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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

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Bus from San Crisobal de las Casas to either Oaxaca or Zipolite/ Puerto Esc Replies: 3 - Last Post: Mar 5, 2012 4:46 PM Last Post By: heyduke


Bus from San Crisobal de las Casas to either Oaxaca or Zipolite/ Puerto Esc

Replies: 3 - Last Post: Mar 5, 2012 4:46 PM Last Post By: heyduke
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Reb_Nad avatar
Mar 5, 2012 12:17 PM
Posts:  19
Bus from San Crisobal de las Casas to either Oaxaca or Zipolite/ Puerto Esc
Hi all, 
I am looking to travel from San Cristobal de las Casas to either PE or Zipolite. 
Do you know if there are night buses, and if yes, are they safe on that route?
What is your general opinion on the safety of night buses in Mexico?
Thanks in advance!
geriande avatar
Mar 5, 2012 1:07 PM
Posts:  1,109
1
Most of the first class long distance bus routes are at night in MexicoThey are popular with Mexicans. I have never had a problem but when you travel, you run a "risk" anywhere in the world. In my opinion, less in Mexico than in some parts of the world. If you're afraid, don't go. It will be about a 12 hour jaunt. The buses are comfortable, so I snooze zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
ramblinground avatar
Mar 5, 2012 1:34 PM
Posts:  8
2
There's some info re this route here:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2166570
no relation to any other ramblinground you may encounter on the networks. no house, no car, no computer, no mobile devices named after fruit, and no clothing whenever possible. valar morghulis.
heyduke avatar
Mar 5, 2012 4:46 PM
Posts:  1,542
3
The night bus is the best way to travel long distance in Mexico. Right now its very hot in PE and going to get hotter as we go into summer.

Zipolite

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Zipolite... This photo belongs to. HeinzBakedBeans' photostream (27). Newest photo →; Zipolite · 26.6 holga sea #9 "Aqua" · Red garden ...
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Zipolite to Puerto Arista


Day 20 – Zipolite to Puerto Arista

Today, February 20th, is the birthday of a very important person in my life:
Ken Griffey Jr.
Just kidding. I have no clue when his birthday is, but it could be today right?
Today is actually my girlfriend’s birthday. The wonderful Tiana was born twenty-eight years ago on this very day. To say that I wouldn’t have a blog without her is to say the very least. I wouldn’t have a lot of things, and I wouldn’t be a lot of things. So, thank you to Tiana for being born.
So, on to today. I didn’t want to leave Zipolite as the pace there is truly addictive. However, I sort of had a mini panic attack when I realized that I still have over 2000 km and 6 border crossings to go before I reach Panama City. And I have exactly two weeks to do it all.
As I was getting ready to leave Zipolite, I got talking with an older Canadian from Alberta. He was surprised that I hadn’t had any trouble with authorities yet. He said that in Acapulco he was pulled over for not signalling a lane change. This is a funny charge as turn signals seem to only be used to say “go ahead, pass me on whichever side’s signal is flashing.” Therefore, when people pull over to the right, they ofter put their left turn signal on!
Anyway, when he pulled out his wallet to give the officer his license, the cop got a glimpse of the stack of 500 peso bills in there. He immediately told the guy it was a $300 American fine. He also said that if he didn’t like it he could come back to the police station. That’s kinda rough. I probably would have called the guy’s bluff and opted for the police station. Actually, I probably wouldn’t have a stack of 500′s in the first place.
I left at around 11am with my sights set on Juchitan de Zaragoza, about 200km away. I didn’t need to go all out, but I did want to rack up some kilometres, just for peace of mind. I thought I could make it to Tonala, but I didn’t want to ride too late.
Oaxaca Mountains & Me!
Remember when I told you about my bony ass? It’s still bony. Boney? I’m pretty sure it’s bony. Boney M. spelled it like that to be different. Just trust me…….stop looking it up. Anyway, at about the 200km mark each day, my buttcheeks start to hurt. And it only gets worse as the miles and potholes rack up. It’s getting tough to do more than 3-400km a day without repeated lunge/squat breaks.
I reached Juchitan at about 1:30pm and thought, “That’s all?? I ain’t done yet!” So I pulled out my Lonely Planet Mexico guide and checked out my options. The obvious one was Puerto Arista, described as a “small fishing town and part-time tourist destination”. I pressed on, with some vague directions to a campground.
After cruising through Puerto Arista and checking out the beach, I found Jose’s Cabanas y Camping. Jose is a Canadian – an Ontarian to be more specific – who moved to Puerto Arista a few decades ago. When he purchased his rather large piece of land, he covered it all with various fruit trees. His campground is essentially a few cabins and campsites set in an orchard. There are coconut trees (palm trees?), mango trees, lime trees, cashew trees, among others.
There is also access to a heavily wooded river, and a canoe! I’ll definitely make use of that, time permitting. There are also two Canadian couples staying at the campground, one from B.C., the other from Quebec. Both have VW Westfalia campers. I’m so jealous. I want. Real bad.
Anyway, After setting up my tent (at 60 pesos, or about $4.50), Jose invited me up to the roof of his house to watch the sunset. We drank beer and chatted about Canada, Mexico, golf- which I know nothing about- and whatever else crossed our minds. Jose then made me quesadillas for dinner, while I looked at a map to try to figure out the next day’s plan.
Campsite in Puerto Arista
After dinner I hung around with Jose a bit more while he smoked cigarettes and more. We also chatted with the couple from B.C. for a bit. Drew and Nancy (cue the Nancy Drew jokes, if anyone still remembers who that was) are two of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
After a while it was time for a birthday phone call to my girlfriend! I was kind of bummed that there isn’t wifi at Jose’s, as I would have loved to Skype with Tiana, but alas, I was forced to use some of my travel package’s minutes. She’s worth it though.
All in all, a good day. I wish I could spend more time in almost every place I’ve been. If I had it my way this trip would take triple the time I’m taking. But in that ideal world I’d also have enough money to make it last that long as well

Zipolite Beach Activities, Oaxaca's Pacific Coast Beach. Day Trips From Zipolite


Zipolite Beach Activities, Day Trips From Oaxaca's Zipolite Beach.
Zipolite Beach is Oaxaca's quiet Pacific Coast Beach where one important activity is dining. Find, "A Nice Place On The Beach," for a good breakfast but after a ...
www.softseattravel.com/Zipolite-Beach-Activities-Nearby-Oax...



Oaxaca's Zipolite Beach can be reached by 
Bus.
First Class Bus service leaves the first class 
terminal in Oaxaca City for Huatulco and then 
Pochutla. (10 hours)
not as much mountain driving
Second Class bus service leaves Oaxaca City's 
Second Class terminal and goes over the 
mountains to Puerto Escondido or to Pochutla.  (8 
hours)
Difficult mountain driving
Van service makes a run to Pochutla. (6 hours)
The mountain driving can be tough on those prone 
to motion sickness.  medicine is recommended for 
those taking the vans and for those particularly 
sensitive to motion sickness who will take the bus.
(A new highway is under construction.  The times listed may 
decrease as sections of the highway are completed)


Collective taxis on the coast are 
called Camioneta,  (photo right)  
Zipolite to Mazunte 5 pesos.  
Zipolite to the crossroads at route 
200 for Puerto Escondido, 10 
peso.