What we know about the 10 local students abducted in Oaxaca

What we know about the 10 local students abducted in Oaxaca Authorities announced an arrest on Monday after 10 young people from Tlaxcala were abducted in Oaxaca in late February, but many questions remain unanswered. Read more

Desapariciones grupales y de mujeres ponen en la mira a Oaxaca - MSN Group and women disappearances put Oaxaca in the spotlight

 

Desapariciones grupales y de mujeres ponen en la mira a Oaxaca - MSN MSN A estos hechos se sumó la desaparición en Huatulco y Zipolite de nueve jóvenes veinteañeros originarios de Tlaxcala, en los últimos días de febrero.

Group and women disappearances put Oaxaca in the spotlight

Story of Dulce Soto

 •4 h •

5 minutes of reading

In recent months, the streets of Oaxaca's beaches have ceased to be the "happy, pleasant, and peaceful" destination, according to a survey on tourist perceptions, to become the scene of disappearances, femicides, and murders of human rights defenders. Mixe activist Sandra Domínguez and her husband disappeared from the municipality of San Juan Cotzocón in October 2024. At the beginning of January of this year, 14 men, between the ages of 17 and 44 , also disappeared while traveling to Puerto Escondido, one of the most visited beaches on the Oaxacan coast by tourists. These events were compounded by the disappearance of nine young men in their twenties originally from Tlaxcala in Huatulco and Zipolite in late February. Their bodies were found on the borders of Oaxaca and Puebla.

These are figures that the government is denying.

Desapariciones grupales y de mujeres ponen en la mira a Oaxaca

Group and women disappearances put Oaxaca in the spotlight

The number of disappearances could be much higher. The most violent for defenders is: "I can't return for fear of being physically attacked or disappeared."

Activists in the region believe this southern Mexican state is suffering from a security crisis that has not been acknowledged by the state government. “Unfortunately, Oaxaca is more than just celebration and color. The current situation is extremely alarming,” says Elizabeth Mosqueda, an advocate for the Oaxaca Consortium.

The problem of underreporting

Currently, 746 people are missing and unaccounted for in the state, according to official data. This figure places Oaxaca far behind the states with the most disappearances nationwide. In fact, in 2024, it recorded a decrease in the number of disappearances. However, for human rights defenders and activists, these figures do not match reality. Through press reports, Consorcio Oaxaca has documented the disappearance of 843 women during the current government alone, headed by Morena's Salomón Jara, since the end of 2022. The defender explains that the discrepancy in the figures is due to several factors: the omission of state institutions, the lack of confidence in reporting, and a government tendency to criminalize victims, as has occurred since former PAN president Felipe Calderón began the so-called "war on drugs" in 2006. There is also a national problem of underreporting due to various deficiencies in the prosecutor's offices, adds Fernando Escobar, a researcher at Causa en Común. For example, the monthly crime incidence reports do not make public the figures for victims and investigation files for forced disappearances and disappearances committed by individuals. The association has also detected anomalies in crime records, such as

include intentional homicides in the negligent homicide figures

or cases of kidnapping and disappearance in the categories of

crimes against life and crimes against liberty.

Disappearances in Oaxaca

Oaxaca is going against the grain in the phenomenon of forced disappearances. This crime has increased in Mexico, with notable increases in the last two years, reaching 124,000 missing and unaccounted for people. Between 2023 and 2024, it grew 30% nationwide. In contrast, Oaxaca reported a 38% decrease during that period, the report states.

Names without bodies, bodies without names

, from Causa en Común. Independent records from Consorcio Oaxaca show a contrary trend: 359 disappearances of women in 2023; 370 in 2024 and 86 so far in 2025. “There are more cases of missing women and femicides, but institutions are not responding and we have a very high margin of impunity,” explains Mosqueda. Officially, Oaxaca records more missing women (56%) than men (44%), when the opposite phenomenon occurs nationwide. The state is a red flag for human rights defenders. It is considered

the most violent to carry out this work, with 58 murders in 2023.

The most recent case was that of the defender

Cristino Castro Perea.

And last Tuesday, the Zapotec defender

Silvia Pérez Yescas reported that she has received death threats,

organizations urged the state to protect her. The activist was forced to flee her town in Santa María Lombardo, municipality of San Juan Cotzocón. It is the same region where

Sandra Domínguez,

who also requested security guarantees and reported the harassment against her. It's a reality that has been gradually reaching Oaxaca and is becoming more serious.' Cases of disappearance in Mexico The reality is that there is a dense layer of silence on the part of the authorities

The map of disappearances, femicides, and murders in Oaxaca is embedded in areas of territorial disputes between criminal organizations, attacks by public security forces, and attacks linked to the megaprojects that have been underway in the state since the last six-year term.

Mass disappearances

Cases of group disappearances are now arriving in Oaxaca. The phenomenon is not new, but it was not targeted in this territory. The bodies of the last

Nine young people from Tlaxcala disappeared on the Oaxacan coast

were found inside a car in Puebla. There are still no answers about what happened. State authorities have arrested one person possibly involved and are investigating the alleged involvement of municipal police officers. Of the people who have disappeared in Oaxaca, a greater number were between 15 and 24 years old. Nationally, the disappearances of young people are increasing. Many are forcibly recruited by organized crime through fake job openings that promise high salaries with few requirements, but turn out to be fraudulent and lead the victims into situations of forced recruitment, explains the organization YouthBuild in the report Third Report of Youth Opportunity. The Causa en Común researcher recalls other cases of mass disappearances, detected after finding clandestine graves, in

San Pedro, Coahuila, with 3,000 bone remains

. In Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 500 kilos of human bones were found in 2017. Last year, a mass grave containing 50 bodies was discovered in Hermosillo, Sonora. The recent discoveries of "training and extermination" camps in

Teuchitlán, Jalisco

and Reynosa, Tamaulipas, are now garnering attention due to the magnitude of the horror they have uncovered. In Oaxaca, 49 clandestine graves have been identified, compared to 677 in Jalisco and 554 in Tamaulipas. For Escobar, all these cases demonstrate a constant: "the lack of political will on the part of the Mexican state and a system of impunity that allows disappearances and clandestine graves to become routine." The authorities' inaction also hinders knowing who the people who were located are, she adds, who the perpetrators were, and why such violent acts are being committed in broad daylight. If there is progress and discoveries, it is thanks to the efforts of search groups and families, who analyze clothing and shoes to find a clue, a lead. Or like Sandra Domínguez's mother, who marches to demand justice five months after her daughter's disappearance. "Today, like every day that passes, every minute, I continue searching for you," she declares. One hundred days after her disappearance, her daughter wrote her a letter: “Mom: Today marks 100 days since you were lost, and although time seems to have flown by, not a single day goes by that I don't feel your absence deep within me. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get used to living without seeing you, without hearing your voice, without feeling that hug of yours that gave me so much comfort.”

To miejsce uchodzi za wakacyjny raj. Doszło tam do masowego morderstwa - Onet Onet Na pozór idylliczne plaże meksykańskiego Pacyfiku, takie jak Huatulco, Zipolite czy Puerto Escondido, stały się ostatnio sceną tragicznych ...

To miejsce uchodzi za wakacyjny raj. Doszło tam do masowego morderstwa - Onet Onet Na pozór idylliczne plaże meksykańskiego Pacyfiku, takie jak Huatulco, Zipolite czy Puerto Escondido, stały się ostatnio sceną tragicznych ...

Why the way to travel Oaxaca's Pacific Coast is on two wheels A short stretch of Oaxaca’s scenic Pacific coast makes an easy day trip from Puerto Escondido — plan on plenty of pit stops, whether you’re exploring via two wheels or four.

 

Why the way to travel Oaxaca's Pacific Coast is on two wheels

A short stretch of Oaxaca’s scenic Pacific coast makes an easy day trip from Puerto Escondido — plan on plenty of pit stops, whether you’re exploring via two wheels or four.

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

There’s a word in Spanish, ‘arrebol’, which doesn’t have a satisfactory English translation. It’s used to describe a crimson sunset, when each cloud on the horizon acquires a halo-like glow and the sky’s amber tint grows fainter as the sun slides into the sea. Such a sight would be a rarity in England, but on Mexico’s Pacific coast it’s a nightly occurrence. An arrebol accompanies bedtime on my first night in Puerto Escondido — in this stylish party town, I’m probably the only person turning in early.

Once, it was mostly only surfers willing to make the trek to Oaxaca’s coast, lured by the chance of sharing waves with leaping dolphins. But in 2024 the new Barranca Larga-Ventanilla highway connected Puerto Escondido to the state capital, Oaxaca City, replacing a treacherous 10-hour bus journey across the mountains with an easy three-hour drive. The road is already bringing new visitors and greater prosperity to this fast-evolving settlement.

A Nice Place on the Beach is a popular hotel, bar and restaurant on Playa Zipolite backpackers and surfers.

Photograph by Nina Raingold, Getty Images

I rise early the next morning, having arranged to ride on the back of a friend’s motorbike as he drives south along a short section of a different stretch of road: the salt-flecked Highway 200, which hugs almost the entirety of Mexico’s Pacific coast. We’re in search of quieter pastures: the beaches guarded by secretive surfers; the outposts of the friendly hippies who have spent decades here; and the serene villages that barely extend beyond a single street. Leaving the town centre, we pass revellers making their way home along sand-dusted streets from the nightclubs lining Playa Zicatela. As we pass through the neighbourhood of La Punta to its eponymous beach, smoothie shops and cafes are already filled with the first gaggle of sunrise surfers. As Puerto Escondido fades, the road quickly becomes flanked by the soaring Sierra Madre del Sur mountains to the east and the crashing Pacific to the west; I can taste the sea on the breeze.

Sometimes, we pause to let herded goats cross the highway or to politely parry the roadside liquor salesmen offering un pocito mezcalito ‘for the road’. Within a couple of hours, we’ve reached the first popular beach town on the southerly route: Zipolite. As we disembark and head for the sand, stark-naked sunbathers glance our way — there is a nudist beach.

(A practical guide to travelling in southern Mexico.)

Although the new road has brought more people to the community, Zipolite has retained its laissez-faire atmosphere. A hub for LGBTQ+ travellers and a prime surfing spot, it’s also become a refuge for those, like me, in search of a more peaceful alternative to Puerto Escondido. I sit and watch longboarders riding the crashing waves, soothed by the soporific combination of Pacific-coast sun and oceanic white noise. All along the shore, people are snoozing under makeshift shade, but rather than doing likewise I explore the bamboo-thatched surf shops and painted fishing boats.

Oaxaca City, where I live, has spoiled me for street food, so instead I take an al fresco table at beachfront restaurant Xhuba. By the time my citrus-scented bowl of aguachile arrives, the legs of my plastic stool have sunk a few inches further into the sand. Mixed with of sharp serrano peppers and creamy avocado, the bowl of lime-cured shrimp is a refreshing antidote to the midday rays.

Soon it’s time for our journey’s final stretch, a 15-minute nip back up the coast road to Mazunte, where I’ll spend the night. We park the bike on one of the town’s palm-canopied streets, making our way down slim, beachfront laneways on foot. Fliers taped to the walls offer singing bowl ceremonies and ecstatic dance courses, tarot readings and shamans for hire. There are Maya-style cacao rituals, too: spiritual transformation via a cup of hot chocolate. I follow the surfers strolling with boards underarm and soon the sands of Playa Rinconcito are slippery underfoot.

Olive ridley sea turtles hatch frequently on local beaches.

Photograph by Addictive Stock Creatives, Alamy Photos

Further along the shore, a crowd starts to gather, readying for an evening ritual that’s a common sight along the Oaxacan shoreline — the turtle release. At various points in the year, hawksbill, black, leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles drag themselves across the sand to lay their eggs in the shrubbery at its edge. There are several conservation initiatives dedicated to protecting the hatchlings — many opening their doors to tourists for educational purposes — and Mazunte is home to the most prominent. The Mexican Turtle Centre —a breeding and research facility built on the site of a former turtle meat processing plant in the early 1990s — watches over the hatchlings on their perilous first foray towards the sea: an arribada, as it’s dubbed locally. This surreal spectacle, during which hundreds of sea turtles emerge simultaneously from their shells, is common between May and November.

Tonight, there’s an immediate scurry as miniscule olive ridley turtles test out their ungainly waddle. Soon, night will fall; we’ll never know how many reached the sea. All we can do is sit and watch while the turtles scamper towards another scarlet sunset.

How to do it:

Brand X Moto Tours, in Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, offers motorbike tours to Oaxaca’s beaches, mountains and cities from 2,000 MXN (£79) per day. In Mazunte, stay in one of the palm-thatched cabins at Cabañas Amaia, a few feet from the beach. From £70 per night.

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Cuál es la playa con menos gente para visitar en Semana Santa, según la IA El Universal Puebla Se trata de la playa San Agustinillo, en el estado de Oaxaca, muy cerca del poblado de Mazunte y Zipolite, zonas con una divertida vibra neohippie ...

Avanza Oaxaca como destino referente en turismo LGBTQ+

 

Avanza Oaxaca como destino referente en turismo LGBTQ+ Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca ... • En la Fitur 2025, la empresa Queer Destinations entregó a la Sectur Oaxaca el distintivo Queer Destinations Committed. Madrid, España.

PHOTO OF THE DAY Oaxaca mi amor | Photo from @gus.monterroza

 

There are 9 ways to get from Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Zipolite by plane, taxi, bus, car or shuttle

Aeropuerto Internacional De Oaxaca (OAX) → Zipolite: precios y horarios - Rome2Rio Rome2Rio La mejor forma de ir desde Aeropuerto Internacional De Oaxaca (OAX) a Zipolite es en autobús que dura 10h 48m y cuesta $550 - $1200. Alternativamente, ...

Oaxaca, a destination that captivates film productions November 23, 2024 , 9:08

 https://oaxaca.quadratin.com.mx/oaxaca-destino-que-cautiva-producciones-cinematograficas/

Oaxaca, destino que cautiva producciones cinematográficas Quadratín Oaxaca En próximas fechas, la producción se trasladará a la Costa oaxaqueña para filmar en sitios como el Pueblo Mágico de Mazunte y Zipolite, que es la ...

Oaxaca, a destination that captivates film productions

November 23, 2024

 , 

9:08

Government of Oaxaca

Editorial/Quadratín Oaxaca

OAXACA, Oax. November 23, 2024.- Oaxaca's natural wonders, architectural beauty and rich cultural diversity continue to attract national and international productions.

For this reason, the Oaxaca Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) highlighted in a statement that the state is becoming a stage for cinematography.

The filming of “Falsas Ilusiones,” the provisional title of the first film by director Rafael Martínez Montiel, produced by Tepeyac Films, reflects the growing interest in Oaxaca as a location for audiovisual productions. During the current administration, Sectur has provided support to approximately 10 projects, including soap operas, films, short films, documentaries and series.

The support provided includes various areas, such as suggesting locations, support in the scouting process, managing permits from municipal and state authorities, disseminating productions, among other key actions to facilitate the development of these projects.

Filming of the movie began in the city of Oaxaca, in emblematic places such as the Benito Juárez Market, the outskirts of the Temple of Santo Domingo, the main square of the city and various streets in the Historic Center, as well as in the municipality of Santiago Matatlán.

In the near future, production will move to the Oaxacan coast to film in places such as the Magical Town of Mazunte and Zipolite, which is the only nudist beach in Oaxaca and a Biocultural Heritage Site.

Sectur Oaxaca highlighted that the impact of these productions goes beyond the screen, since when broadcast on streaming platforms and national and international television networks, they contribute significantly to the promotion of tourist destinations in Oaxaca, positioning the state as a reference in both the film and tourism industries.

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Experiencias Otherside | ⚡️¡Muchas gracias a los 45 viajeros y viajeras que se fueron a ... Instagram ... Zipolite…fue un grandioso con increíbles pasajeros, mucha actitud y mucha buena vibra! Deseamos que nuestro servicio les haya gustado y lo más ...

 

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