Backwoods MamaMexico

Puerto Angel, Oaxaca

Puerto Angel, Oaxaca

For our last three days in Mexico we stayed near the small coastal town of Puerto Angel. We found a nice little home to stay in through VRBO. The house is perched atop a large hill and the view from up there was breathtaking. However, after spending two...

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Playa San Agustinillo, Oaxaca

Playa San Agustinillo, Oaxaca

Playa San Agustinillo is located just east of Mazunte. We came to this beach after visiting the Living Museum of the Sea Turtles about a week ago and returned once again on our way to Puerto Angel where we were to stay for the remainder of our vacation.On the...

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A Parade in Puerto Escondido

A Parade in Puerto Escondido

Maria and I were out shopping and had just returned with the latest find, a beautiful new sink. We were joking about how Maria was bringing everything home including the kitchen sink when we were almost trampled by our children and husbands on their way out to see a...

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Puerto Surf Lessons, Puerto Escondido

Puerto Surf Lessons, Puerto Escondido

During our stay in Puerto Escondido we took three surfing lessons with Puerto Surf Lessons. This surfing school is run by Celestino and his Canadian (Okanagan!) born partner Melinda. When we sent an inquiry email about surfing lessons Melinda was very fast in...

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Phosphorescent Plankton, Manialtepec Lagoon

Phosphorescent Plankton, Manialtepec Lagoon

Manialtepec Lagoon is very biodiverse area. The brackish lagoon water, a mixture of sea water and fresh water, is surrounded by mangrove trees and is the perfect host for hundreds of creatures, big and small. I really wanted to go on an eco-tour of the lagoon with...

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Playa Principal, Puerto Escondido

Playa Principal, Puerto Escondido

Playa Principal is the main beach in Puerto Escondido. It is not my favourite beach but it has its charm. The waves here are smaller and safer than the neighboring Playa Zicatela making it a good beach for swimming and boogie boarding. While we were there we noticed a...

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Playa Manzanillo, Puerto Escondido

Playa Manzanillo, Puerto Escondido

Playa Manzanillo is located just east of Puerto Angelito. At first I thought they were both the same beach but they are separated by an outcroping of rocks. Now that we have had the chance to visit several beaches in and around Puerto Escondido I am noticing that each...

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Weavers in Puerto Escondido

Weavers in Puerto Escondido

Another morning of surfing, an afternoon lounging about and then a couple hours exploring a weaving shop near Playa Principale. That summed up our lovely Monday in Puerto Escondido. At the end of the day, however, I was so tired I went to bed early. It wasn't until...

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Agua Blanca, Oaxaca

Agua Blanca, Oaxaca

Agua Blanca is a small beach town located about 30 km south-east of Puerto Escondido. We discovered this special spot by reading the Viva Puerto magazine in which it was listed. It seems to be a popular spot for the locals but less visited by tourists who prefer to...

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Playa Carrizalillo, Puerto Escondido

Playa Carrizalillo, Puerto Escondido

Playa Carrizalillo is a short stretch of beach snuggled in a cove located in the Rinconada of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. To access the beach you must descend many steps, about 160 of them. The water is much calmer on this beach making it a good place for swimming. It...

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Relaxing in Puerto Escondido

Relaxing in Puerto Escondido

After our surfing adventures yesterday we were all in need of rest, especially me. I woke up this morning with bruises on my lower ribs, burns on the back of my legs an arms and sore muscles. It was all worth it of course! Maria and I mustered up some energy to go to...

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Surfing La Punta at Playa Zicatela

Surfing La Punta at Playa Zicatela

One thing that I wanted to learn while visiting Puerto Escondido was how to surf ocean waves. I have never surfed in the ocean but have some experience with wake surfing behind a boat. The two are very different. Before we left Canada I did some research to find an...

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Mazunte, Oaxaca

Mazunte, Oaxaca

 About an hour south-east of Puerto Escondido lies the charming small town of Mazunte. Here we stopped to explore the Living Museum of the Sea Turtles (Museo Vivo de la Tortuga Marina), a place of conservation and research. The museum itself is divided into two...

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Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

Playa Zicatela is a long stretch of beach on the east side Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. This popular beach is a world renown surfing destination, aptly named the “Mexican Pipeline”. Scattered along the beach there are yellow life-guard stations, red flags and warning...

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Our First Day in Mexico

Our First Day in Mexico

After twenty-four hours in Puerto Escondido we found ourselves happily settled. The pace of life here is relaxed and I never seem to know what time it is. Sometime in the afternoon Maria, along with her mother-in-law, and myself went to the mercado (market) in search...

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Hola! Arriving in Mexico

Hola! Arriving in Mexico

Air travel is amazing. A mere six hours of air travel and we went from freezing winter weather in Canada to tropical summer heat in Mexico. The moment we walked off the plane in Huatulco, Oaxaca we were oppressed by the humidity, it was such an extreme change for me...

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