La Loma Linda: Bungalows, Yoga and Feldenkrais
Carretera Principal, Zipolite Centro | Playa Zipolite, Zipolite 70902, Mexico
Hotel amenities
“Best bungalows in Zipolite”
Reviewed 18 May 2012
2 people found this review helpful
Once a year, a small group of yogis travels down to Zipolite, Oaxaca for a week long yoga retreat. Our teacher was lucky enough to find the amazing bungalows at Loma Linda the second year and we've been going back ever since.
La Loma Linda is set into the hillside, directly across from Zipolite beach. You truly have the best of everything- breathtaking views of the ocean and town, gentle breezes cooling down the heat of the afternoons, and easy access to the beach- just go down the bougainvillea-covered stairway (with an amazing view all the while!) and cross the small street, and there it is- the wide open beach! To your left, a lovely lady sells ice cold, fresh young coconuts. (Watching an elderly woman machete the top off your coconut and then delicately place a flower on top is something else.) A walk down the beach leads to plenty of restaurants and cafes, and the center of town is within walking distance if you want to grocery shop, have a drink or go salsa dancing.
In harmony with nature, the bungalows themselves feel like part of the landscape. Each is unique and extremely well made- no gaps in windows and doors when closed, no janky craftsmanship, and no cut corners. If you're out for the day and leave doors and windows closed, it's still cool and bug free when you return. Everything is tidy and smells clean, from the linens to the towels! The beds are comfy, the mosquito nets are effective, and the fans keep you cool if you need to adjust to a tropical climate. Each bungalow is different, and has its own character... all of them are colorful, artistic and wonderful, with small creative details you'll notice if you look carefully. Dieter and Katia get the best hammocks- they are comfortable and you can lounge in them for hours.
I have stayed in a few different bungalows over the years (and seen many others of friends staying) and all of them have been great! My favorite is Casita, which has beautiful flowering plants, a front porch/balcony area with hammocks and a table and chairs, all looking out to sea. The kitchen is great if you like to make your own food. A hat tip to mod cons, there are fridges in every room, and wifi if you want it. Each bungalow feels private, and has a different lovely view.
Keep in mind, they are bungalows- that is, it's not a hotel, so think palm thatched roofs and (beautiful!) wood and adobe construction. Designed with the help of a master architect, they are the most solid, well built bungalows I have ever seen. As far as bungalows go, I don't think you'll find better than this- if you've never stayed in bungalows, this is a great place to try it. The yoga studio and the main house, where the hosts live, is pretty amazing.
Yes, it's a bit rustic- I prefer "natural" ;) There isn't hot water in the outdoor showers, but with the climate, the fresh, cool water is really all you need. You wont want hot. Depending on which bungalow you stay in, there may be a flush toilet or there may be an ecological compost toilet. I've stayed in bungalows with both and the design is such that you don't really notice much of a difference- in other words, the eco compost toilets are actually really nice, well made toilets- there is even a separate porcelain urinal for dudes. No odor and no funk, and the bathrooms are super cute in design. It's a natural setting, so yeah, there are bugs around- but usually outside your bungalow, and not in. Do the obvious in a tropical climate: bring bug spray, and close the doors at dusk.
The grounds are vibrant and colorful, cared for lovingly by unfailingly helpful hosts Dieter and Katia. The yoga studio is clean, lovely, and well supplied. They use sustainable practices, and each year we've returned has seen more and more improvement. The yoga center is an active part of the community, and the kids have a dance class in studio once a week- really cute. Each year, the place just gets better and better.
We've been up and down the beach over the years, and tried a lot of the cafes and restaurants with no problems and lots of success. There are a couple small hotels in the area that have AC and TVs and stuff like that, but the natural beauty, amazing location, and homey feel of Loma Linda can't be beat... if you're in the area, try to stay a few nights here and enjoy these very special, quintessential Zipolite beach bungalows.
Room Tip: Check out the Loma Linda website for complete descriptions and photos for each room- although the ph...
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