Playa Zipolite. Welcome To The Beach Of The Dead!: Introducing San Agustinillo

A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Introducing San Agustinillo

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The tiny village of San Agustinillo is centered on a small, curved bay, 4km west ofZipolite by road. The waves here are perfect for body-boarding and often good for body-surfing. The swimming is very good as well, but keep away from the rocks. San Agustinillo has generally higher standards of sanitation than its neighbors Zipoliteand Mazunte, and its undeniable charms attract an eclectic bunch of fans, including travelers who are seekinh a less ‘sceney’ scene than in the neighboring villages. To walk from Zipolite to San Agustinillo, follow footpaths across the headland behind Shambhala at the west end of Zipolite, then continues along the straight and nearly empty Playa Aragón to San Agustinillo.

Until killing sea turtles was banned in Mexico in 1990, San Agustinillo was the site of a slaughterhouse where some 50, 000 turtles were killed per year for their meat and shells. Tourism has grown up since then to provide an altogether different local income source.

Hotel Malex provides internet access for M$15 per hour from 8:30am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 8pm on Sunday. Un Secreto will do your laundry (M$15 per kg, from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday).

Coco Loco Surf Club (www.cocolocosurfclub.com), based at México Lindo, rents surfboards for M$50 per hour or M$150 to M$200 per day, and boogie boards or snorkel gear for M$30 per hour. It also offers surfing classes with qualified French instructor David Chouard (two-hour private class for one/two people M$350/500; two-hour group class per person M$200) and three-beach ‘discovery trips’ combining snorkeling, body boarding and a visit to La Ventanilla for M$280 per person (minimum four people).

Local fishermen will take up to three people out sportfishing for around M$400 per hour, or marine life–spotting to look for turtles, dolphins, manta rays and (between November and April) whales, for around M$150 per person (minimum four people) – ask at your accommodation.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009

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