Playa Zipolite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Zipolite | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
 | |
 
Zipolite
| |
| Coordinates: 15°39′46″N 96°30′34″W | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Oaxaca |
| Municipality | San Pedro Pochutla |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 931 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| Area code(s) | 958 |
Playa Zipolite is a beach community located in San Pedro Pochutla
municipality on the southern coast of Oaxaca state inMexico. It is
located between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido and is part of the
“Riviera Oaxaqueña” area.[1] Zipolite is best known as being one
of Mexico’s very few nude beaches and for retaining much of the
hippie culture that made it notable in the 1960s and 1970s. The name
Zipolite, sometimes spelled Sipolite or Cipolite probably comes
from the Nahuatl wordsipolitlan or zipotli, meaning "bumpy
place" or "place of continuous bumps or hills".[1] However, some
claim the name means “beach of the dead” in either Nahuatl or
Zapotec because of dangerous underwater currents just offshore
.[2][3][4] The beach is currently popular with foreign tourists
, especially backpackers, who stay in one of the many rustic
cabins or camping spaces that line the beach.[5][6]
municipality on the southern coast of Oaxaca state inMexico. It is
located between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido and is part of the
“Riviera Oaxaqueña” area.[1] Zipolite is best known as being one
of Mexico’s very few nude beaches and for retaining much of the
hippie culture that made it notable in the 1960s and 1970s. The name
Zipolite, sometimes spelled Sipolite or Cipolite probably comes
from the Nahuatl wordsipolitlan or zipotli, meaning "bumpy
place" or "place of continuous bumps or hills".[1] However, some
claim the name means “beach of the dead” in either Nahuatl or
Zapotec because of dangerous underwater currents just offshore
.[2][3][4] The beach is currently popular with foreign tourists
, especially backpackers, who stay in one of the many rustic
cabins or camping spaces that line the beach.[5][6]
Contents[hide] |
[edit]History
Archeological finds at the east end of the beach shows that
the area has a long history, but for the first half of the 20th
century only one family lived here.[2] In the 1960s and 1970s,
counterculture hippies began to congregate here in part due
to the beach’s isolated nature. At the time, there was little
law enforcement, and drug use became common.[3] In the
1970s and 1980s the beach gained a reputation in Mexico
and among foreign travelers as a free-love paradise.[1]
the area has a long history, but for the first half of the 20th
century only one family lived here.[2] In the 1960s and 1970s,
counterculture hippies began to congregate here in part due
to the beach’s isolated nature. At the time, there was little
law enforcement, and drug use became common.[3] In the
1970s and 1980s the beach gained a reputation in Mexico
and among foreign travelers as a free-love paradise.[1]
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Zipolite was hard hit by two
hurricanes and a fire. The first hurricane was Hurricane
Paulineon 7 October 1997, a category four storm which
destroyed nearly everything in town with strong flooding,
leaving it -along with Mazunte and Puerto Ángel- cut
off from the mainland,[7] but there were no deaths.[2][8]
Next was Hurricane Rick on 9 November 1997. While
not as strong as Pauline, the storm damaged roads and
other infrastructure that was only partially rebuilt after
Pauline.[8] The last disaster to cause major damage was
a fire that broke out on 21 February 2001, burning many
of the wood and palm-thatched structures that were on
the beach.[9]
hurricanes and a fire. The first hurricane was Hurricane
Paulineon 7 October 1997, a category four storm which
destroyed nearly everything in town with strong flooding,
leaving it -along with Mazunte and Puerto Ángel- cut
off from the mainland,[7] but there were no deaths.[2][8]
Next was Hurricane Rick on 9 November 1997. While
not as strong as Pauline, the storm damaged roads and
other infrastructure that was only partially rebuilt after
Pauline.[8] The last disaster to cause major damage was
a fire that broke out on 21 February 2001, burning many
of the wood and palm-thatched structures that were on
the beach.[9]
Since its beginnings
in the 1960s, Zipolite
has evolved from handful
of beachfront cabanas and
palm-thatched palapas to
concrete, but still basic,
hotels and other structures
with a few more amenities.
Behind the line of beachfront
construction
is now an area called Colonia
Roca Blanca with a street known informally as the Adoquin which has
become the town center.[10] Recently, the municipality has added tourist
information services and police patrols on the beach both day and night
during the busy season.[11]
in the 1960s, Zipolite
has evolved from handful
of beachfront cabanas and
palm-thatched palapas to
concrete, but still basic,
hotels and other structures
with a few more amenities.
Behind the line of beachfront
construction
is now an area called Colonia
Roca Blanca with a street known informally as the Adoquin which has
become the town center.[10] Recently, the municipality has added tourist
information services and police patrols on the beach both day and night
during the busy season.[11]
[edit]The community
The community known as Zipolite consists of a stretch of beach with a
street that parallels it. It has one named neighborhood, Roca Blanca,
situated at the western end where most of the hotels and restaurants
are located.[12] Roca Blanca is a recent creation and is named for the
island or large rock just off the shore, which is white due to bird guano
.[3] The main drag is the only paved street within the community, it is
officially called the “Paisan” but locals call it the Adoquin. Further behind
the beach and Adoquin is a larger road that connects Zipolite with other
local communities such as San Agustinillo and Puerto Angel.[12][13]
street that parallels it. It has one named neighborhood, Roca Blanca,
situated at the western end where most of the hotels and restaurants
are located.[12] Roca Blanca is a recent creation and is named for the
island or large rock just off the shore, which is white due to bird guano
.[3] The main drag is the only paved street within the community, it is
officially called the “Paisan” but locals call it the Adoquin. Further behind
the beach and Adoquin is a larger road that connects Zipolite with other
local communities such as San Agustinillo and Puerto Angel.[12][13]
There are no building codes enforced here, so constructions vary as to
materials and quality.[3] There are no banking services here. The closest
automated teller machines (ATMs) are in Puerto Angel and the closest
bank branches are in Pochutla.[2][12] There is no currency exchange either,
but many places take U.S. dollars.[12] Almost all the establishments that
face the beach have palapa sheltered restaurants and bars in front and
lodging in the back. These lodgings can vary from wood huts, to simple
concrete structures and often include hammocks and places to pitch tents.
Most baths are shared.[12] There is no high-rise development here and
almost none of the lodgings offer air conditioning or hot water.[14]
materials and quality.[3] There are no banking services here. The closest
automated teller machines (ATMs) are in Puerto Angel and the closest
bank branches are in Pochutla.[2][12] There is no currency exchange either,
but many places take U.S. dollars.[12] Almost all the establishments that
face the beach have palapa sheltered restaurants and bars in front and
lodging in the back. These lodgings can vary from wood huts, to simple
concrete structures and often include hammocks and places to pitch tents.
Most baths are shared.[12] There is no high-rise development here and
almost none of the lodgings offer air conditioning or hot water.[14]
Zipolite also has a variety of restaurants from the standard Mexican to i
nternational cuisine and vegetarian choices.[12][14] Many of the local
restaurants are owned by expatriate Italians and serve pasta dishes as
well as pizza.[12][13] One restaurant serves crepes because of its French
expatriate owner. Nightlife in Zipolite is subdued. Many of the beachfront
hotels have their own small bars.[12] and there are a number of small
nightclubs such as Zipolipas and La Puesta.[3]
nternational cuisine and vegetarian choices.[12][14] Many of the local
restaurants are owned by expatriate Italians and serve pasta dishes as
well as pizza.[12][13] One restaurant serves crepes because of its French
expatriate owner. Nightlife in Zipolite is subdued. Many of the beachfront
hotels have their own small bars.[12] and there are a number of small
nightclubs such as Zipolipas and La Puesta.[3]
Zipolite still attracts those drawn to the hippie lifestyle.[13] Today, music
from artists such as The Doors, Bob Marley, Santana and others from that
time can still be heard. Attitudes about drug use, in particular marijuana,
are also typically relaxed. The police station is largely unmanned,[12] but
extra efforts for security are implemented during busy seasons such as
Christmas and Easter week, supplementing the normal local auxiliary police
with regular patrolmen from San Pedro Pochutla. Other efforts include
checking for intoxicated drivers and boaters in Zipolite and other area
beaches.[4][15]
from artists such as The Doors, Bob Marley, Santana and others from that
time can still be heard. Attitudes about drug use, in particular marijuana,
are also typically relaxed. The police station is largely unmanned,[12] but
extra efforts for security are implemented during busy seasons such as
Christmas and Easter week, supplementing the normal local auxiliary police
with regular patrolmen from San Pedro Pochutla. Other efforts include
checking for intoxicated drivers and boaters in Zipolite and other area
beaches.[4][15]
Zipolite can be reached by flying into Huatulco or Puerto Escondido and
traveling on coastal highway 200. It can also be reached by road from Oaxaca
City via Highway 175, which is a narrow, very winding road that takes six
or seven hours to traverse.[13] This highway ends at Puerto Angel and
there are taxis that travel between this port and Zipolite.[12]
traveling on coastal highway 200. It can also be reached by road from Oaxaca
City via Highway 175, which is a narrow, very winding road that takes six
or seven hours to traverse.[13] This highway ends at Puerto Angel and
there are taxis that travel between this port and Zipolite.[12]
[edit]Piña Palmera
Piña Palmera is a rehabilitation and educational center for disabled children
and adults, from rural communities in Oaxaca state, the majority of which are
indigenous people. It is a private charity which has existed since the 1980s,
and the charity has enrolled over five thousand people in one or more of its
programs. Most of its staff is volunteer. The endeavor is supported by a
Swedish charity and it not affiliated with any political or religious group.
Currently, about 350 people are in their programs.[13][16]
and adults, from rural communities in Oaxaca state, the majority of which are
indigenous people. It is a private charity which has existed since the 1980s,
and the charity has enrolled over five thousand people in one or more of its
programs. Most of its staff is volunteer. The endeavor is supported by a
Swedish charity and it not affiliated with any political or religious group.
Currently, about 350 people are in their programs.[13][16]
[edit]The beach
Zipolite is a nearly pristine
beach about forty meters
wide and two km long, with
medium grain gold colored
sand. The water is clear
with tones of blue and green
.[6] This was one of the
beaches featured in the
Mexican blockbuster movie
“Y tu mamá también.”[13]
It stretches from a small
isolate cove called Playa del Amor on the east side to the new age
Shambala retreat on the west end which is partially sheltered by rocks.
Behind this is, sea cliffs rise. The beach is lined by palm trees and rustic
cabins, hotel rooms and hammocks with a few more sophisticated
lodgings on the west end.[10][17] This beach is part of the Riviera
Oaxaqueño, which includes the nearby beaches of Puerto Angel and
San Agustinillo.[1] This beach is favored by foreign to
urists, most of whom are backpackers and by the Mexican middle
class,[5][6][13] especially during Holy Week vacation in Mexico.[4]
The beach’s appeal stems from being one of very few beaches in
which nudity is tolerated, however it is mostly practiced on the
sheltered far east Playa del Amor and the far west end.[10][12][17]
beach about forty meters
wide and two km long, with
medium grain gold colored
sand. The water is clear
with tones of blue and green
.[6] This was one of the
beaches featured in the
Mexican blockbuster movie
“Y tu mamá también.”[13]
It stretches from a small
isolate cove called Playa del Amor on the east side to the new age
Shambala retreat on the west end which is partially sheltered by rocks.
Behind this is, sea cliffs rise. The beach is lined by palm trees and rustic
cabins, hotel rooms and hammocks with a few more sophisticated
lodgings on the west end.[10][17] This beach is part of the Riviera
Oaxaqueño, which includes the nearby beaches of Puerto Angel and
San Agustinillo.[1] This beach is favored by foreign to
urists, most of whom are backpackers and by the Mexican middle
class,[5][6][13] especially during Holy Week vacation in Mexico.[4]
The beach’s appeal stems from being one of very few beaches in
which nudity is tolerated, however it is mostly practiced on the
sheltered far east Playa del Amor and the far west end.[10][12][17]
Swimming is practiced here but caution is strongly advised. Waves
are strong in the afternoon, which is good for surfing and undertow
is always strong. The ocean just offshore has strong currents that
flow in circular patterns, some of which push swimmers toward shore
and some which can pull swimmers out to sea. These currents are
strong but not very wide.[10][12][18] Swimmers have regularly drowned
prompting the creation of a volunteer lifeguard team and a flag system
to indicate where and when it is safest to swim.[3] The lifeguard team was
founded in 1995 and trained by local charity Piña Palmera and U.S. citizen
Joaquin Venado. In 1996, drownings at this beach were cut in half.[18]
The lifeguard service currently has ten lifeguards, an ATV, a jet ski,
radios and other equipment provided by the state government.[11][15]
From 2007 to 2009, there have been no drowning deaths at Zipolite,
a record, but there have been 180 registered rescues.[11][19]
are strong in the afternoon, which is good for surfing and undertow
is always strong. The ocean just offshore has strong currents that
flow in circular patterns, some of which push swimmers toward shore
and some which can pull swimmers out to sea. These currents are
strong but not very wide.[10][12][18] Swimmers have regularly drowned
prompting the creation of a volunteer lifeguard team and a flag system
to indicate where and when it is safest to swim.[3] The lifeguard team was
founded in 1995 and trained by local charity Piña Palmera and U.S. citizen
Joaquin Venado. In 1996, drownings at this beach were cut in half.[18]
The lifeguard service currently has ten lifeguards, an ATV, a jet ski,
radios and other equipment provided by the state government.[11][15]
From 2007 to 2009, there have been no drowning deaths at Zipolite,
a record, but there have been 180 registered rescues.[11][19]
