Effortlessly Cool Hotel in Puerto Escondido Fuses Surf Culture with Boutique Style in Mexico

For years, Zicatela was seen as just for surfers. Located just outside Puerto Escondido on Mexico’s Pacific coast, it is widely known as one of (if not the best) surfing beaches in Mexico, thanks to the pounding waves of the wild Pacific Ocean and the fantastic breaks of the Mexican Pipeline. The water is tempestuous and getting in is not for the unwary, and while La Punta at the southern end is a little more relaxed, the northern end of the beach is really for experienced surfers only. 

As a result, Zicatela has held on to its laid-back, surfer-and-backpacker vibes, a casual place for non-surfing shoestring travelers to chill out on one of the best beaches in Mexico and for serious wave riders to take on the Pipeline. In recent years, the serene, stress-free joys of Zicatela have started to attract a larger, more international crowd, and the accommodation on offer has shifted from just surf hostels and budget guesthouses to a more boutique selection of places to stay. One of the best is Hotel Humano, an effortlessly cool design hotel that remains true to Zicatela’s surfing traditions, blending beach and board culture with stunning style to create an exquisite and luxurious place to stay. 

Hotel Humano is located to the south of Zicatela near Punta Zicatela, about a block from the beach. It’s a 10-minute drive from the center of Puerto Escondido and is easily reached from Puerto Escondido airport, which is about 5 miles away and served by routes from Houston and Dallas as well as several Mexican hubs. It is around 120 miles from the vibrant city of Oaxaca, the state capital.

Hotel Humano describes itself as “a sanctuary where the spirit of humanity thrives,” and it is a gloriously detailed environment that offers far more than just a place to rest your head. The lobby and hotel coffee bar is a triumph of elegant simplicity and barefoot luxury, fitted out in classic Oaxacan polished concrete with latticed brickwork accents and effortlessly stylish rustic furniture. The design style is all earth tones and sophisticated minimalism, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces and echoing the landscapes and scenery of the coastline. 

The lobby slips into the central courtyard, where loungers surround a plunge pool and jacuzzi. A rooftop bar serves up exceptional cocktails and jaw-dropping panoramic views of the coast, the mountains, and the ocean, and is a magnificent spot to watch the sunset. A small spa — complete with massage rooms, a sauna, and two cold plunges — offers a wonderfully relaxing welcome after your day’s activities. When it comes to dining, Hotel Humano pulls out all the stops, bringing chef Marion Chateau from Marseille’s La Relève to the Mexican Pacific. The Bistro offers a fantastic, locally sourced, fish-forward menu that is an absolute treat. 

There are only 39 rooms in Hotel Humano, and the attention to detail in each one is exceptional. Each one has a view of the pool and the courtyard, and while the eight suites are undoubtedly the standout options, the standard rooms are pretty special as well. The style is something like rustic minimalism, with occasional modern touches and a few dashes of decadent luxury. The idea was to hold on to the charming, casual chic of the surf culture of the area while adding elegance and sophistication.