Aguas Abiertas Puerto Escondido

Late November in Puerto Escondido presents a dynamic environment for open water swimmers. The Pacific swell here is constant, requiring rhythmic adjustment to the cadence of the waves as they roll into the bays. While the open coastline experiences significant surf, the race route utilizes sheltered coves where the water shifts between tones of emerald and turquoise, providing calmer lanes protected from the direct impact of the open sea. Swimmers should anticipate a marine environment where rocky outcroppings, specifically the prominent El Morro formation, serve as essential navigational markers, dividing the high-energy surf zones from the controlled race areas.

Historical waters and marine life

Beneath the surface, the rocky shelves support dense populations of oysters, lobsters, and manta rays that are frequently encountered during the longer 5km swims. This coastline was once a functional shipping route for coffee exports, a period that defined the settlement before it evolved into its current form in the 1930s. The waters carry the legacy of the legend of La Escondida, a Mixtec woman who escaped her captors by swimming to these very shores after being held by the pirate Andrés Drake, finding refuge in the dense coastal jungle. As you navigate the course, you are effectively retracing the path of a historical evasion that remains a local point of reference for the bay's name.

Race day organization

The Aguas Abiertas Puerto Escondido, organized by Gran Retto®, offers distances of 500m, 1500m, and 5000m. The 2026 edition is scheduled for November 28, with a start time in the early afternoon, a window selected to align with the typical tidal cycles and wind patterns of the Oaxacan coast. Participation involves navigating the transition between the open ocean and the protected bays, mirroring the geography that protected the region's early inhabitants. The surrounding area near the village of Bajos de Chila contains significant archaeological findings, including a Sun Stone dedicated to a solar deity, grounding the modern sporting event in a deeply layered regional history.