Rainy season scares off more travellers than it should, and that’s part of why it’s our favourite stretch to actually be here for.
From roughly May through October, Puerto Escondido gets its rain in short, dramatic bursts rather than grey days that drag on. A typical pattern is a clear morning, a heavy hour or two of rain in the afternoon or overnight, and clear skies again not long after. It’s rarely the all-day washout people picture when they hear “rainy season.”
The upside is real. The jungle and hillsides around town turn a deep green, the town itself is markedly quieter, prices drop, and Zicatela’s surf is often at its best, since bigger swells tend to arrive with these months. If you don’t mind planning around a daily rain window, this is genuinely one of the better times to be here.
A few practical notes: pack a light rain jacket rather than relying on an umbrella, since afternoon downpours often come with wind. Waterproof phone cases are worth it if you’re out during the day. Roads inland toward waterfalls and villages can get rougher, so day trips in that direction are best arranged with a local driver rather than attempted independently during peak rain weeks.
For the one afternoon a downpour actually keeps you inside, this is when a pottery or ceramics workshop, a long lunch in La Rinconada, or simply a slow day by your own pool earns its place in the itinerary. Both our homes are built with this climate in mind — full insect screening, covered outdoor kitchens, and ceiling and floor fans throughout — so a rainy afternoon here doesn’t mean being stuck indoors with the windows shut.
If green hillsides, quieter beaches, and lower prices sound better to you than a packed dry-season crowd, rainy season is worth planning around rather than avoiding. Check availability for the months that suit you.
