Escondido Mexico psilocybe cubensis spore print

The Escondido strain is a wild-collected Psilocybe cubensis variety that carries the spirit of the Oaxacan coast. Named after Puerto Escondido — the famous surf town and cultural hub in southern Mexico — this strain comes from one of the most historically significant regions for psilocybin mushrooms anywhere in the world. Its warm, reddish-brown caps, fast growth and deeply rooted cultural heritage make it a compelling and meaningful variety for any cubensis collection.

From the Sacred Lands of Oaxaca

Puerto Escondido sits on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, a region that has been at the centre of sacred mushroom use for centuries. The indigenous Mazatec and Mixtec peoples of this area have long used psilocybin-containing fungi in spiritual healing ceremonies known as veladas, guided by curanderos and curanderas who regarded the mushrooms as sacred tools. It was in Oaxaca that ethnomycologist R. Gordon Wasson first participated in a traditional mushroom ceremony led by the legendary curandera María Sabina in 1955 — the event that brought psilocybin mushrooms to worldwide attention. The Escondido strain was collected from the subtropical pasturelands near Puerto Escondido, where the warm, humid coastal climate provides ideal conditions for Psilocybe cubensis to thrive naturally. Owning this strain means holding a piece of that deep Oaxacan mushroom heritage in your collection.

Visual Characteristics of Escondido

• Cap: 45+ mm in diameter. Rich caramel to reddish-brown when young, lightening to a warmer tan at maturity. Shape varies considerably — from bell-shaped and conical in early development to round and flat as the cap opens, sometimes with a pronounced central nipple (acute umbo).
• Stem: 50–120+ mm, slender to medium thickness, white to yellowish-white. Bruises blue when handled — a hallmark sign of psilocybin-active species.
• Overall appearance: Warm, earthy and varied. The Escondido's cap shapes differ noticeably from flush to flush, giving each harvest a unique, natural look that reflects its wild origins.

Fast, Prolific and Beautifully Varied

The Escondido is known for its fast colonisation speed and its ability to produce generous, dense flushes of medium-sized fruits. Its vigour and adaptability make it a reliable performer on a wide range of substrates, from grain and brown rice flour to manure-based and coir-based mixes. One of the most charming traits of the Escondido is the morphological variation within its flushes — caps can range from tightly conical to broadly flat within a single harvest, giving each fruit an individual character. Spore deposits are dark brown to nearly black, producing dense, clearly defined prints that are easy to work with and store for long-term archiving.

How to Use a Spore Print

Not sure where to start once your spore print arrives? We have put together a detailed guide that walks you through the entire process, from scraping spores off the print to preparing them for microscopy or long-term storage. Read our step-by-step instructions here: How to Use a Spore Print.

Why Add Escondido to Your Collection

If you are building a diverse Psilocybe cubensis collection, the Escondido fills a special role as the coastal Oaxacan classic. Its combination of genuine wild provenance from one of the most culturally significant mushroom regions on Earth, warm reddish-brown tones, fast and generous growth, and beautiful morphological variation make it a strain with both substance and story. Whether you are drawn to the sacred traditions of Oaxaca, the charm of Puerto Escondido's coastline, or simply appreciate a fast, reliable and visually interesting cubensis variety, the Escondido deserves a place in your library.