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, May 24, 2016

Emergency Message for US Citizens: Hurricane Season 2016 US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Consulates General in Mexico remind U.S. citizens that hurricane season is from May 15 to November ...

Emergency Message for US Citizens: Hurricane Season 2016

US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Consulates General in Mexico remind U.S. citizens thathurricane season is from May 15 to November ...

Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Hurricane Season 2016

Home / News & Events / Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Hurricane Season 2016

Hurricane Season 2016

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Consulates General in Mexico remind U.S. citizens that hurricane season is from May 15 to November 30 in the Pacific, and from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic. In the coming days, the Department of State will also issue a Travel Alert to remind U.S. citizens around the world of the upcoming season.

Be Prepared

U.S. citizens planning to visit places that are vulnerable to hurricanes should be aware of the chance of storms and make a plan in case of emergency. Even inland areas far from the coast can experience destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from tropical storms and hurricanes. In the event of a tropical storm or hurricane, the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulates General will monitor the storm and send email messages to U.S. citizens who have enrolled with us. The Department of State may also issue a Travel Alert or Travel Warning to apprise the public of the situation.

Please check your passport and those of your family members to assure that they are still valid. As you may need to travel to the United States (or elsewhere) on short notice, it is important to have valid travel documents so that your trip is not unnecessarily delayed. If you plan to travel to the United States, please also ensure that any non-U.S. citizen family members also have valid Lawful Permanent Resident cards or U.S. visas or visit our website at mx.usembassy.gov for more information on applying for a visa.

Your Checklist:

Prior to leaving the United States, register your travel plans on the State Department’s travel enrollment website at https://step.state.gov/step/.
Check with your tour operator, airline, or charter flight regarding services back to the United States in the event of a hurricane, and the possibility of early return if a storm is forecasted for your region.
Activate your U.S. cell phone’s roaming service so that it works internationally to stay in regular contact with family and friends and advise them of your whereabouts.
Research the region you are visiting and become familiar with local emergency procedures (www.travel.state.gov).
Pack an emergency supply kit. Keep extra bottled water and non-perishable food items on hand.
Keep an up-to-date list of local emergency phone numbers, as well as contact numbers for the nearest U.S. Embassy, Consulate General, or Consular Agency.
Protect your vital travel documents from potential water damage by placing them in a waterproof container.
Obtain travel insurance prior to your trip to cover unexpected expenses in the event of an emergency (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/health/insurance-providers.html).
Ensure your medical insurance covers costs associated with emergency situations (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html).
Consider what arrangements you will make for your pets. Please note that the Mexican authorities and the U.S. government do not make accommodations for the care or transportation of pets during storm-related emergencies or evacuations.
Leave a detailed itinerary and your local contact information with a friend or family member in the United States.
Make two photocopies of the biographic identification page of your passport, airline tickets, driver’s license, and any credit cards you plan to take. Leave one copy of each with family or friends at home, and pack the other copies separately from the originals. You may also wish to scan these documents and store them electronically, such as on a flash drive or in an email account. If using traveler’s checks, leave a copy of the serial numbers of your traveler’s checks with a friend or relative at home.
Monitor local websites for storm-related information. In the country of Mexico, each state has a civil protection authority, called “Protección Civil,” that monitors storm progress and gives instructions on preparations, any need to evacuate coastal areas, etc. For Veracruz state, for example:http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/proteccioncivil/
Please also visit the following U.S. government websites for more information:

Mexico Country Specific Information: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html

Hurricane Season “Know Before You Go”: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/emergencies/natural-disasters/HurricaneSeason.html

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

You have received this email message because you are enrolled with us. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the Embassy website, State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, (including the Travel Warning for Mexico), Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read theCountry Specific Information for Mexico. For additional information, refer to the “Traveler’s Checklist” on the State Department’s website.

Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City is located at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, Mexico D.F., 06500 and is open from Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, except for U.S. and Mexican holidays. Our telephone number during and outside of business hours is 011-52-555-080-2000.

For a full list of Consulates General and Consular Agencies in Mexico please visit our website at https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/

Taking over Zipolite beach. Imgur Taking over Zipolite beach. Uploaded an hour ago. Taking over Zipolite beach. 0 points. 129 views. Add tag. add a custom tag. Add. Post Options.

Taking over Zipolite beach.

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Taking over Zipolite beach. Uploaded an hour ago. Taking over Zipolite beach. 0 points. 129 views. Add tag. add a custom tag. Add. Post Options.

Photos Pinterest From surfing to sunsets to sipping cocktails under the stars, these photos of Playa Zipolite, Mexico will prove it's paradise. | See more about Photos.

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From surfing to sunsets to sipping cocktails under the stars, these photos of Playa Zipolite, Mexico will prove it's paradise. | See more about Photos.

Australian Hospitality Magazine The magic of Mezcal Australian Hospitality Magazine “You need to head to Oaxaca (Mexico) and drinks lots of mezcal,” says Peters. “The course that I attended in Oaxaca is certified by the Consejo ... Google Plus Facebook Twitter Flag as irrelevant

Australian Hospitality Magazine

The magic of Mezcal

Australian Hospitality Magazine

“You need to head to Oaxaca (Mexico) and drinks lots of mezcal,” says Peters. “The course that I attended in Oaxaca is certified by the Consejo ...

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The magic of Mezcal

23 May, 2016 Aoife Boothroyd 0 comments

Latest from Beverage

Tequilas smoky sibling, mezcal has developed a cult following across Australia’s bar scene of late; we’ve even got dedicated mezcaliers to help us navigate the magical world of mezcal.

Whisk(e)y was all the rage in 2014; gin was the spirit of choice in 2015 and many have said that 2016 belongs to rum. But what about tequila? Or its more potent, smoky sibling mezcal?

The spirit itself is made from the maguey plant (a form of agave) native to Mexico. Typically consumed neat, mezcal also lends itself well to inventive cocktails and Mexican dishes.

While it’s not yet a common inclusion on cocktail menus around the country, Nick Peters, co-owner and restaurant manager of Melbourne Mexican eating house Mamasita, believes that mezcal has a lot to offer. So much in fact that he has dedicated mezcaliers (mezcal sommeliers) on shift during every service to guide diners through the venue’s 150-strong mezcal list.

To be able to call yourself a mezcalier, you need to be certified, but what’s involved?

“You need to head to Oaxaca (Mexico) and drinks lots of mezcal,” says Peters. “The course that I attended in Oaxaca is certified by the Consejo Nacional De Normalización Y Certificación De Competencias Laborales (National Council for Standardisation and Certification of Occupational Competencies), and certificates were issued by the Asociación Pro Cultura de Mezcal (Association for Culture of Mezcal).

“The course itself is conducted in four sections, covering everything from the history and anthropology of mezcal to agave varieties, the broader mezcal category including tequila/raicilla/sotol/bacanora. It covers planting and production; tastings and cooking with mescal; harvesting plants; crushing agaves and making mezcal in Oaxaca. It also includes visiting palenques and agave plantations. There are some sections that run in the US, although the majority of the courses take place in Oaxaca. I’ve just been approved to conduct sections one to three of the certified program here in Australia, which is amazing.”

Mamasita's co-owner Nick Peters

Appreciation through education

Since completing the course in October 2014, Peters has turned Mamasita into an institution of mezcal appreciation. Peters says that this focus has given the restaurant a unique point of difference, helping it to attract both new customers and good staff.

“By having trained Mezcaliers on site during every service, we’re providing an opportunity for our staff to learn more, giving them an extra reason to come to work,” says Peters. “They then pass on their newfound knowledge to customers, and as a result, we’ve seen definite growth in our beverage sales.

“We now have half a dozen keen and well-trained Mamasita mezcaliers, with one working every night of the week. I’m a firm believer that the more training you provide and the more opportunities you make available, the better the staff will be and the more they’ll want to keep working with you.”

In addition to the Mezcalier guided flights and food matching service at Mamasita, the love for mezcal also extends to the menu with a number of mezcal-centric dishes including the ceviche a la Veracruzana which features snapper, mezcal, lime, tomato, chilli, onion and capers.

Peters admits that it was initially quite challenging to build up a collection of the spirit. However a wider appreciation for the spirit started to develop a few years ago and has seen a number of mezcal brands introduced by local distributors.

“It’s much better now than it was when we opened early 2010, that’s for sure, and it’s getting better all the time. That being said, we still rely on friends and family to get us some of our favourites,” says Peters.

“Mezcal as a category has so much to offer: the history, the processes, the people… it’s mind boggling. There’s something for everybody.”

Mamasita's lemon chipotle mezcal cocktail

Mezcal and tequila: what’s the difference?

All tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Tequila can only be made from agave tequilana (blue agave) whereas mezcal is generally produced from up to 40 different varieties of maguey.

Production:

In tequila production, the piñas are cooked under high pressure for 24–48 hours resulting in a clean, crisp flavour. For Mezcal, piñas are roasted, often in pit ovens, for three to five days, which gives mezcal its intense, smoky flavour.

ABV:

Tequilas generally sit between 38–40 percent ABV.

Mezcals tend to have a higher alcohol by volume content than tequilas – generally around 45–55 percent ABV.

Origin:

Similar to Champagne in France, tequila may only be produced in the state of Jalisco and limited regions in the US, including Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.

Mezcal’s Denomination of Origin states are Guerrero, Oaxaca, Durango, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas and most recently Michoacán. Approximately 80 per cent of all mezcal is made in the state of Oaxaca.

Production:

Tequila produces around 300 million litres annually.

Certified mezcal production is around 1.5–2 million litres per year, although total production is believed to be around 4–5 million litres.

22 Photos that Prove Playa Zipolite Is Paradise Pinterest From surfing to sunsets to sipping cocktails under the stars, these photos of Playa Zipolite, Mexico will prove it's paradise.

22 Photos that Prove Playa Zipolite Is Paradise

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From surfing to sunsets to sipping cocktails under the stars, these photos of Playa Zipolite, Mexico will prove it's paradise.

22 Photos that Prove Playa Zipolite Is Paradise

by Dan Moore | Apr 7, 2016

The small seaside town is simply a strip of barely paved road with a few restaurants and hotels on either side. The long whitesand beach sits secluded between two towering rock cliffs, the crashing waves beckoning surfers to ride them. The simplicity of it all is what makes Playa Zipolite so charming. You won’t find any over-the-top resorts or ritzy all-inclusives. What you will find are laid back locals who never seem to know what time it is, street vendors selling stylish handmade crafts, delicious Mexican cuisine cooked in ways that can only be found in Oaxaca, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in Central America.

Surfing

Since living in Costa Rica, one of our (more specifically my) favorite beach pastimes is hitting the waves. Surf lessons are popular here and nearly everyone on our trip with Cantimplora Travel caught some waves during our surf session! We were so grateful to have a professional photographer with us to capture the moment while we enjoyed the ride.

Cruise to Bahia De La Luna

The following morning, we took a fishing boat around the corner to Bahia De La Luna. On the way we were lucky enough to spot sea turtles and dolphins. We were told the migrating humpback whales weren’t in season to make an appearance. Our boat arrived early to this quiet, super secluded piece of paradise just as the sun was reaching above the surrounding cliffs to light up the calm turquoise water. Our breakfast came from the conveniently located little restaurant set up right on the beach. After a few hours of enjoying the bay, we had the invitation to get our blood pumping a bit and were taken to a spot where you can cliff jump.