wish I had that much time off!
I can't speak Spanish and yet I visited with a Mexican family one evening who couldn't speak English....for over 2 hours. Remarkable on how people can communicate. Had a serious conversation about wages, visas, war, and God.
The people in Zihau seemed very frightened about the war. I was out tuna fishing early in the morning when Chico tells me "siente noche Iraq kaboom" and shows with his hands that the whole country is gone. "What, we're going to blow up the whole country!" I asked him. Si, he tells me. Wanted to buy a USA Today but refused to pay $5 for it. Many people were asking us about it because we were Americans but we knew less than they did.
.
Just got back from P,A . area and happened to check out Buena Vista. It has a large pool and deck area on the top level. Many large family type rooms and dinning room on site, and not to bad a walk to beaches (if you don't mind lots of stairs). But no not delay your booking. I think they have an ad somewhere on this site. Take note of earlier postings, P.A.. is real Mexico. You either love it or leave it. Good luck
to una mano solo ,
hate to say this but i think maybe oaxaca, in general, is not the kind of place you would find to your liking. i say this based on your reaction to normal occurances in that area, maybe someplace less rustic would be more to your liking.
you first reaction restautanteurs' beckoning is to "throw up your hands in an aggressive manner", you blew up when someone got your order wrong and barking dogs keep you up at night. well, welcome to oaxaca. :)
i've travelled all over mexico and i can't think of a friendlier more hospitable place than the PA/San Agustinillo/Muzunte area. yes, there are patrols, but there are armed officials ALL OVER MEXICO.
not to flame you maybe you should think about spending your time in mexico in cancun or cozumel where your sunglasses, nice shirts, sunglasses and ballcaps will blend in with the throng of americans.
-c
To add to what the last poster said: never ever go to Huatulco if aggressive greeter bother you. They bothered me tremendously and I am used to them from Puerto Angel. I would also add that I have been going there for ten years and I have found lots of lounge chairs, adirondack chairs or whatever you call them right on the beach in front of the restaurants. Admittedly, the water is not all it could be, what with all the pangas and such. In the offseason, before it gets too hot, it is quite nice. My favorite beach is San Agostinillo, there are restaurants and at least a few places to stay. We don't stay there because it is hard to find anything to eat after the beach places close down.
I hate to say this, but you're a dough head....... I found Oaxaca to be very nice all in all. I never encountered such a bunch as was in Puerto Angel though, if that's the norm' for that area it's time for a change or a walk behind the shed.
[quote]christian chapman
you first reaction restautanteurs' beckoning is to "throw up your hands in an aggressive manner", you blew up when someone got your order wrong and barking dogs keep you up at night. well, welcome to oaxaca. :) [/quote]
it wasn't an aggressive manner, you make it sound as if my fists were clenched.... not that at all, it was more like a "you lead the way"........ but yes, i know i was out of line a wee bit for walking out. I went and apologized for that the very next day, after a good nights sleep....... I was totally stressed out...... i'm not trying to make excuses for my reaction that day, but things were going wrong, right from the get go.... and with the lack of sleep, the hotel move, and some sort of flue that i'd caught, and blah blah blah..... we all have those days buckwheat.
This one dick, mr wonderful, the drunken button pusher of playa panteon.... anyway, if it wasn't for him there would not have been an issue..... I liked Puerto Angel just fine, cheap digs and a hop skip to some real nice perches. The town and the beaches in town did not have what I was looking for and that was clear from the start. I just never saw it real good untill it was in my face.... nope, if that is what you call rustic give me Zipolit instead. Better yet, Puerto Escondido..... .
Dogs don't bother me all that much, there are times, but this one dog in Crucecita where i was staying, it had been going strong and the last couple of nights it woke me during the early hours..... It was one of those small, high pitched yappy kinds of barking dogs, the ones that just won't stop barking once they start.....
[quote]christian chapman
not to flame you maybe you should think about spending your time in mexico in cancun or cozumel where your sunglasses, nice shirts, sunglasses and ballcaps will blend in with the throng of americans.[/quote]
pffft.... guess what i have in my hand and i'll give you a lick.......
[%sig%]
touche!
gg
So what do the really cool "travellers" wear if shorts,shirts,ball caps and sunglasses don't cut the mustard?
Hi Howlin,
We are planning our honeymoon (a journey of 6 month) to Mexico and further south to visit the whole region. After landing in Mexico city we want to spend a couple of nice days at the beach before learning Spanish in Oaxaca. And maybe Puerto Angel is the ideal place for the real romantic and relaxing honeymoon (we are not lokking for luxury, we prefer authenticity). So, the place where you were staying seems very nice! Could you introduce it to me? Because of the 'importance' of this particular holiday I really would like to see pictures, so if you have those.... Thanks a lot for yur information and we will follow up on your other tips as well. Thank you, greetings, Aukje
We are family of four, 2 kids ages 9 and 6 and looking for a house/apartment to rent in Oaxaca for 3-4 weeks beginning July 18. any suggestions appreciated. many thanks, rick young
Hi, Thanks for the great trip report. I'm also looking forward to a nice two week reprieve from the rainy Northwest. Could you please let me know the name of your friend's guest house in P.A.? Thanks! S.G.
Hello, I would greatly appreciate word of Norton, a long time resident of Puerto Angel. Well known for his diving expertise, love of motorcycles and his art. My wife and I had a nice visit with him last year as we shared a dear mutual friend. Unfortunately, this friend has passed away and we hope to reconnect with Norton.Best wishes to all currently on the Oaxaca coast and to those whose lives have been happily touched by it and long to return. Alan
I get your email,thaks alot,i feel so sorry about my partner Teresa.
I am try to undertand teresa life with respec it was to hart to me to lose her,i try to continue my life always on the memory of that great woman.
At the moment iI have alot of comunication to Evely and Madelein Carton,i hope to see you again on your next trip.
Saludos besos. Norton
P.S. Do you still remenber how to coke the ceviche?
I get your email,thaks alot,i feel so sorry about my partner Teresa.
I am try to undertand teresa life with respec it was to hart to me to lose her,i try to continue my life always on the memory of that great woman.
At the moment iI have alot of comunication to Evely and Madelein Carton,i hope to see you again on your next trip.
Saludos besos. Norton
P.S. Do you still remenber how to coke the ceviche?
[%sig%]
Hi Norton,
So glad to hear from you and know you are well. We were so saddened and shocked to learn about Teresa last week. I can't write much now as my work is calling but will write too you longer soon. Please know that you are not alone in greiving for the loss of your dear friend. It hit Paule especially hard.
Love, Alan
Hello,
My name is Matthew and I live in Austin, Texas. I've spent a lot of time around the city of Oaxaca and decided that this summer I'd like to finally make my way to the coast. The truth is that I'm going there to catch up on some reading and to write songs that I can record when I return to the States in August. For that reason, the vicinity of Puerto Angel sounded best to me. It sounds relatively small and quiet. In one sense I am looking for a little isolation but on the other hand I look forward to talking to the folks that live there. I guess that it would be more accurate to say that I'm looking to get away from all things American for a couple of months. My spanish is pretty good and I'd like it to keep getting better.
I'm looking for a house that I can rent for the summer. I'd prefer a house to a hotel because I like to play the guitar and sing as I work out new songs and I don't want to think that I might be disturbing anyone. Also, even if I knew people were close by, it would inhibit me somewhat. What are my chances of finding a house that I can rent for June and July on the beach in Zipolite, Mazunte, or Puerto Angel? Are there other beaches anyone knows of that might suit me? Here in Austin, my only sources of information are travel books and websites like these. Any information you'd like to share with me about accomodations or the beach communities would be much appreciated. Please describe your memories in all their glory so that I might get a good idea of what you are saying. Thank you for your time, attention, and interest in helping me have a productive summer.
Matthew
Hello,
My name is Matthew and I live in Austin, Texas. I've spent a lot of time around the city of Oaxaca and decided that this summer I'd like to finally make my way to the coast. The truth is that I'm going there to catch up on some reading and to write songs that I can record when I return to the States in August. For that reason, the vicinity of Puerto Angel sounded best to me. It sounds relatively small and quiet. In one sense I am looking for a little isolation but on the other hand I look forward to talking to the folks that live there. I guess that it would be more accurate to say that I'm looking to get away from all things American for a couple of months. My spanish is pretty good and I'd like it to keep getting better.
I'm looking for a house that I can rent for the summer. I'd prefer a house to a hotel because I like to play the guitar and sing as I work out new songs and I don't want to think that I might be disturbing anyone. Also, even if I knew people were close by, it would inhibit me somewhat. What are my chances of finding a house that I can rent for June and July on the beach in Zipolite, Mazunte, or Puerto Angel? Are there other beaches anyone knows of that might suit me? Here in Austin, my only sources of information are travel books and websites like these. Any information you'd like to share with me about accomodations or the beach communities would be much appreciated. Please describe your memories in all their glory so that I might get a good idea of what you are saying. Thank you for your time, attention, and interest in helping me have a productive summer.
Matthew
Hey, Matt, did you know that the host of this website is in Leander? I, too, live in Austin. There are a lot of Oaxaca-knowledgeable folks in the area. You'll find the area pretty darned deserted during June and the vacationers in July tend to be folks from other parts of Mexico. Accomodations will be plentiful and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone complaining about a little music. Prices will be cheapest in Zipolite - for the room if not the food - but there are superior accomodations in Mazunte and San Augustinillo. Get to Puerto Angel and get a room at one of the hotels, then have a friendly local help you find the house you're looking for. Email me direct and I'll suggest a couple of names.
Yes.We have nice houses with pool in puerto Angel. it is not a desert!!!!!
I have a five bedroom. five bathroom, 2 jacuzzi, swimming pool in Puerto Angel
If you are interested. i will send you more details by email. Francoise.
There are not too many writers on the Puerto Angel page lately and I just wanted to drop in a few lines here. I imagine PA to be beautifully lush,laid back and peaceful this time of year and I wish I were there. I suppose Chepe is out fishing and diving all by himself without tourists hiring his services and I hope Patricia at Penelopes B&B is doing Ok. I would love to spend the summer in tropically lush PA and wile away the days painting with Eva. One of these years I need to head down to Mexico in the summer. I really miss this place.
Hey John Williams, what's the deal that you are not working and still in Texas?
You are the very best writer ever, you know. And, you are the nicest, most helpful contributer on these pages, you know. And, you scuba dive! Let me think about it for awhile, you are multitalented and shouldn't be out of work.
Did you leave out experience in the Premium Custoimer Care department of American Airlines Vacations (yes, I do SABRE) and years and years of experience in state and local taxation authority? (IRS and OESC). I'm even a certified travel agent. So what I need is a diveshop/travel agency doing taxes for ex-pats and getting refunds for Mexicans who worked in the US and maybe even a payroll or two for a maquiladora...
Oh, yeah, and I cook, too. And if anyone needs a 51 year old 6'3" 250 pound giggolo with an unfortunate resemblance to Jack Elam, I'm available for that, too.
Ah, just think of May in Puerto Angel. You may not feel any rain, but you can watch the afternoon thunderheads dissapate as they drop their loads over the mountains to the north...a lot of quinciños during May, babies conceived during the rainiest period sixteen years before. Wonderful parties, those 15th birthdays for the young women...Some greenery showing up, especially at altitude...a WONDERFUL time to grab a bus up to San Jose del Pacifico - isn't the mushroom festival about now? And no other tourists to speak of; you've got the whole area to yourself...humidity's not bad yet...water showing some movement but usually a lot of days with great clarity...if you hurry, you can still get that last-of-the-season deal on airfare through Vista...<sigh>
Hi JoAnn and John
I too am thinking about PA these days. It is always good to share that with my two favourite Mexican posters.
You mentioned Patricia. I am going to send a letter off to Patricia one of these days. She wasn't doing the best when we left there in February. She had a bad fall and hurt her knee in November. The injury was still with her in February so, she visited a doctor while we were there. She was ordered to get off her feet right away by the doctor - didn't like what he saw in the fluids. We had to help her out the last couple of days of our stay. She was shutting down the Casa for a few weeks after we left.
I am sure this is a tough summer for those folks. Several business' had closed. The Super Puerto had moved and downsized.
I am now with unemployed ranks - not a bad thing I might add. After answering the bell for 30 years, I am looking forward to a break and a career change. So I am also thinking that this would be a good opportunity to spend some extra time in Mexico this winter and go to a Spanish language school for a 3 or 4 weeks and then head to the coast to meet up with my wife. The city of Oaxaca seems to have some good schools and will set you up with a family to stay with. The other options is an apartment. Lots of time to plan that.
So, John some questions for you. Is Oaxaca the best choice? Are there options on the coast? Would 4 weeks of Spanish (120 hours) make me reasonably fluent? I can get buy in present tense only at this point.
JoAnn, have you any comments?
Empty, there are lots of options. There's a language school in Huatulco, but from what I know of you based on your posts, this isn't the option I'd recommend. First, go get a copy of Maná Unplugged. Fher wrote all but three of the songs and provides translations in the liner notes of those he wrote. The non-translation of the cover tunes is a matter of reapect for the authors. This will get you used to Mexican dialect - well, Chilango anyway - and idioms. Pick up some other Spanish language music - El Trí, Colombia's Carlos Vives, maybe even some Tejano stuff like Flaco Jimenez and Los Superseven - but try for things with the lyrics printed in the liner notes and translate them with your handy dandy dictionary. THEN, get yourself down to the coast and talk to Pati at Luncheria Tío Chilo in Puerto Angel. Ask her to suggest a local school teacher who might consider boarding you. Pity Alex and Gabi broke up; they would have been perfect. I suspect that the economic situations will be such that a local teacher would really be delighted to get such a situation going. And immersion is what you will need to polish the skills you get as un esclavo de rocinrol.
Good luck on your next career.
John
Thanks for the tips. As always, good information - especially the bands.
What is the name of the school in Huatulco - as a fall back option?
The PA solution would be great especially considering in a small way I would be helping the local economy. Have you heard of someone going this route before? I am planning to do this in January (dead of winter) so obviously I have time to sort this out. Of course, if I get a job in the mean time, all those plans come to a grinding halt.
Try this:
<http://tomzap.com/vigil.html>
That'll get you the language school in Huatulco. As for the more local route, you will not be the first.
hi, I saw your e-mail and thought you might want to give me some tips for my trip to puerto angel. I'll be there next week with my boyfriend. probably staying at Gundi and Tomas guesthouse. I guess I'm curious about good snorkeling areas, restaurants and side trips. Would be grateful for any info. Thanks so much! kim
Shorts, tee-shirts, sandals are fine for hotter climates. I would say a lot of it has to do with your attitude when abroad. Educate yourself before you leave your country, learn a few words. "Please and Thank you" seem to do wonders. Remembering you are a guest in your host country is also key. Every country does things a little different. Getting back to clothes, logos like USA, etc..will make you stand out as a rich tourist. Poor people just trying to make ends meet will approach you first, before they go for the hippie backpacker. With all that in mind......It's a big, beautiful world out there. Enjoy!
Well, quite true to a point, Ann. But when visiting the really interesting places away from the coast, it also helps to respect the local mores. Away from the tourist areas, very, very few indigenous women wear shorts. In fact, not many wear pants. If you're wanting to go to remote areas away from the tourists, carry along a sun dress or two - or maybe a long wrap-around skirt. When you're on the beach, you don't need this stuff. It's for those who want to do some serious back-country exploration. Cleavage is no big deal, though. Just legs, for some reason. Going out at night is a different story, though. The girls at a Mexican disco tend to dress a lot sexier than is typical even in the US. Visit one and see.
And if you find yourself in a situation where you are not comfortable with what you are wearing, buy something appropriate at the market.
Snorkel at Ixtacahuite <also specced Ecstacahuite>, just north of town. Also, swim and snorkel at San Augustinillo, just beyond Zipolite. If you decide to rent a panga and captain, have him take you to Playa La Tijera - probably the best snorkeling anywhere near by. Take a taxi one day to San Augustine and snorkel off La India. Good food at the palapas at all these places except La Tijera, which has no commercial palapas. Eat at Beto's, for sure. He's on top of the hill near the cut-off to Playa Panteon. And go to Zipolite to eat at La Choza at least once. Do it near sunset. Then go to the disco nearby afterwards. Grab a cheap lunch at Comedor Tío Chilo and ask Eva or Pati for recommendations; also look at Eva's artwork on display there. Maca's, by the pier, usually has a great special. The lucharia in the market is another good spot for lunch. Tonameca makes a great side trip. La Ventanilla is a good place to see caimans and some gorgeous deserted beach. Instituto Nacional de Tortugas (the turtle museum) in Mazunte is pretty much a must-see. If you make it up past Chacalapa to Candelaria, you're in coffee country and the fincas are tropical wildlife preserves. Shade grown coffee. Canopies left intact. And then there's San Jose del Pacifico, at over 8000 feet in altitude, during mushroom season...
hello ann colvin....
what do you mean by this,,, > I would say a lot of it has to do with your attitude when abroad... a lot of what?? what is this "it" you speak of
being a guest is no reason to put up with abuse from hosts who happen to stereotype you as a "stupid rich tourist who can't speak the language"... nor is it a reason to put up with crap from drunken tourists who pick puerto angel as their private kingdom..... or the groupies that hang off their wallet...... don't assume things you have no clue about.
Some of these local folks who live and work in isolated communities like puerto angel have a problem dealing with visitors....... I'm not going on vacation to step on toes or walk on eggshells. I dress how I dress, and I'll eat what I order.....As long as folks are aware that when travelling to puerto angel what the attitudes of the locals are, they will be able to deal with the issues...
The host, imo should take the time to make sure that 'the guest is looked after not the other way around. A thoughtful happy host makes for happy guests.... it also shows appreciation, which is lacking in puerto angel.
imo
First of all, hippie, what's up with all the anger? Don't hate! Chill out for a second, here and listen.
You have succeeded in making an ass of yourself with your response. You obviously have a hard time expressing yourself, because I can make very little sense of what you wrote. But it doesn't end there. Your comprehension is also questionable, as I don't think you understood ann's point at all. In other words, or should I say, in simple terms, STUPID RESPONSE TO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
If I took anything from your nonsense, it is that you, genius, believe it is the host's duty, and not the visitor's responsibility to remove their shoes at the front door. Well this is consistent with your problems with comprehension and expression. You learned as little at home about manners as you did about reading and writing at school.
Please do us a favour and go back to school or join the army. You need some discipline in your life, boy!
And you need to stay away from this little corner of the world. Your behaviour might encourage others.....
[b]hello stan[/b]
stan wrote: >If I took anything from your nonsense, it is that you, genius, believe it is the host's duty, and not the visitor's responsibility to remove their shoes at the front door<
[b]yep..... how many times have you had to remind your nice guests to slip off their street shoes for some nice warm fuzzy slippers.... like I said, folks who are in the hospitality industry in a host country should take the time to cater to the needs of their guests and not the other way around..... they charge a fee for their services, be it in a restaurant or a hotel or a taxi driver...... polite considerate service is all. And that means spending a little time making sure all is well.... just for the overwhelmed uninformed guests.[/b]
stan wrote: >You have succeeded in making an ass of yourself with your response. You obviously have a hard time expressing yourself, because I can make very little sense of what you wrote.<
[b]I think you're a big fat liar stan, obviously your post wasn't to correct my grammer or spelling[/b]
stan wrote: >But it doesn't end there. Your comprehension is also questionable, as I don't think you understood ann's point at all. In other words, or should I say, in simple terms, STUPID RESPONSE TO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.<
[b]oh, I understood her post just fine.... I think I understand yours too :)[/b]
stan wrote: >Well this is consistent with your problems with comprehension and expression. You learned as little at home about manners as you did about reading and writing at school. Please do us a favour and go back to school or join the army. You need some discipline in your life, boy!<
[b]says who, stan the man.... lol[/b]
stan wrote: >And you need to stay away from this little corner of the world. Your behaviour might encourage others.....<
[b]good.... I wish someone would have informed me about puerto angel, your jaded little corner of the world..... A hangout for a bunch of drunks and the groupies who cater to them.... please stay there so you don't infect the area with your cynical attitude.[/b]
stan wrote: >First of all, hippie, what's up with all the anger? Don't hate! Chill out for a second, here and listen.<
[b]i think you have me confused with the person you see in the mirror every morning stan[/b]
[i][b]peace brother.....[/b][/i]
[%sig%]
I am looking for airfares for sometime this summer from June 12 through August 18 for a family of 6 coming from the U.S. and two adults coming in from Guadalajara. I am also interested in a pool as I have kids and how far is the beach. Is there is restaurant near the house, does the house have a refrigerator, stove pots and pans???
Thank you
Check Vista World Travel from the Main Menu for your airfares.
Peace.
Chuckle.
Help
WE are planning our third trip to to Mexico, this time to oaxaca and the coast.I was passing through oaxaca from Guatemala and chiapas 27 years ago and now returning to oaxaca city for 6 days. Our plan was to spend 2 days in PE ,PT Angel and Huatulco. After reading we realize we should narrow it down to 2 places,they all sound amazing but too little time to get the real feel of the places. We enjoy beach walking ,snorkelling,exploring and my husband does scuba diving. Any advice on which place to cancel or is 2 days enough for a beginning look about?I'm sure I'll be returning in the winter .from what i have read , it certainly sounds like a great place to explore later on.
Also we would like to bring some little things for the church to distribute such as tylenol candies,pencils .Is this needed or not ? Is 6 days too long in Oaxaca? we will probably go to a few markets out of town and also Monte Alban.
Any advice greatly appreciated
Angie and Greg
Hola everyone,
I stayed with Prudencio around 6 years ago, for periods of 5 months and 3 months, right in the center of Mazunte beach, to the left when you enter the beach from the center road.
Has anyone been here recently? How is Prudencio? Has anyone seen a character by the name of Lalo around Mazunte? Eduardo Durantes? Minimo?
Does anyone have any more information on this...
http://www.tomzap.com/mazuntinas.html
Verbal explanation of where it approximately is in Mazunte, etc.
How have the hurricanes, growth, etc, effected Mazunte in the past 5 years? Is it still paradise?
Felipe loco de tejas
Hola everyone,
I stayed with Prudencio around 6 years ago, for periods of 5 months and 3 months, right in the center of Mazunte beach, to the left when you enter the beach from the center road.
Has anyone been here recently? How is Prudencio? Has anyone seen a character by the name of Lalo around Mazunte? Eduardo Durantes? Minimo?
Does anyone have any more information on this...
http://www.tomzap.com/mazuntinas.html
Verbal explanation of where it approximately is in Mazunte, etc.
How have the hurricanes, growth, etc, effected Mazunte in the past 5 years? Is it still paradise?
Felipe loco de tejas
Gosh, I should have checked these posts earlier. Have been too busy working. Why is it that librarians never lose their jobs or get transferred to libraries in Mexico? I sure liked that little library on the beach in Caye Caulker, in Belize, if the last hurricane didn't take it out. MT, sounds like you have a good plan if your wife agrees to it. I have no information on where it's best to study Spanish but just living there sure helps. Do you have an address for Patrica? That poor gal. She did have some tricky steps at her place, especially at night. I have this desire to fly down there and help Patricia out during the day and paint with Eva in the evening. I've always wanted to live on a sailboat. Have my 2 tomato plants growing on deck instead of the big garden I have to weed.
John, why don't you look for some educational sponsorship or grants and take small group workshops to all the neat places you know about. Check out bridgesweb.com. My daughter spent a bundle for a photo workshop in Peru and is going to another in Snowmass, Co in a few weeks. If you really like people, you can use your travel agent skills to get them there, eat at the best places, have them paint, or photograph, or dig around some ruins, or bird watch, or study plants, or dive ....while you sip on your drinks. In other words, you can travel where you want and do what you want...all for free!
JoAnn, do you ever get a chance to read the Barra de Navidad threads? There's a naval retiree in La Barra known as Beer Bob. Bob has a book exchange - bring one, take one, by him a beer if he's off the wagon, a soft drink if on, no other charge. For years, the walls of his home have been lined with bookshelves as well as all the free-standing shelves that would fit. I understand the book exchange is currently moving, but you get the idea. Wouldn't that be a lovely way to live in Puerto Angel?
Hey John,
Funny you would mention Beer Bob! I'm wondering if he isn't the same Bob that my friend Jim partied with several years ago. Jim (now deceased) and his wife were staying near Lake Chapala and drove over to Barra de Navidad for few weeks. I remember his wife telling me that Jim and Bob were having a great time at a little place on the beach . (I saw a photo of it..a two story place with a balconey). Jim "staggered" into the water to play in some huge waves .His wife just barely got him out of the water. I was thinking of going to Barra de Navidad a few years ago but someone told me the gnats are really bad there and slime fills the beach at certain times of the year. Is that true? Thinking it over I believe the' gnat' village I'm talking about is just up the coast from Puerto Vallarta. (Cool, I'm starting to sound like Frank) If I ever go there I will be sure to look for Beer Bob, he sounds like an interesting fellow. If I was retired and could live in PA, I think I would tend to do very little.
JoAnn, I know that you go back to work to rest up from your vacations. Retirement will be much the same.
You are right, John. Am going to Colorado in August for a reunion with hubby's Vietnam vet buddies. Thought I could just mess around the Anazasi ruins, pan for gold, stuff like that...but ..no!...am going to ride horseback and whitewater raft! Thought I could retire from whitewater. I don't usually post from work but I'm just ignoring my patrons since most are on the Internet. On the new, flat screen, fast TI line Gates computers that Bill donated to Libraries.
Tell me..why are all the music cds I bought in Mexico blank? Do they burn them differently? Do I need a cd player made in Mexico?
YOu need to put them in a player that reads MP3 files. Try your computer or your dvd player.
Thanks for the info John. I don't have a dvd player, but I tried them on a couple computers and they didn't work. On Monday I will check out the library computers, I think they have MP3 files. I really want to hear the music.
The Flores family opened a small restaurant in a little town west of where I live and they make the most authentic Mexican food that I have ever had in Wisconsin. Regardless of what you order on the menu, everyone gets the same special of the day, but it is so GOOD. Just like Mexico. I made garlic tuna steaks for supper tonight trying to duplicate Beto's. It's amazing how much weight you can lose just by eating fish and salads.
Are you working yet? And, where is MT Pockets?
Don't forget to use plenty of cilantro. And the leftover yellowfin steak can be converted into a Beto-style chicken salad and stuffed into avocado halves. If you can't get the cd's to work, Colombia house does carry most of the Maná catalogue and also El Tri's Numero Unos retrospective. And no, I'm still gainfully unemployed. MTP will have to speak for himself.
Hi Angie,
I am not an expert on the area but I wanted to give you some input since no one has seemed to answer your questions yet. My husband and I spent ten days home based just in Puerto Angel and never got bored. I find that when I am traveling in a cool climate, each day I'm in a different town. But the heat tends to slow me down so when I'm in Mexico I'm happy to stay in one place and run the streets early in the morn, get to know the local people , vegetate on the beach during siesta hours and........ run the streets again after it cools in the evening.
PA has all the things you like to do and many places in the surrounding area for exploring. PA, however, does not have discos and is very quiet in the evening, except for one evening (I think it is Friday night) when they set-up a fantatstic sound system on the pier . It is a very relaxing little village with a beautiful calm bay you can swim across.
Did you go to Tikal in Guatemala? I wanted to go there a few years back when I was in Belize but changed my mind because there was so much trouble on the border. I still want to get there someday. I especially wanted to go after this young fellow from Kansas who had just come from there told me that after he visited the ruins during the day, he and his friends decided to sneak back in after dark with their booze to spend the night watching the stars on the top of a pyramid. They got to the top and had a few drinks. The cats (jaguars) started howling near them and he said they really freaked out and got moving fast.
Hi folks
I haven't checked in here for a while. Too busy being unemployed.
JoAnn I am going to give Patricia a call shortly to see how she is getting along. I am sure she is fine now.
I am considering going to take up that Spanish emersion a little sooner now. My wife if fully supportive of my move. I am looking into potential business opportunities relating to Mexico, more specifically Oaxaca. One of them relates to the way I have travelled the area. So many people would like to travel in Mexico (away from resorts) but, they don't know how, are afraid to, and don't have the time to arrange it due to busy careers. Sound like a business opportunity and some fun. What a concept, working and having fun. John, did you say you were in the travel business? I am in the early stages of developing this thing but, I have talked to business people who see potential. Not big bucks but, a living.
Angie
Two days on the coast is a rush even if you only 'do' two places. You could cut down your Oaxaca time but it depends on what you want to do. The villages aroound the city are worth visiting but 4 days could give you enough time.
Are you flying to the coast? If not the drive or bus trip is a long but beautiful trip, you won't be anxious to get back on a bus after 48 hours, particularly if you're jumping around between coastal communities.
I'd pick one and hang around. You could go to PA or PE and day trip to the other easily. Huatulco is a bit fatrther but still esy to do in a day trip. One of the issues in Huatulco is the separation between the bays that requires a bit more logistical effort and cost than the beaches around PE or PA which are accesible via boat, local bus/combis or cheap taxi.
I've only been through Crucecita and have no experience with Huatulco. Uninformed and unfair as it may seem we've concluded sight unseen that its not for us. Any place with AIs falls off our list. Snorkeling and diving is better here.
P. Angel is laid back and provides good accomodations and beaches, however the snorkeling isn't spectacular. neighbouring communiites, Zipolite, Mazunte, Angustinillo and Ventanuilla give you lote of close options for long beach walks, the turtle musem am and lagoon at ventanilla. We liked there but find the communities too small for our tastes.
Purerto Escondido gives you more in my view, but it is a busier and larger place. We like the fact that PE is a town first and beach community second.
Three is no shortage of variety of things to do, drink and eat. From the pictures it would appear that the bays of Huatulco amay be more spectacular than PE, but carrizallilo and Puerto Angelito rate pretty high for me. Zicatela and Bacohco give long beach walks if you want.
JoAnn:
In your post you spoke of the guy from Kansas getting spooked by a jaguar. It may well have been a big cat but more likely a monkey. The howlers have nocturnal screams that sound for all the world like a large cat. we've heard them several times in Chiapas, particularly around Palenque as there are patches of jungle in town with lots of wildlife. The first time we heard it we were in a swimming pool and nearly shat ourselves as we convinced we about to be pounced on. Local people starightened us out and we later did see monkey.
Empty, I'm at sharkbait69@yahoo.com and will pass you my phone number from there. Perhaps we are both providentially unemployed.
With a name like that and juvenile pipe dreams, your pockets will remain, without a doubt, empty.
Dream on, brother. It'll cost you less $. Spare yourself the disappointment.
No independence in the hall way.
Teacher don't you spank the ball.
Ernest hemingway
Aw, I forgot the cilantro, John. Cilantro is amazing, I love it. I never had it until I asked a lady in Mexico what the plant was that was growing on her doorstop. It's what makes all the fresh salsa so good. I put it on ceviche but didn't know Beto's puts in on the atun. Surprisingly, it grows great in Wisconsin. I have a row in the garden just peeking through. When I'm really hard up for cilantro in the winter I can dig under the snow and its THERE.....still green.
John and MTPockets, my daughters would say "carpe diem" about your ideas. Go for it! I always say "lets do something even if it's wrong". I've never had to regret my motto thus far. It's a good mindset. Anyway, even if it is wrong who is going to know the difference one hundred years from now ?
JBSK, you are probably right that it was howlers. I've only heard them on television, but they would sound like a cat.
I was really surprised that local people in Belize are so afraid of snakes and 'cats'. A taxis driver was taking me to a small ruin in Belize and just freaked about a huge snake in the road. He never ventured into the jungle because he said there were too many snakes and 'cats' and you'd never live to get out. He kept talking about the 'cats' that prowled around the ruins at night and ate the watch dogs. I never could find out if the 'cats' were jaguars, panthers, cougars, lynx ,leopards, etc. He was terrified of them and described them as being evil and the size of ponies.
Thanks for advice. We will probably cut down our time in the city and maybe even fly down which would give us 2 more days. I'm sure once we hit the first beach town and the heat, we will come to a halt in plans. W e are on city time now and cool weather makes a difference. We are flying out of Huatulco so must end up there. Heard that scuba was good there but can see how transportation could be a problem.
Joann
Tikal was an amazing place because you are surrounded by jungle and nothing around you except animals which I would not want to see in the dark despite the temptation of the stars on top of the pyramid,will have to use my imagination for that. We went to tikal by an arduous bus ride through Belize that seemed never ending and it was not too pleasant on what was actually a school bus ,all part of the adventure, but we saw alot of villages along the way .Needless to say we flew out.
To John and Mpt pockets
you two should get a business going. There are a lot of people wanting to travel the unusual route but need YOU to help them ,as long as you offer good rates of course! I have been checking out some travelsites and find them too structured.
MTP
my tentative plans are also to brush up on my spanish either in Merida or Oaxaca ,the latter we are visiting in 2 weeks! and then i can compare and decide but i think John Williams idea is great to do it locally. We will be in puerto about July7 and i might look into enquiring. Will let you know if i do
angie
Joann
We were in Barra de Navidad in 98 summer and there were absolutely no gnats only a lot of hungry dogs who hung around us , we named them all. It is a great place . We watched the soccer world cup under a beach palapa ,it was Brazil vs holland, we were secretly supporting holland .Brazil won and we all celebrated. Beer bob was closed at the time. We stayed at the Delfin and at 2AM the karoake was still going strong. We only had the fan so we had the windows open.
Unfortunately on the last day we were a bit careless and went for a swim down the beach away from palapas and my husband had his sunglasses stolen,the funny part was that they were presription and so no one else could use them .Am sure though that they found a face somewhere
angie
Thank you Angie, Have always been interested in going to Barra de Navidad and wondered if it was nice. Sounds like you're going to have a great summer in Mexico. So much to see in the world, isn't there?
Angie, you did exactly what we were planning to do but changed our minds since there was so much trouble along the border. We stayed on Ambergris and Caye Caulker instead and I loved it..... although I will never stop kicking myself for not getting to Tikal.
Angie, Last January, my husband and I did the trip you are planning only in reverse. If we were to do it again, we would fly out of Hualtco instead of Oaxaca City, as you're planning to do. In my opinion, if you only have two weeks, spending 10 days in Oaxaca is too long. You can certainly fill the time...there is lots to see and do, especially if you take the bus out into the countryside, but you really would be shortchanging yourselves by not spending more time in the beach communities. We spent 4 days in Pt. Angel, 4 in Mazunte and 3 in PE before travelling to Oaxaca. It was a great way to see all the communities, spend some down time and explore the area a little. We enjoyed all the towns but our favourite was Mazunte. There isn't much there but beach, friendly people and a few restaurants. Perfect for what we were looking for. But as JB SK says, PA and PE have more going on.
Regarding Belize...If you ever get the chance to go back, JoAnn, be sure to visit Tikal. We spent 3 weeks in Belize a few years ago. Took a 10 day kayaking trip out on the keys and in the jungle, had a week diving off Ambergris/Calker, spent 4 days in the jungle around San Ignascio (sp?) and went to Tikal with a guide from our lodge. It was an amazing trip. We spent the night just outside the gates of Tikal and the howlers put on quite an auditory show all night. Really amazing. I know what you mean about the border though. We were very happy we had a Spanish speaking guide to get us into Guatemala. They give very young boys very big guns there and it was pretty threatening. We were very happy to cross the border back into friendly Belize.
has anyone heard any info on the ufo that was sighted landing just east of puerto angel last week. also if anyone has photos let me know.
Hi, I hope I am doing this right. I have lived in Mexico, 10 years ago, and when I trveled, it was quite different than what I plan now. I am leaving the u.s. with my twin sons, (9) in our car, on or before July 4th. From new orleans, then to matamoros and down the gulf to puerto/zipolite. Can you please tell me what you think is the safest way, calming, etc for a mom and her two kids.? Thanks a million.
rebbi
I have some photos. I'll beam them to you telepathically.
Take toll roads when possible; cut accross the isthmus at Catemalco to Salina Cruz; drive nly in the daylight hours. If you cross early in the day, you should reach Tuxpan easily for the first night in Mexico; Explore some of the Gulf Coast ruins between Tuxpan and Vera Cruz on day two; If you don't stop to look at too many waterfalls (signs saying "Salto this" or Salto that" refer to waterfalls) you may make it to Matías Romero on the isthmus by night two; then it's an easy push through Tehuantepec and Salina Cruz; through Huatulco; and on to Pochutla and Puerto Angel...
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Post Edited (06-19-03 10:02)
Karen, your trips sound great. I have to get back to Belize since I know we missed seeing a lot inland. It's Belize city that immediately knocks the wind out of you.
If you really want a calm trip, I don't recommend driving at all. Too much to see that can distract you, and besides that, car issues, if you are unfortunate to have them, can stress you out big time. Then combine parking and security issues every time you leave your car unattended for the night. That's even more to concern yourself with...
In my opinion, the bus is the safest calmest way to go, and I would not hesitate to use them again and again.. . Plenty of leg room, plenty of buses and bus stations. They include onboard entertainment for your 9yr olds. Reclining seats, snacks, all of it....... very nice. I found the bus to be a very relaxing, stress free way to travel between different destinations throughout Mexico....
My advise, leave the driving to someone else. Take the bus.
happy trails...
I know what you mean about Belize City, JoAnne. We were lucky to go there at the end of our trip, after we were a bit aclimatized to Belizian life. We were very careful, only went during the day and stuck to the main parts. We didn't have any trouble.
This year we're heading to South America. My husband has been lucky enough to be invited down there on business so I'm tagging along. We will miss Mexico though...
Hi there people
My girlfriend Swallow and I are currently planning our OE and are heading to live and work our way around Europe. Since we plan to leave in early September we will miss out on summer here in NZ and will be heading into the European Autumn. With this in mind, we both wanted to travel someplace exciting, warm and relaxing for 3-4 weeks on the way - Mexico's Pacific Coast sounds fantastic. We are both in our mid twenties and are travelling on a budget. Having done a bit of research, our tentative plan at this stage is to fly into Mexico City and travel from there to Oaxaca by bus. We plan to spend 3-4 days here to get our bearings and do a bit of exploring aswell. From Oaxaca we will bus to the coast. Peurto Angel looks like a likely destination to start with. Not really sure but maybe 3-4 days here to look around, check out other beaches like Zipolite, chill out and catch some sun. From PA we intend to travel up the coast (west) for our remaining time, ending up in Aculpoco where we will bus back up to Mexico City to depart for London. From what I have read places like San Augustinillo and Puerto Escondido sound cool. If anyone has travelled along this route, any friendly advice would be much appreciated about anything. From food to accomodation to activities to the best beaches and beers! We definitely want to have a relaxing holiday, but not to the point of being a pair of lazy bums. Currently on our list of things to do are snorkelling, swimming, fishing and generally just eating and drinking well, whilst meeting up with other like minded individuals for some good times - not "let's put our car keys in a bowl" good times, but more like exploration of the coast and bays and beaches. If anyone knows of any good spots to snorkel, that would be excellent. All advice, tales and information about the coast would be greatly appreciated by us both.
Cheers
Simon
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Well, you're looking at the rainy season, but that just means that everything will be green and you'll have to pick out palapas with good thatch. If you're planning to go primative, palapas, hammocks, and so forth, plan on mosquito nets just to play it safe. The coast is gorgeous with no end of great places to snorkel, from Salina Cruz to Pinotepa Nacional. From just west of Pinotepa to Acapulco, access to the coast is rather limited, so that should limit your beaching range somewhat. Don't get trapped into planning things out in really great detail, though. Mexico has a way of disrupting your plans. Just go with the flow and research a bit more deeply into this site as most of the beaches are discussed to one degree or another in the posts. Have a great trip!
puerto angel es un lugar hermoso donde puedes bucear y disfrutar de sus playas si vienes visita "villa florencia" una lugar que te esncantara
Hey Simon. I have been staying near San Augustinillo for years and can answer most questions about the area. I also have a simple but comfortable house there in a sweet spot that I rent out when I'm not there (I arrive in December).
I strongly recommend that you pick a single spot (like San Augustinillo or Mazunte) and just stay there, relax, play. If you prefer more action or surfing, Pto Escondido (Zicatela) is an active surfer party scene. Forget Puerto Angel and avoid Acapulco like the plague. I discourage a lot of bouncing around - it is really a waste of time and money. Go somewhere and be present, take time to feel it.
Email me direct if I you want to know more...
Steve