Mexico City > Puerto Escondido

CDMX > X > Oaxaca > Puerto Enscondido

Mexico | Oct 2025 |

After a sweet 2-day stay in Mexico City (CDMX), I was keen to head south to Oaxaca City (first visit) and Puerto Escondido (stayed for a few weeks in 2004).

Duration & Distances

10 days / 3 stops / 12 hrs riding / 700 km

Ride 1: Mexico City to Acatlan de Osorio

I took the no-toll road out of CDMX. While the ride into the massive city was fast and easy, the ride out involved a few missed turns and long swings back onto the right track. It took as long as you would expect, probably 2 hours. But then things abruptly changed from urban to rural, and I was into some great scenery on a country road. One of the major sights along this road was a prominent, perfectly shaped volcano (perhaps the same one as located near Puebla?). This was a nice ride, glad I took this route. It's a 9-hour ride from CDMX to Oaxaca, so I needed to stay somewhere along the way - but I didn't have a pre-planned stop. I found a decent Airbnb in a place called Actatlan de Osorio, about halfway. Had a decent dinner and breakfast, the only tourist in town.

Ride: 250 km / 5 hours

R2: Acatlan to Oaxaca

Another great day riding through the rural heartland of Mexico on a secondary road. I was stoked to visit Oaxaca, and it lived up to expectations. This city is buzzing with energy and culture, non-stop, ranging from colorful parades to boisterous wedding celebrations to loud bars. The food is incredible, too. I had mole enchiladas for breakfast both days. A mere 20 minutes away, on a flattened mountain top above the city, sits Monte Alban, one of the premier Mesoamerican sites in Mexico. I only stayed 2 nights in Oaxaca, but I left feeling like it is a place you could hang your hat for a while.

Ride: 235 km / 5 hours

R3: Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

This ride was a bit of a conundrum for me. Take the 175, recognized as one of the best motorcycle routes in Mexico, or the 131, even more of a challenge, or simply get on the new toll road and roar straight to Puerto Escondido ASAP on a good road. Though not exactly my style, I chose the toll road - and it was a great ride, smooth, little traffic, nice scenery. Part of my urgency was to get back to the beach, and Puerto Escondido is a premier place for that purpose. I had been here in 2004 (camping). Today it is much more developed, a major digital nomand/backpacker/expat/tourist center. It really has it all as a destinastion. I went diving with Big Wave Diving (seperate post on this coming). I met a guy with a Yamaha Tenere 660 on a back street, talked a bit. I looked him up, turns out he is Spencer Conway, a noted adventure rider, had a TV series. He now lives in PE. I ended staying 5 nights, then it was on to Guatemala.

Ride: 195 km / 3.5 hours

Route

Here's my route. Click on the little door top-left on the map for place names.