The Mexican coastal town is blessed with several incredible beaches - so how do you find the one that’s perfect for you? Read our guide to the best beaches in Puerto Escondido to decide.

The town of Puerto Escondido is the main gateway to the glorious coastline of Oaxaca, as well as a destination in its own right.

A long-established favourite amongst surfers and backpackers, it's been a popular holiday pick for in-the-know Mexicans and North Americans for a while. However, fuelled by a few different factors, there has been a big boom in the last couple of years, and Puerto is one of the fastest-growing, trend-setting destinations in Mexico.

A big reason for this is undoubtedly the selection of nine wonderful, sandy beaches in town that one can enjoy with relatively little effort: wherever you're based in Puerto Escondido, you'll only be a short walk from the ocean.

However, they're not all created equal: some of the beaches in Puerto Escondido are better for swimming, some for surfing, some feel like remote paradises, whist others are busier with cool bars and restaurants just metres from the sand.

The 3.5km long stretch called Playa Zicatela is by far the best known, and its reputation formed the backbone of Escondido's evolution into an internationally in-demand destination. Venture further further north-west though, and there are a handful of gorgeous little palm-tree coves with calmer waters and chilled out beach clubs ideal for a lazy day on the sand.

And, if you go a little further, you'll find one of our favourite beaches on the Oaxacan Coast.

We've visited Puerto twice, nine years apart, and are happy to now be able to share the best beaches of Puerto Escondido with you. In this post, we've got got all the key inspiration + information you need to choose and prioritise the right beach (or beaches) for your stay, with useful tips on what you need to bring, facilities, accessibility, and how best to reach each of them from elsewhere in town.

Although you'll only ever be a sub 10-minute taxi ride, a colectivo journey, or a walk away, whether you choose to stay on the western side of Zicatela, the centro, or nearer the airport will shape how close you are to our favourites. If you're still in the planning stage of your trip, keep an eye out for our accommodation recommendations on or near each beach, so you can decide where's the best base for you.

These are the best beaches in Puerto Escondido.

Beaches in Puerto Escondido | GOOD TO KNOW

First though, we want to share a few quick, general points about the Puerto Escondido beaches:

· most have simple beach clubs which offer food, drinks and facilities to clients.

· these clubs also rent out sunbeds and umbrellas, with some including it for free based on your 'consumption' i.e. if you eat/drink/spend a certain amount there

· consumption tends to be in the range of M$150-300 per person depending on the place, beach, and season; if you're arriving for a 'full day' at the beach, with lunch somewhere, it's a good idea to try and find a place that includes sunbeds based on consumption.

. others places rent them out separately, usually for the half-day or full-day, and the rate varies depending on the season. Expect to pay about M$150-300 fwo beds, an umbrella, and a table.

· beyond this, there's lots of free, public sections at all the beaches in Puerto Escondido.

· you do need to bring snacks and supplies with you to a couple of beaches in this list.

· some beaches are suitable for beginner surfers, whilst others are only suitable for experienced ones. You can rent surfboards in La Punta and Zicaleta for M$200-300/day, whilst there are usually people offering rental and lessons at beginner-appropriate beaches.

· unsurprisingly, weekends and holidays see the crowds balloon; Christmas/New Year and Easter (Semana Santa) are ones to avoid for the best experience of Puerto.

· locals do not sunbathe topless, but you will see travellers doing on some beaches - if you want do go nude, best make your way along the coast to Zipolite.

Plan / 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Puerto Escondido

Playa Zicatela

The unfathomably long, wide stretch of Zicatela beach is the spine around which much of Puerto Escondido's tourism has developed.

On the roads running parallel to the 3.5km beach, you'll find the main hubs of accommodation, restaurants, and nightlife, and good number of visitors will stay on or near it.

The northern end, which you'll arrive at first if walking from the town centre up the hill or turning off Highway 200, is the busiest part and most like a resort. There are a range of beachfront restaurants, souvenir shops, and tourist agencies and, though it isn't our favourite section of Puerto Escondido, it's popular and convenient.

Head south on the pavement or along the sand, and the buildings and coverage becomes sparser and more low-key, reflecting that it's a bit more of a rugged, wild, and largely empty section of beach. This area - which we're calling 'Mid Zicatela’ - is however likely to change in the coming years, with several luxurious, boutique hotels recently completed (like Casa Joseph Zicatela).

Whilst the length of Zicatela guarantees that you'll always be able to find a place to yourself in total seclusion, or alternatively a sunbed with easy-access facilites, the wide open nature of the beach can mean it lacks the features we like best when choosing where to have a proper beach day.

Type of Beach | The beach is nothing but fine sand, but due to the strong currents, the ocean is generally considered too dangerous to swim in.

This is surfer heaven though, with Zicatela's beach break producing the big, powerful barrels for which Puerto is famous. Known as the Mexican pipeline, the number of tributes to surfers who have died here serve as a reminder of just how strong and dangerous the swell can be - this is not the Puerto Escondido beach for beginners.

How To Get There | The important thing to be aware of before planning your time in Zicatela is that this beach is huge; it's a distance of just under 2km from the northern section of Zicatela (where you'll find Selina Hostel) to the area where we've unofficially declared a border with it and La Punta, roughly by Casa Joseph Zicatela where the paved road ends (but the entire beach actually stretches for 3.5km).

Therefore, simply putting Zicatela in Google Maps or asking a taxi driver to take you there doesn't give an accurate picture of how long you may need to walk or what the final fare will be.

As a rough estimation, it's a 20-30 minute walk from the town centre of Puerto Escondido to the north end of Playa Zicatela (here on Google Maps), and just under an hour from La Punta’s main drag.

You can reach the beach with one of the colectivo camionetas, but these stick to the main highway that runs behind and parallel to Zicatela. These shared pick-up trucks are the main form of public transport around Puerto Escondido, and are very affordable and convenient for getting around. They are often crowded or full though, so if you've got a large group or your luggage, it may be best to jump in a taxi instead.

Accessibility | Once you're on Avenida de Morro - the road which runs parallel to most of Zicatela beach - it's a short, flat walk on to any part of the beach and there are various access points.

Facilities | Most of the northern section has everything you'll need, but amenities are sparser the further east you go. On the beach itself, you'll find restaurants offering sunbeds and parasols for clients (usually based on a minimum consumption of food & drink), so it's a good idea to pick one that has a good menu as well as a nice spot on the sand. You can also rent them.

Stay | If you’re a backpacker, our top pick is the new Secret Beach Hostel (the popular chain of Selina Hostels is located nearby but, well, we think they’re kind of overrated).

Older vacationing travellers would likely enjoy Hotel Santa Fe, whereas if you’d prefer an Airbnb, take a look at HippieChic Suites if you want something a little fancier or Casita if you’re watching the pennies.

(if you quite fancy staying somewhere luxurious at the quieter end of Playa Zicatela, you simply must take a look at the gorgeous Casa Joseph Zicatela).

La Punta Zicatela

Although the 3.5km long Playa Zicatela beach is what put Puerto Escondido on the map as a world-class surfing destination, La Punta is the better pick for a chilled out beach day.

Located at the southern end of Zicatela, it’s technically part of the beach, but the further toward the gentle curve and the hill you go, the clearer the divide and greater the appeal of La Punta becomes.

Its beach is wonderful, offering a more tropical and intimate vibe than the wider, more exposed sections of Playa Zicatela.

There are a few beach clubs and palapa restaurants, which are ideal if you want a sunbed and umbrella for a full-on day of sunbathing with drinks and a fresh seafood lunch. However, there’s also loads of space to simply lay your towel down on the soft sand. The sea is calmer here for swimming, it’s impeccably clean, and the atmosphere and aesthetic is suitably on point.

‘La Punta’ is also the name for the neighbourhood backing onto the beach, and it’s the area that most travellers and backpackers will want to be based in or near.

An ever-expanding network of dusty streets, it’s changed a lot since we were there nearly a decade ago. It’s now home to many more of the sorts of cool coffee shops, restaurants, artisanal shops, hangouts, and bars one would expect for an increasingly popular destination, with stylish Airbnbs aplenty, a few boutique hotels, and several large ‘spring break’ social hostels up the hill.

This means it’s got more of a generic international hipster traveller vibe at times, and it’s at that transition point from backpacker-bohemian to boojie; thankfully some distinctly Mexican locally-run businesses and aspects remain but may get squeezed out as time goes on.

Find out more in 13 Wonderful Things To Do In Puerto Escondido

Type of Beach | Clean and sandy. This is a really popular place for surf lessons and beginners to find their feet, though it can get a wee bit busy in the water.

It’s reserved for kids to surf 6am -10am on Saturdays and Sundays, but you can still access the beach and water.

Note that whilst the beach is a little more sheltered, the water itself suffers from the same strong currents as Zicatela so you’ll need to be careful heading in.

How To Get There | You can find La Punta here on Google Maps, at the far western end of Playa Zicatela.

How you reach La Punta completely depends upon where you’re staying, but given how far away it is geographically from other areas of Puerto, most of you will reach La Punta with either a taxi (if you’re feeling fancy), or one of the regular colectivo camionetas that head back and forth along the highway - you just need to walk down from the stop.

Accessibility | You can nip in and out of La Punta’s beach via several little streets off the main drag, but the main entry points are via Heroes Oaxaqueños (maps) and the small, dusty car park at the end of the main street (maps). For less mobile travellers, asking your taxi to drop you off at the latter will offer the shortest, easiest walk on to the sand.

Facilities | If you enter by Heroes Oaxaqueños and go left, this is is where there's a cluster of beach clubs with sunbeds and parasols under the palm trees, with some attached restaurants. It's about M$300 for two, separate to any consumption.

Continue left along the curve toward the point, and you'll find the best section of free beach to lay your towel down, sunbathe, and watch the surfers (here on Google Maps)

Just a one minute walk from La Punta beach is the main street of the area, with a great selection of places to eat, drink, and grab some snacks. If you're wanting lunch between sunbathing sessions, we highly recommend the tacos at the Fish Shack (maps)

Stay | Younger travellers of all types will most likely want to be based in La Punta (we were on the second trip), and there are plenty of hostels to choose from - we recommend Che Puerto Escondido Hostel & Bar for the party crowd, Real Juquilita La Punta if you want to chill and Néctar: Hotel, Cafe, Cowork if you prefer your hostels a bit more bougie.

If the ease of a hotel is more your thing, take a look at the stunning Casa To, (or Casa de Olas Boutique Hotel if you’re a surfer)

Alternatively, for those that love an Airbnb you’re spoiled for choice - start with Casa La Baba and Bikini Beach House, but you can find lots of other recommendations in our guide on Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido.

Playa Principal

What a difference nearly a decade can make.

We really didn't rate Playa Principal that first visit, but that was most definitely on us.

This is very much an authentic local's beach, filled with families and fishermen, and all the small joys of Mexican beach culture. Stallholders serving up fresh ceviche, chopped fruit, and cold beers on red plastic tables, colourful boats zooming in off the waves, arguments, music, and laughter from big groups.

It's almost Italian!

This was undoubtedly one of our favourite spots in the late afternoon for a beer, people-watching, and small joys of being in somewhere so different to home, so don't count it out! After all, you've come to Mexico to be in Mexico, not a hipster-traveller version of it.

Type of Beach | A sandy beach that is relatively sheltered due to its setting within the Bahia Principal. In comparison to other beaches in Puerto Escondido, it may look a little dishevelled and cluttered, and there's more litter here too; for certain 'vacation vibes' it may not fit the bill. There are always multiple boats in the water - and coming out of it at ridiculously high speed - so this is not really a good one for swimming due to the traffic and it really not being the cleanest.

Not a surfer's beach.

How To Get There | Find Playa Principal here on Google Maps. It's a 10-15 minute walk from the town centre and the highway, and about the same from the western section of Zicatela.

Accessibility | You can access Playa Principal from either end of the beach.

Facilities | There are lots of free beach areas as well as several no-frills beach restaurants who also provide parasols and sunbeds based on consumption (you can rent too). A good pick to try out is one of the simple plastic table set-ups, even if it's just for a beer break.

Stay | No accommodation on the beach itself, but there are a few more traditional hotels overlooking it, including Hotel Paraiso Escondido.

Alternatively you could choose to stay in one of Centro’s many popular hostels - we particularly like Casona H and La Escondida H, but if you’re looking for a basic and guest house with wonderful hosts, Casa Solteca is a cheaper option.

Playa Marinero

If Playa Principal doesn't float your boat, then the good news is that it’s adjoined by Playa Marinero which offers a much less frentic, more plush and relaxing beach day experience.

Sandwiched between Zicatela and Principal, there are only a handful of beach clubs, but their more private setting, nicer facilities, and quieter surrounds put them amongst some of the better options in Puerto Escondido if you would like service, facilities, cocktails and comfort.

There's also plenty areas of free beach, which are far less crowded than Principal.

Type of Beach | A fine sand bay, scattered with parasols from nearby beach bars / clubs.

This is theoretically a place where you can surf, but we didn’t see anybody hitting the waves the few times we passed through.

How To Get There | A very short walk from Zicatela and Principal, find Playa Marinero here on Google Maps.

Accessibility | You can access the beach and various restaurants from Avenida del Morro, after the mirador (maps), but involves a short set of stairs; you can also simply walk left or right from Playa Principal or Playa Zicatela.

Facilities | Sabor A Mar Restaurant (maps) is a good beach club to check out - we were only there for a quick drink and to take some photos - but instantly thought it would be a great place to spend the day, with decent lounger/parasols and a chilled set up.

Stay | There’s only one accommodation directly on Playa Marinero - the super chilled Nomad Beach House - but anywhere at the northern end of Zicatela or in the centre of Puerto Escondido would be within walking distance to the beach.

Find your perfect place in Where To Stay in Puerto Escondido

Puerto Angelito & Playa Manzanillo

If you’re looking for a more intimate beach experience, you have to make your way to this duo of pretty little coves to the west of Playa Principal.

Manzanillo is the more popular and photogenic option, whilst Angelito tends to have more fishing boats up on the sand. Separated by rocks, there’s a walkway to quickly and easily cross between the two.

Due to their proximity to the town, they can become quite crowded as the day goes on, but they are particularly lovely at sunset.

Type of Beach | Sheltered sandy bays with calm waters that are very family-friendly and good for swimming. Neither are for surfers.

How To Get There | You can find Playa Manzanillo here on Google Maps, and Puerto Angelito opposite here. To reach both (or either), you have three options:

· The most straightforward option is via the steps located here. From town it’ll be about 10-minutes, whilst from north Zicatela it’s half an hour. From La Punta, it’s better take a taxi.

· You can also go to this turning down Camino Puerto Angelito (maps), walk down that, take a left shortcut and follow the dusty road downhill to the opening and you’ll eventually come out in the middle of the two beaches.

· Alternatively, continue a little further along Puerto Angelito to the parking lot (maps) and follow the paved road down to the end, which will allow you to enter via the right hand side onto Puerto Angelito. If taking a taxi, they’ll probably drop you offer at this entrance.

Accessibility | The stairs and the shortcut trail may be a bit difficult for some, so it would be best to walk in from the Puerto Angelito side.

Facilities | Several traditional Mexican restaurants and beach bars on both sides.

La Isla Beach Club (maps) is a popular spot with cocktails, sunbeds, and a live DJ playing (shit loud techno when we were there) but others may enjoy the vibe and higher prices.

Stay | The hill overlooking Manzanillo has become the place for stylish Airbnbs with a Pacific view, so this is somewhere to seriously consider. This Airbnb is simply stunning, but if you’d prefer a Casa Cascada is one of our favourites, not just in this area but in Puerto Escondido more generally.

Playa Carrizalillo

A gem of a beach, and one of the most loved in Puerto Escondido, Playa Carrizalillo is somewhere you should absolutely make time to visit!

The sheltered bay offers quite the contrast to Playa Zicatela, and the cramped set-up of shack restaurants and sunbathers gives everything a slightly chaotic feel when it's high tide and peak busy.

It’s the least accessible beach on this list, requiring a steep trek down seemingly never-ending steps in the cliffside, but Playa Carrizalillo is definitely going to be worth the effort.

The only downside is that it does become quite crowded as the day goes on, particularly at weekends, and it can be difficult to get a good (or any) space on the sand if you turn up in the afternoon and you're not willing to pay for a sunlounger. Even then, the sun loungers are all quite close to each other, so it’s all a bit tightly packed at times.

Due to this, it's a good idea to turn up earlier if you're planning to spend a decent amount of time here.

Type of Beach | Sandy with calm water for paddling and swimming. There are a few surf schools/instructors based here and some baby waves, so it's a really good spot to have your first or second lesson. However, the water can be quite busy in sections, so you have to be courteous and aware.

How To Get There | Playa Carrizalillo is one of the most easterly beaches in Puerto (here on Google Maps), so unless you’re staying in the Bacocho/Rinconda area or the highway side of centro - all of which are within walking distance - you’ll either need to opt for a taxi or a combo of colectivo camioneta + walking.

Accessibility | Accessed via a 160 or so steep steps with some decent street art, travellers with mobility issues will struggle to visit here, and the walk back up takes its toll on most. Don't bother with a pram or pushchair.

Facilities | There are half dozen or so palapa restaurants serving up fresh fish, traditional Mexican plates, cold drinks, and snacks. The service can be really slow at lunchtime due to the basic set-up and the number of diners, so be patient, don't arrive at peak hanger levels, and have a look around to see how many people look like they've been waiting a long time before deciding.

Menus and prices are around about the same across them all, and we ate at El Almendrito, which was delicious but the food took an almost unacceptably long time for to arrive.

You can also buy drinks from the restaurants, but note that they will sometimes not allow you to sit or use any of their tables unless you meet the minimum consumption amount (varies from about M$100 - 250); one restaurant wouldn't even allow us to eat at its (empty) front tables as there were just two of us, which was a bit odd.

You can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas, but be aware that they’re usually not included automatically if you have lunch or drinks there. The rate is about M$300 for the full day in the high season, but there is more flexibility in low season.

Stay | The popular area of Rinconada runs behind Playa Carrizalillo, and you can find lots of accommodation options there. We love the part-hostel, part-boutique hotel Casa Conicarit but if you’d prefer an apartment take a look at this Unique Living Space, or if you’re on a bit more of a budget The Garden Casita.

Things to Know // On the left hand side of the beach, there's a set of stairs you can go up to get a lovely view over Playa Carrizalillo. However, you can only go so far, as there's a clear 'private property' sign - this is an alternative entrance for guests of Villas Carrizalillo Hotel.

Also, watch your towel and stuff if you’re sunbathing on the sand - the tide does shift here and take you by surprise if you’re too close…

Playa Coral

This is a curious place some will love but others won't be interested in making time for; its important to work out which camp you fall into before making your way to Playa Coral.

A sliver of tropical beach backed by a seemingly abandoned hotel and water park, with rusting slides and drained pools, it would be creepy as hell (and a brilliant escape room set-up) if it weren't for all the people enjoying themselves here beneath the palm trees.

One then eventually realises that all is not as it seems at the ghost resort, with a small cafe by the pools and a hostel having taking over at least a few of its top floors with an amazing rooftop space to boot.

Slightly surreal and certainly unique, this would be a memorable place to stay as a backpacker.

Type of Beach | Set within a sheltered bay, Playa Coral is a narrow cove of golden sand edged by relatively calm turquoise waters. Although winds can pick up can cause messy waves, it remains one of Puerto’s best swimming spots.

Not for surfers.

How To Get There | You can find Playa Coral here on Google Maps, just next to Playa Bachocho.

As we were visiting one after the other, we accessed Coral via the large rocks that separate the two beaches. However, there is mixed information online about whether Playa Coral is now designated as a private beach with access only for guests of La Coral + Villa Mexicana and those paying for a day pass.

We actually walked out through the pool and lobby of Villa Mexicana when exiting, which did make us feel like we'd done something we weren't supposed to do...and it looks like the hotel offers admissions packages with food + drink from M$50-100 per person.

Supposedly the reason they have to offer those packages is because it's illegal to make it a private beach - or make access to a public beach private - so it seems that you do have a right to go the way we did.

If you plan on accessing Playa Coral via Villa Mexicana, you want to take a taxi or walk to this point on Google Maps. We do our best to keep these posts as up-to-date and helpful for travellers like you, so please do let us know if things change and/or you have any issues!

Accessibility | From the entrances of Villa Mexicana or La Coral, it’s a decent walk down to the beach via a spiral concrete ramp, and you have to go back up it to exit, so this is not a good pick for travellers with mobility issues

Facilities | There’s nothing except the small, simple on-site cafe which also sells snacks and drinks, so it’s a good idea to bring along some supplies and cash.

Stay | We absolutely do not recommend staying Villa Mexicana (the reviews are horrendous) but backpackers of the old school variety will likely love La Coral Beach House, but note that it is absolutely not a hotel.

Alternatively, consider one of the many excellent properties in Rinconada: we love the part-hostel, part-boutique hotel Casa Conicarit but if you’d prefer an apartment take a look at this Unique Living Space, or if you’re on a bit more of a budget go for The Garden Casita.

Things to Know // The proximity of Carrizalillo, Coral, Bacocho means you can check out all three on foot without any stress, and then pick your favourite for the day.

Playa Bacocho

On a map, you could easily look at Bacocho beach, its proximity to the town's airport, and dismiss it as somewhere not worth your time.

However, this is long stretch of fine golden sand is paradise - and relatively off the radar of those staying in Puerto Escondido for shorter periods and more focussed on its Instagrammable bays.

Quiet, uncrowded, undeveloped, romantic and relatively remote - with nothing but a turtle sanctuary and two exclusive beach clubs - this is a beautiful beach to visit for the day.

A popular pick at sunset, there is also a small turtle sanctuary that does releases at 5 or 6pm. These cost M$150 per person to participate in, with the money going towards conservation. You can find more information on turtle release programmes in our 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Puerto Escondido post.

Type of Beach | Soft golden sand and much calmer for swimming (but you still need to be super cautious and it's best to stay in the shallow). We recommend a walk along it, as it extends further than you think to the left, and is really gorgeous.

Note that this is not a surf beach.

How To Get There | Find Playa Bacocho here on Google Maps.

You can probably get there with a combination of a colectivo + walking, but if you're in La Punta, Zicatela, or the town cente, it's best to just hop into a taxi (we paid M$200 from from our hostel in La Punta).

Note that it can feel like you're heading into nowhere when you go down the big hill, but trust us, this is indeed the right road!

Accessibility | From the car parks, you're basically right on the beach.

Facilities | If you're coming to just lay on the sand, you need to bring absolutely everything with you as there are no restaurants, shops, or vendors here. In peak season, there may be someone renting out umbrellas & sun beds, but don't bank on it.

There are however two exclusive beach resorts here, Club de Playa Villasol (Club Bacocho) and Club de Playa Cocos, which offer accommodation as well as day passes. We didn't try these out as the sand was so lovely, but they may be a good option if you want a full-on relax day.

The Bacocho day pass rate is $800 pesos per person to get in (with $500 pesos each toward food and drink) and a Cocos day pass rate is 1000 pesos / 50 USD a day.

Stay | As above, if you are staying at/near the Rinconada or Bacocho neighbourhoods you'll be close enough to walk to Playa Bacocho.

If you’d like daily access to Club de Playa Villas, we recommend staying in the associated hotel - Hotel Suites Villasol (or El Capitan, a super cool Airstream that also provides access to the beach club).

The Best Time To Visit The Puerto Escondido Beaches

Operating on the tropical dry/rainy season binary, Puerto gets hot weather year-round, with monthly averages ranging from 28°C - 32°C. However, for beach holidays, there are definitely more optimal times of year to plan around.

The perfect winter sun destination, the best time to visit Puerto Escondido is from November to March. This is the dry season, with average temperatures around 29°C, little rainfall, the ocean is warmer for swim & surf, and the humidity is at a level that won't cause too much discomfort.

It's also ideal for whale-watching in the region.

This does however coincide with the busiest tourism season, particularly around December-January, and so prices are up and availability more limited at the best accommodations.

April and May are the hottest months, with humidity creeping up too. It will still ideal for the beaches and water-based activities, but may start to be too hot, sticky, or uncomfortable at times for some travellers.

Late April is however the start of the proper surf season (although you can surf year-round here), with the biggest and baddest waves around until October.

The week of Semana Santa (Easter) week also usually falls around April, and is ridiculously busy. Prices shoot up, crowds become unbearable and certain beaches are spoiled, so we suggest avoiding that if you can.

The tropical rainy season begins in June and runs until around the end of September/beginning of October; though temperatures remain very high, uninterrupted beach days aren't guaranteed. During these months the humidity can be quite suffocating, overcast skies more common, and some seasonal beach businesses in Puerto will not be open. Unsurprisingly, this is the low tourism season.

So, for most of you, visiting Puerto Escondido's beaches is best done from November to March/April. You can also absolutely take your chances a little before November and on the transition point from dry to rainy season around May/June/July, but you'll have to adjust expectations accordingly.