PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MX
Puerto Escondido can be a kind of controversial place. I feel like people either love it or don't care for it. The feelings aren't as bifurcated as that of Tulum but some people just don't like the largeness of Puerto Escondido. I thought it was a perfect place though. Just the right amount of big. The time I spent in Puerto Escondido was some of my favorite in my entire time in Mexico. It's a beautiful beach town. With great waves, amazing and beautiful people filling the streets, great food everywhere and an excellent nightlife scene. At sunset the whole town seems come out to sit on the beach, socialize, relax and watch the amazing nightly spectacle with a beer in hand. I spent about 2 months there, and absolutely loved everything about it. It is certainly crowded though. It's one of the most popular places in the country to visit, and the popularity is only growing. But there was a feeling to the place. It wasn't yet touristy — more filled with travelers. That's an important distinction for me. It is, however, a rapidly changing place. On the street I lived on in La Punta there were 5 new operating restaurants/bars by the time that I left, that were essentially only dirt lots when I arrived. I feel I may have caught Puerto Escondido on the tail end of its magic. With an expansion of the highway on the way in, a large amount of construction and modernification coming with the truckloads of foreign and domestic investment, I fear the future of Puerto Escondido may follow in the footsteps of other Mexican boomtown stories like Tulum, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas. The Tulumification of Puerto Escondido is what scares me the most. What's amazing about Puerto Escondido is that as of now that hasn't happened yet. Something important to note about Puerto is that it is really large. So big that there is an international airport, and multiple different parts of town. It's a fully operating city. There are 3 main areas of town, each with their own distinct vibe. There is La Punta, Zicatela, and Centro. I will get into these in more detail below. In La Punta you can still find only dirt roads, a grungy scene with pseudo-abandoned buildings serving as hostels and bars, and barefooted surfers walking around everywhere. In El Centro you can find the more traditional and local vibe. In Zicatela you will find the clubs, hotels and restaurants more catered to tourism but still where the whole town goes out for their late nights. I hope that Puerto can keep its charm in the years to come. Despite all of the development going on — but I don't have high hopes. It's changing fast, and I don't think it's for the better. But for now it's amazing. A place I would recommend getting to as soon as you can. It has something for everyone. There are learning waves here, big world-class scary barrels, an amazing nightlife, stunning beaches, great food from all over the world, excellent local Mexican food, multiple different vibes depending on where you choose to stay, a great hostel scene, nice hotels and Airbnbs, a hippy scene and a party scene. It has whatever you are looking for. Of all the places I went in Mexico, Puerto Escondido is probably on the top of the list of the cities that I would have chosen to live in indefinitely. I just loved it so much. I think the people who are living in Puerto Escondido, and choose to spend a lot of time there are some of the most interesting and best I met anywhere in Mexico. A ton of like-minded people, doing the same things and just living their lives. Some tips: 1. Rent a scooter. It will really increase your mobility around town, and will open up the whole of Puerto Escondido.
One nice thing about the size of Puerto Escondido is that it is very easy to get to.
Puerto Escondido, or 'Puerto' as you will come to refer to it, is the largest coastal city in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, with a population of about 45,000 people. There are really two different ways to get to Puerto Escondido. By plane or by bus. No matter where you are coming from in Mexico, there will be an easy way to get here by bus. Probably the most common way to be coming from Oaxaca City, which will be about a 6 or 7-hour bus ride. It's pretty simple, an ADO bus will do the trick.
If you are flying it's also very easy to get here. The plane will most likely have to go through Mexico City before arriving in Puerto but that's an easy flight.
Once you get to Puerto there are a few important areas of town that will help you to get your bearings. There are 3 main parts, each with their own distinct vibe. There is La Punta, Zicatela, and Centro. I will get into these in more detail below. In La Punta you can still find only dirt roads, a grungy scene with pseudo abandoned buildings serving as hostels and bars, and barefooted surfers walking around everywhere. In El Centro you can find the more traditional and local vibe. In Zicatela you will find the clubs, hotels and restaurants more catered to tourism, but still where the whole town goes out for their late nights.
Below, I will get into each in some short detail. Each of the different parts of town has something entirely unique to offer. I would, if you have time, recommend spending a little bit of time in each of them.
La Punta is my favorite part of town personally. On a map you may see it technically named Brisas de Zicatela. It's the least developed of all the parts of town, however that is changing rapidly. The roads are still pretty much dirt everywhere. The vibe here is surf-town, with little trendy restaurants and shops lining the duty roads. You are also in the part of town most near the most popular and all-level friendly waves in the area — La Punta. It's an extremely crowded place where there are lessons and locals out in scores. La Punta is also home to pretty much all the surf schools, which has given La Punta the surfer vibe.
This was the only place that I stayed while I was here. It's right in front of my favorite part of the beach that fills up with people each night before sunset and the general atmosphere here is just great. From a nightlife perspective, things for the most part in La Punta shut down around midnight which keeps it a little bit quieter. The late-night partying happens over in Zicatela. So the bar scene here is cool and a little more on the mellow side which I also appreciate.
There's great small restaurants all over the place that I will get into, but in general I just love La Punta. Years ago it was just peanut farms apparently. It's certainly a lot different now, and changing faster than any other part of Puerto, but it's my favorite still.
Zicatela means a few things.
First, it is the name of the section of town right in the middle of town, along the beach. It's the most touristy part of town with all the big clubs and hotels right on the beach. With a little Malecon that people can walk around and shop and stuff.
Second, it's also home to the large wave that has made Puerto Escondido world-famous on the surf scene. 'MexiPipe' as they call it, is located right here and officially called Zicatela, or 'Zica' for short. It's an unbelievable spectacle to surf — even just to look at. So if you are looking to surf the big waves or just merely watch them, then this is the part of town you will be coming to.
Other than the wave, the area has a bunch of hotels and restaurants and all of the late-night clubs that go until the sun comes up are here as well. This is where you come to party essentially. I will get into all of that later.
Centro is an awesome part of town. It's the most authentic and local part as well. You will find most of the best local food and cheaper places to stay here. There's also some of the best hostels in town over here. The drawback, and reason why the prices are lower, is that you are further away from the beach and the center of the nightlife and backpacker/tourist scene when you are over here. But it's certainly one of the most important parts of town to experience. If you come to Puerto without going to Centro, you pretty much missed the whole point.
Go over to Centro, stay there a few nights, at least go get some food. It's a great part of town. It's about 10-15 minutes by taxi or collectivo from La Punta. So it's not close at all, but certainly worth it.
If you are really over the touristy-ness of Puerto, which is real, and can be annoying, then just come to Centro for a few days. It's a totally different experience.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
Such a cool little spot perfectly located in La Punta. It's my top pick overall from a hostel perspective. Nothing in La Punta is cheap, and this is no exception. But it's a really nice and mellow spot. It isn't a party hostel or anything, but it's going to be full of really cool people, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better located hostel in La Punta. It does a really good job of retaining the spirit of La Punta that gets lost in a lot of the new spots.
Puerto has an endless amount of housing options. There are so many hostels on Hostelword it is crazy. I am going to reccomend a few that I knew of. Slowly a lot of the old hippy shack places are getting bought up and torn down to be replaced with hotels. Sadly. But there is still a really nice array of different types of places to stay. The hostel scene is really good, and you have whatever you want to find here. There are the big party hostels, the mellow ones, and then the ones in between. I will get into a few options all over town so you can decide where you want to be as well.
There's a lot of hotel options also, but I didn't do any of that.
The other really good option is if you are going to be here for a long time to book a long-term spot. For me I found that this facebook group was the most helpful when figuring out what was available. But still the best way to find a place to stay is to just show up, meet some locals or people who have been living there for a long time, and just ask around. People are always in and out of here so it's not hard to find a room that someone is trying to sublet or something for a month or more. Airbnb is an option too, and there's great ones. But they will be more expensive than going through the local and in-person channels.
I have included what part of town things are in, in the name. The part of town will give you an indication of price. La Punta is, as all of the cool and hip places become, the most expensive. With Centro still being really affordable.
There will also be chain hostels here, like Selina and Che. I won't mention them, but if you like those then go ahead and search them out.
This place to me, is La Punta. The environment and vibe that this place puts off is to me everything that is good and right with La Punta and Puerto Escondido in general. Punta Vida is a little hostel, kind of. It's in a building that is about 50% completed from a construction perspective. It's been kind of taken over by some hippy types and turned into a grungy little hostel and hangout spot for local surfers and backpackers. They have some dorms for rent on the bottom floor and have a party every sunday night called Sunday BBQ. It's the best thing to do on Sundays, and one of the best things to do all week with homemade barbeque and live music from local and traveling DJs. Locals and tourists will come to this event every week and it's so great.
If you stay here it won't be luxury AT ALL. Don't expect that. But if you want to be around really good people and experience the best vibes in Puerto Escondido, then this is your place. I'm pretty sure it's not even possible to book this place online. You have to show up. The picture should give you an idea of what kind of a place this is. It's magicccc.
There's also nightly volleyball at the courts out front. This place is right on the sand.
I have pretty mixed feelings about this place. I honestly kind of hate it. It's your quintessential party hostel. Full of kids in their early 20s backpacking. A lot of the British Backpacking Boys or BBB's as I like to call them. I would be lying though if I said that I never went to any of their parties. It's a good place to meet people, and if you want to go the whole party-hostel route, this is your best bet in La Punta. I would never stay there though. I guess I'm old.
A really cool little option right in La Punta. It won't be on Hostelworld or anything. But it's a great little cheap spot right on the beach. They offer camping here and basic little rooms. It's one of the cheaper options in La Punta. If you are interested in camping, this is probably the best place to do it. Really amazingly located as well. It is, however, a very very simple place.
A good choice if you are staying in the center. It has a lively vibe with an almost party hostel environment. But it's a nice and cheap spot to stay, with a pool and cool people.
Probably the most popular hostel in El Centro. Everyone loves it, and it's a really really nice cheaper option. The people will be cool, the place itself is really nice, and you can't go wrong here.
The only hostel I have recommended in Zicatela. This place is pretty cool. It's located in Zicatela. Pretty much right in front of the wave, and that's why it's called Pipeline. It's a very basic spot, and is pretty different from the rest of the surrounding area in that sense. It's going to be full of a lot of surfers who are looking to be close to the wave, and be very mellow from a vibes perspective. — Nice and cheap as well.
Great location for surfing. The best of all the hostels for location for surfing the big one. Great ocean views here, and perfectly located for the late-night nightlife.
EATS
There are a ton of eating options here in Puerto Escondido. From international food all over the place in La Punta, to health foods and the such there as well, to delicious traditional Mexican food and local Oaxacan cuisine in the center.
The food here is really good. Theres tons of variety. The food that is of variety, however, won't be all that cheap. It will cost a pretty penny, and it's honestly a bit difficult to even find good cheap local food in the more expensive areas of town. Not to say it's impossible, it's just hard to find.
Regardless, you will enjoy the food here. There's no limit to it and I am sure new restaurants are popping up all the time and everywhere, so this list is likely missing some new goodies.
Street Food
With the heat, the nightly drinking, and all that goes on in Puerto every day I found that jugo verde, or green juice, was a daily cure for me. It's about $2 and you get a big delicious green juice liquado which has all sorts of healthy stuff in it. There are people in La Punta selling these out of little side of the road shacks for cheap and its a great way to support local and keep yourself feelin' fresh. I had one every day I think.
Beach Vendors
Every night at sunset when the whole town is on the beach, a bunch of people will be coming by with baskets of food and snacks. Argentinian empanadas, space cakes, sweets, what have you. The food is good, and you are supporting someone. Buy something if someone is walking around.
Coco Frio
There's lots of options to get cold coconuts all over the place in the streets. They are about $1, super refreshing, and a great way to buy local.
Rest's - LA PUNTA
Just an out of this world fried fish and shrimp taco. Usually the first question you will get when talking to someone. "Did you try the fish taco in La Punta?". This is what they are referring to. It's so good. There will potentially be a line and there's always a lot of people. Given the popularity, it's not super cheap.
The best local spot in La Punta and one of the only places I found it was actually possible to get decently priced food. They have all sorts of local options, but I always went with the torta. Almost every day. For 60 pesos it was enough for a full meal, and was very easy to take to go. Don't expect the food to come fast here. It says on the wall, "slow food, as fast as we can". So don't ask.
Some of the best food I ate in Puerto. Also, my favorite spot to go eat. It's right in the center of La Punta, and they are serving up just delicious Peruvian food. It's expensive, but the atmosphere and the food is delicious.
Nice little cafe spot. They have decent food and good coffee. If you need to take a day to do some life administration stuff, this is a good place to sit and work.
Excellent outdoor spot for dinner. They have burgers and really good pizza. Everyone sits outside kind of in a communal way. It's one of the better places to go with a big group before going out or something like that.
Awesome Thai spot in downtown La Punta. Really nice environment. Really popular. Not cheap.
Cool 2-storey restaurant on the main drag in La Punta. Nice place for a sit-down dinner for pizza and such. The second floor is a nice spot to get a beer and hang out as well.
Another awesome local spot here in La Punta. They have giant burritos that are great to split with a person. All different types of burritos. One of my favorite spots for lunch.
This is my favorite place in Puerto Escondido. Hands down. I think I went almost every day. It's a skate bowl, that is surrounded by a restaurant, a tattoo shop, local clothing store and other cool shops. It's also a bar. They have live music sometimes, and it's the best place to just hang out.
Another really cool spot that is pretty much a modern-day food-court. A bunch of different food vendors and stalls are outlining a bunch of picnic tables. There's a bar in here, once a week there is an open-mic night that draws almost the whole town, and the food options are great. And diverse.
I worked here for a while when I was in Puerto. It's a really cool little spot for some Vietnamese food. The drinks are good, and the food is also delicious.
Another little food hall, food court type of place. Comfy couches and places to sit while you have a drink and eat some food from one of the little vendors in there.
Rest's - ZICATELA
SUCH a good spot. My favorite food in Zicatela for sure, and the vibe is just great. I would come here almost every day after surfing Zicatela and getting my ass handed to me. They have a great selection of breakfast and lunch options. A must go.
Super cute little cafe in between Zicatela and La Punta. Really laid-back spot for some breakfast or light lunch after surfing or whenever.
Top local spot to go in the area. It's right off the main road up the hill in Zicatela. Perched up on the hill you have a perfect view of the wave. They have awesome local breakfast and lunch options, and a killer view.
Local spot in Zica, with delicious and huge burritos. Some of the best burritos in town.
The market in Zicatela is perched up off the main road. It's a big market with some shopping options, but a handful of restaurants as well that are on a terrace with a nice view of the ocean. Good spot to walk around and get some food as well. Not like a typical market though, more modern. Go to mercado Benito Juarez for the local market.
Cool little cafe that is perfect for after surfing or just a hungover morning breakfast mission.
Rest's - CENTRO
Little cafe spot up in Centro. It's not going to be the cheapest place in the world, and is pretty western tailored, but the food is good, and the environment is nice.
Top 3 places in all of Puerto to go eat. A great little spot in Centro serving up these unbelievable smoked fish tacos or 'Tacos Ahumado' in Spanish. They are out of this world, and a must-hit here in Puerto.
Tiny hole in the wall cafe spot with good cafe, a relaxing environment and delicious banana bread.
The local market in town where you can get the best selection of local produce and street foods. A nice place to go visit, get some food, and support local.
One of the top spots in town to get local Oaxacan food. It's a sit-down restaurant but they do really good local food, and it's worth a stop.
Another amazing fish taco spot in Centro. Pretty much just a side-of-the-road spot, but these are the best anyways.
and many more...
Go explore. There are restaurants all over the place. I could never even scratch the surface if I tried on food options here, but this is a good start. Go explore, try something new. There's always places opening and closing here, and the face of town is always changing. There's also a lot of street food options, especially in Centro that I didn't cover well. So go explore. Hit the market, find something new. Support local.
NIGHTLIFE
Puerto Escondido is famous for a few things. One of them being one of the best waves in the world. Another being beautiful beaches. The other being the nightlife. The nightlife in Puerto Escondido is probably some of the best I have ever encountered in my life. It is just amazing. It's 7 days a week, and it's just so much fun. No matter what night you want to go out you will be able to find something to do. During my time in Puerto, I was one of those people walking around the beach selling the tickets to the parties, so I got pretty in tune with what was going on, on a nightly basis. There is a schedule to things in Puerto Escondido. Some nights you want to go to some places, and others you want to go to others. But no matter what night you want to go out, you can make it work.
The beauty also of Puerto Escondido is that you can avoid the crazy nightlife as well if you want. It mostly all stays in Zicatela. With the exception of one place in La Punta. But the nightlife in La Punta is more mellow, more intimate, and ends early. You can totally come to Puerto and just hang out in La Punta, and it will be amazing. But what most people do is hang out in La Punta until around midnight, then make a move over to the Zicatela area for the late night stuff. It's so much fun. The best night life scene that I found in all of Central America and Mexico.
In general, the weekly schedule goes as follows. Each place here pretty much has its own night of the week. Each of the big Zica clubs that is. All the bars mentioned below, will be described further below.
- MONDAY - Cactus Nightclub
- TUESDAY - Chula Nightclub
- WEDNESDAY - Congo Salsa night
- THURSDAY - Punta Origen - Open Mic Night. Then out to Xcaanda or Chula after.
- FRIDAY - Mar y Juana Nightclub
- SATURDAY - Hucani Nightclub - HAS SADLY SINCE CLOSED
- SUNDAY - Punta Vida Barbeque
A note about the nightlife here. The presence of the cartel here is pretty noticeable. As it is in all of the big Mexican party towns. Really, don't worry about it. The bars and clubs are all in one way shape or form run by the cartels. It's fine though, if you don't do anything stupid, and don't mess with them, then you have nothing to worry about. If you are going to be buying drugs, buy them from the people at whatever bar or club you go to. They will be taken from you at the door at most places anyways. But don't worry, you will have the opportunity to repurchase them inside. Just don't be an idiot, don't haggle, don't start a fight, and they will be your friend. Actually keeping you safe in my opinion.
Bars and Clubs
This is my favorite place in Puerto. It's an empty pool for skating in the middle surrounded by a restaurant, a bar, and a few little shops including a tattoo shop. People come here every night to drink, eat, hang out and watch the skaters. I think I came here every night for some beers and just hang out with the cool people who come here every night. Just love it here. This is what a Punta should feel like.
Hucanii - CLOSED TEMP
I worked here for a while and maybe I am biased, but I think it's the best night club in Puerto. It's also the only one that is in La Punta. It's not much more than a two-storey wooden structure surrounded by a dirt-lot, right on the beach that serves as the dancefloor. It's open until about 7 in the morning on the weekends, and Saturday is the best night to go. They'll always have great DJs and the scene is great. SINCE CLOSED!!! SAD!!
In addition to being a food court there is also a great bar here. It turns into a place to hang out and drink every night, but the best night of the week is Thursday when it turns into an open-mic for locals and tourists to sing or play music. It's a great party and always full of cool and beautiful people. It goes from 8-11, then everyone goes out after in Zicatela. It's something you must do here on Thursdays.
I've mentioned this place before but it's just amazing. On Sunday nights they have a family barbeque that's open to the public. They cook up some great food, have a bunch of DJs come, and people party into the night. It's a great bar, and such a cool place to hang out in this like 50% constructed repurposed squat essentially.
A restaurant or bar kind of place in La Punta that is a nice spot to grab a drink while you are just walking around.
Simple and mellow little beach-bar just to the north of Punta Vida. It's pretty much just a little shack, but it's a great place to get a chill beer or margarita. Reminiscent of what Puerto was like before all the money came in. Very modest, but the best.
My favorite club in Zicatela. It's like a jungle-oriented rave venue pretty much. It's usually a ticketed entrance (about 50 pesos, $3) and their night of the week is Fridays. It's my favorite place to go out late night in Zica. Pretty much a rave with great DJs going late into the morning.
Cactus is kind of just okay for me. It's a cool place right on the beach in Zicatela. It's great on Mondays, which is the night that everyone goes there and it's packed, but other than that I would never really go. It's open all night though, and always full of people.
Another club on the beach in Zica. I wasn't the biggest fan of Chula. I guess maybe I went too many times. But it was certainly fun the first times that I went. It's best on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Another really big club in Zica. This one is going to be more centered around reggaeton music than any of the other ones. It's going off every night and the people who like reggaeton always want to go here. But the specific night of the week it is best is Thursday.
This place is unique in that it's the only place on the list in Centro. Congo is famous for its Thursday nights. They have salsa nights on Thursday, and it's hot and sweaty and crowded and crazy. You should come at least once while you are here.
Okay, this place isn't a bar, but it is a must when it comes to drinking, which is I guess what this whole section is about. There are these home-made coconut rum drinks that they sell in the tienda next to the fish in the center of La Punta. They will be in unmarked glass bottles, and are delicious coconut and rum drinks of different flavors. You just have to look in the fridge or ask for them but if you can find them they are so, so good. And cheap. The picture is of the fridge where they are.
SIGHTS
If you are there in the right season (March - September) the waves will probably be HUGE at one point while you are there. If you are not there to surf them, at least go check them out. They are in Zicatela. If it's big enough, some of the best surfers in the world will be in town.
Surfer: Greg Long
Photo: Edwin Morales
From a sights perspective in Puerto there actually isn't all that much to do. Just being in Puerto is kind of the thing to do. There are a few things that I would say you should go to or do. But really it's just being there.
I don't think I actually need to write this but it's certainly a thing to do. Go spend an evening on the beach in La Punta and enjoy the sunset with all the other travelers. It's literally a social event. And so beautiful.
Go spend an afternoon exploring the local market. Eating some local food, maybe buying a souvenir or two.
One of my favorite things to do was to go to this open-mic night at Punta Origen every Thursday at 8. It was just such an awesome international display of artists and musicians really bringing the whole community together.
I have mentioned this a lot of times, but make sure you don't miss out on the BBQ at Punta Vida every Sunday night after sunset. Get there early, and watch people play volleyball — then stay for the food, and the party.
Carizarillo is another beach up to the North past Centro. It's a beautiful little bay you can walk down into. It will be pretty crowded, but it's beautiful. There's also a nice little wave there that's very suitable for beginners, unlike the rest of Puerto Escondido.
Another beautiful beach to the North of Puerto Escondido. You will get away from the crowds here a little bit. There's also this really trippy-like abandoned hotel here on this beach that's cool to walk around and explore.
Another pair of little beaches in a cove, to the north of town. There will be some crowds here, but the beach and little cove is beautiful. Nice thing to go see.
All the way to the north of all the beaches I have already mentioned is a cliffside that you can drive to or take your scooter to. It's a beautiful spot to go to with some friends and watch the sun set over the cliffs. Something different, and there will hardly ever be any people there.
SURFING
Last, but most certainly not least is the surfing. One of, if not the biggest things that put Puerto Escondido on the international map. To begin with, Puerto is home to one of the biggest barreling waves in the world. It is called Mexipipe for a reason. It is Mexico's version of the most famous wave on earth, pipeline in Hawaii. It is very resemblant as well. If you ask me, it's gnarlier. The waves get absolutely gigantic in the summer. Up to 30 some off foot faces. Guys are out there riding 10 foot long or more guns that are more resemblant of canoes than surfboards. It's the greatest show in Mexico when these guys are out.
If you are lucky enough to be here during one of the big swells, pros from all over the world will fly in to get some of the action. It's just amazing.
I was happy just to get out there on a few double overhead days and be amongst it in this addicting surfing environment. The locals are intense, and amazing surfers. Make sure you're not an asshole out there. If you are not qualified to be out there surfing, don't go out there. Don't break the rules, don't be a jackass. Some small words to live by in surfing but especially here in Zicatela. Getting out here you will probably get some of the most memorable barrels of your entire life. If you have the balls, and enough surfboard under you.
That being said about the famous wave that is Zicatela, there are lots of other waves in the area. Well, not lots, but certainly others. Theres a great culture of surfing here. Especially because of all of the surfers from all over the world who come to Puerto to spend the whole season surfing the big ones in Zica. But outside of that there still is a very special culture of surfing. La Punta is a surfing place. Albeit, that wave is crowded as hell and I avoided it as much as I could but it's a great wave to learn and there's tons of surf schools all over the place. So even if you are trying to learn how to surf, there will be waves here for you in Puerto.
To sum it all up. Puerto I think at the end of the day is a surf town. That's what drives the culture. I think some of, well maybe a lot of that, has gotten lost in the past decade or so but that's really what it is. You have one of the best waves in the world here. Some of the best Mexican surfers in the whole country, and certainly some of the gnarliest are from here. Every year the place fills up with surfers. So it's a surf town. I hope that never gets lost.
A final note, be careful if you are going to surf Zicatela. It's a dangerous wave. It has, and likely will continue to take lives. If you are not prepared for it, don't get in.
