So I decided to throw my schedule out the window last Tuesday and just go to Carrizalillo after seeing those ridiculous sunset photos online. Packed super light – sunscreen, a towel that’s seen better days, flip-flops, and my empty stomach. Grabbed the first bus heading south from Puerto Escondido while chewing on this sad piece of dry toast I found in my bag. Peaked around 10am – sun already smacking down hard.
Dumped my stuff at this family-run place right off the dusty road – concrete floor but the fan worked, good enough. Slathered on sunscreen like I was icing a cake, practically smelled like a coconut. Hoofed it down the killer staircase to the beach – all 167 steps, counted ’em, legs were screaming by step 50. Totally worth it though. That crescent of golden sand hit me like a wave of awesome. Water? Crystal. Warm. Perfect.
Fun Stuff That Actually Happened
Didn’t just sit there melting. Rented a board from Pablo – dude had teeth missing but his laugh was solid. Waves weren’t monsters, just nice little rollers perfect for my level (aka flailing mostly). Got tossed around a bunch, swallowed some Pacific, laughed my head off. Totally wiped when I stumbled back to shore. Tip: Haggle gently with Pablo, buy him a Coke after, you get good vibes all day.
- Ate: Shrimp tacos from the lady near the lifeguard chair. Soooo good. Grilled on the spot, smoky char taste. Squeezed lime all over, dripped salsa down my shirt. Zero regrets. Cost like pocket change.
- Drank: Coconut hacked open with a machete right in front of me. Water ice cold, scraped the flesh out after. Refreshed like I’d just been reborn.
- Explored: Climbed the rocks at the north end of the cove. Little tide pools with tiny, frantic crabs skittering away. Found a semi-private spot just to watch the water and breathe. Magic hour there? Colors went crazy – oranges, pinks, purples melting together. Phone pics don’t do it.
How The Food Actually Tasted
Sun dipped low, stomach started growling again. Followed my nose up the stairs (ugh, the climb back up is brutal with a full belly) to the cluster of plastic tables overlooking everything.
- Tried: Ceviche mixto from “Mama Rosa’s” (blue tarp roof). Shrimp, fish, octopus bits – so fresh it tasted like the ocean sneezed in a bowl. Sharp lime, bit of heat from chopped chilies. Crunchy saltines for scooping. Real talk: Best thing I ate that day.
- Avoided: The super touristy place with the neon sign near the top. Prices tripled. Watched someone get a sad-looking quesadilla there. Kept walking.
- Surprise Win: Found this old guy grilling corn further back. Slathered in mayo, dusted with chili powder and crumbly cheese? Messy, weird, delicious. Stood there leaning against a wall, corn juice dripping down my arm. Perfection.
Ended the day sandy, salty, slightly sun-kissed (maybe misjudged the reapplication timing after swimming), and utterly happy. Paid the guy at the family place his few hundred pesos. Sat on the open balcony just listening to the waves crashing below in the dark. Thought about how sometimes you just need to chase those sunsets and street tacos. No big life lesson, just… damn good ceviche. Booked a bed in Mazunte for tomorrow. Figured, why stop?
