Connectivity & Internet in Puerto Escondido

Good to Know

• Verify internet type and speed before booking any accommodation—quality varies drastically by building and neighborhood, not city-wide.
• Centro and Rinconada neighborhoods offer the most consistent traditional (Telmex) broadband; beachfront areas like Zicatela and La Punta traditionally suffered poor service until Starlink adoption.
• Peak tourist season (December–April) and weekend peak hours noticeably slow traditional broadband due to network congestion.
• City-wide internet outages (affecting both WiFi and 4G) can last hours to a day when the main Telmex fiber-optic cable under the highway breaks—common enough that digital nomads plan accordingly.
• Coworking spaces (day passes $10–$17 USD) are reliable with fiber optic and ideal for video calls or time-critical work; book weekly or monthly passes if staying long-term, as spaces fill quickly.
• Starlink has become the preferred upgrade path for vacation rentals and home installations, especially in previously underserved beachfront areas; provides 100–200 Mbps but requires clear sky view.
• Mobile hotspot backup (Telcel prepaid at ~$11 USD/month) is essential for any remote worker; Telcel and Telmex failures often correlate, so a different carrier (AT&T) for true redundancy is wise.
• e-SIM options (Airalo) available; can be pre-installed before arrival to avoid on-landing SIM purchases, though local SIM activation is simple at Oxxo kiosks or Telcel stores.
• If heavy video conferencing or large file uploads are core work, Starlink or a coworking desk should be prioritized over home broadband; traditional speeds insufficient for sustained professional demands.