After weeks upon weeks in cities I decided it was time to get off the beaten track a bit. While at the party in Tuxtla I was told about the tiny coastal town of Puerto Arista and I decided it sounded like just the ticket.
Puerto Arista, is located on the Pacific coast and is ideal if you’re looking to just get away. While I was there, I had the beach to myself during the day – aside from the occasional fisherman – and in the evenings would be joined by a few families who would come out and play in the waves during sunset.
Fresh seafood is the main cuisine in town and is served at a variety of similar looking palapa topped restaurants all facing the beach. Slide your feet into the sand while downing a cold corona, some fresh shrimp and watching the sunset – it’s not a bad way to spend the evening.
However, if you’re looking for nightlife, this is not the place to be. I was the only person in most of the restaurants I visited and I would rarely see others when walking to/from my hotel. It picks up a bit on the weekends and during Mexican holidays but I imagine it’s pretty much always a sleepy little town.
If you need modern conveniences like TV, Internet, shopping, etc. it’s also probably not for you as there is a single place to access the internet and I didn’t see a TV. There are also not really any markets, just stalls along the side of the road that sell incidentals.
If you’re looking for a spot for swimming, PA is not the place. While the water is warm and clean and shallow, there is a wicked rip tide that can make standing, much less swimming, treacherous.
Getting there: You can take a first or 2nd class bus and then you grab a shared taxi (mine held 6 adults and 2 kids) for 15 MXN to the coast. They’ll drop you either in the center of “town” or for an extra 10 MXN will drop you at your hotel.
