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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

Thursday, October 18, 2012

How to Travel From Mexico City to Puerto Escondido | Getaway Tips ... The coastline of Oaxaca, the southern Mexican province where you can find the seaside town of Puerto Escondido, was more difficult to travel to a generation ... getawaytips.azcentral.com/travel-mexico-city-puerto-escondid...


How to Travel From Mexico City to Puerto Escondido

by Kristy Ambrose

A bus is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel in Mexico.
A bus is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel in Mexico.
The coastline of Oaxaca, the southern Mexican province where you can find the seaside town of Puerto Escondido, was more difficult to travel to a generation ago. In the past 20 years, new infrastructure has appeared on the Oaxacan coast in the form of airports and highways as the resort town of Huatulco and the surrounding towns grow. It is easier than ever to travel from the heart of modern Mexico to what remains a rustic and underdeveloped coastline. There are virtually no passenger trains left in Mexico, but tour bus companies have popped up to fill the gap, with even the most upscale companies offering frequent travel times and economical prices.

Items you will need

  • Proper identification (this includes your passport and traveler or work visa)
  • Spanish phrasebook (optional, depending on your knowledge of Spanish, as little English is spoken in Oaxaca).
  • Book, MP3 player or laptop (the trip will take 17 to 20 hours, depending on the bus line)
  • Motion-sickness medicine, if needed, depending on your propensity for travel sickness, as the road winds through the southern foothills of the Sierra Madres)

Choosing your Bus Line

1

Use your North American credit card to buy and reserve tickets through a website called Ticket Bus. All of the major Mexican bus lines have their schedules posted on this popular and frequently used website. Peruse the schedules of all the major Mexican bus lines using this site, but because you are traveling south to Oaxaca you will be likely be choosing between ADO, OCC or SUR.

2

For the ADO or OCC bus lines (executive, first and second class) reserve your place at least a few days in advance either in person at the station (if possible) or online using a credit card. When traveling on one of the first class lines, you will have access to such amenities as free Wi-Fi, seats that fully recline, a movie and even meals served at your seat. These routes are popular, especially for overnight trips. Choose an upscale bus line if you would prefer to travel very comfortably.

3

Traveling on a third class bus is an option for the more adventurous traveler, or someone on a budget or with little time to plan. It is easier to buy your ticket closer to your departure time, because these inexpensive and frequent buses rarely fill up. These buses have their local charm, because you will likely be sharing your seat with a commuter or student, but also make frequent stops, and do not offer entertainment in the form of movies or Internet; they tend to offer a bumpy, less comfortable ride.

Tips

  • With an relatively new and small but still bustling international airport in the nearby city of Huatulco, it is possible to catch a short flight to the Playa Chica ("Little Beach," a common local nickname for the coastline between Salina Cruz and Puerto Escondido) from Mexico City and then to travel by car, boat or bus to nearby Puerto Escondido. Puerto also has a small airport that hosts a few national airlines. If you are short on time or would prefer not to brave the winding roads along the Sierra Madres or the Playa Chica (not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach) this might be the preferable option.

Warning

  • Carry your passport and your visa with you at all times, and have them readily available for inspection. It is not uncommon to find army checkpoints set up in commonly traveled stretches of highway to search passing vehicles for contraband weapons or illegal drugs. Tourists must be able to identify themselves with official documents to avoid suspicion of being a smuggler or illegal immigrant. The fairly recent additions of new highways and improvements to existing ones have made driving easier, but it remains precarious due to occasional labor unrest or highway crime. Labor unrest can also result in road closures. Driving from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido is only recommended to those very familiar with the area.

About the Author

Kristy Ambrose enjoys writing about teaching, travel and pet care. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Victoria.

Photo Credits

  • Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
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ivan

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