Budget,
Backpackers,
Surfers,
Beach Lovers,
Naturalist,
Hippie,
Sun and Sand worshipers,
Off the Beaten Path Paradise! Everyone is welcome at Zipolite!
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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.
Things to do near Posada Mexico Restaurant on TripAdvisor: See 1629 reviews and 2202 candid photos of things to do near Posada Mexico Restaurant in Zipolite, Oaxaca.
Elusive tickets secured, we took a 20 seater Sprinter van to the coast, a very winding route that lasted just over 6 hours, pretty much right on schedule. We even got one washroom break! Cheryl took a gravel, which was definitely a good call.
Arriving in Pothculta, the main transport town for the Oaxacan coast, we were hoping to find a collectivo/camioneta to get us there, but were accosted by a horde of taxi drivers upon disembarkation, and really had no idea where the collectivos left from. One taxi driver knew we were looking for a collectivo and helpfully offered up his cab as a collectivo for the two of us, for the low price of 75 pesos each! While it was impressive marketing, we kept walking, but were pretty soon called back by the same entrepreneurial driver/comic who partnered us with up with a family of three who were also going to Mazunte, so we split the 150 peso fare with them. Half an hour later we arrived in the small beach town of Mazunte and hiked up the hill to our first guesthouse, as we’d be splitting our time between two due to late bookings for the busiest time of the year during the Christmas to New Years period.
The first guesthouse wasn’t all that spectacular (our first double bed since the erroneous booking in Mexico City upon arrival), but the view definitely was. Wow. Did I mention there was a hammock?
A great view from a less-than-great room
The next two days consisted of hammocking (this is most definitely a word, based on the number of times I have used it), eating guacamole (this was hard to find before we reached the beach), drinking margaritas (some better than others) and mojitos, swimming and reading a lot of books.
After checking into our new guesthouse with a slightly lesser view and slightly less comfy hammock but much better location and bed, we grabbed a very full camioneta to get to Zipolite where Cheryl’s friends were staying. The beach was very similar to Mazunte, although the surf was definitely a bit more intimidating (we witnessed two lifeguard rescues while there), and much straighter, but not in the linear sense, according to Alejandro, one of the group of gay men we were hanging out with. As I was requested to go to the pool to see a merman (Zipolite definition: man wearing a mermaid tail), I realized he was probably right.
Cheryl and Gerhard in some very nice accommodation. Not pictured: the merman
The other difference between Zipolite and Mazunte was that Zipolite has awesome sunsets. We walked to the end of the beach, climbed a small cliff, grabbed a beer, and headed down to the beach to watch the show, along with about a hundred other mostly gay and naked men. Yes, the sunset was great. Yes, someone made a joke about a moon and a sun. And yes, people clapped when the sun set. This was only the second time I had witnessed this (the clapping for sunset that is). The other time was the day before at Mazunte. It was a bit strange. I mean, I get clapping when an airplane lands. I’m personally not afraid of flying and know that I am much more likely to get killed in a car crash (although I don’t generally spend all that much time in cars, but hey), but I also understand a safe landing is not a guaranteed thing. But a sunset? Have we finally moved into a post-apocalyptic world (I can think of a few global events which would qualify this) and the fact that the sun will set each day is not a given?
Anyway, show over, we headed back over the cliff and walked back towards dinner. The remnants of the sun were reflecting on the water, making for a spectacular sunset. This was worth clapping for.
Cheryl’s friends were pretty excited to take us to the restaurant they found fresh fish burgers with avocado, tomato, onion and Oaxacan cheese for four dollars, so we were sold. Over dinner we learned about their plan to either bring or make Oaxacan cheese back in Vancouver, but in the end we decided it wouldn’t work due to the presence of the Canadian dairy cartel. Yup. Look it up. What do you talk about on holidays?
Travel inspiration: five authentic family holidays in Mexico
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Land of adventure: Mexican culture is steeped in colour and vibrancyCREDIT: GETTY
A land filled with endless adventure - from uninhabited jungles to snow-topped volcanoes, cactus-filled deserts and stunning sandy beaches - it is easy to see why Mexico made the perfect setting for the latest Disney Pixar's Coco
From the vibrant art to some of the world’s most exquisite archaeological monuments, if your children have been inspired by 12-year-old Miguel’s Mexican adventures in Disney Pixar's Coco, why not take them there to discover the rich culture, spectacular wildlife and tasty cuisine for themselves?
Mexican adventures: will Miguel prove an inspiration for your kids?CREDIT: PIXAR
For a fun-filled family holiday, try one of these options…
Tulum
Bustling Cancun has become the unofficial capital of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, but travel south along the Riviera Maya and exchange big resorts for boutique beach cabanas in Tulum.
Coastal paradise: the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of TulumCREDIT: GETTY
This sleepy coastal town is crowned by the magnificent Mayan ruins of the same name, overlooking the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, while the huge pyramid complex of Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – is less than two hours away.
Beyond the beaches and world of the Maya, children can enjoy jungle tours to snorkel in crystalline limestone cenotes (natural sinkholes) and spot flamingos, crocodiles and monkeys.
Chiapas
From the cool highlands to rainforest jungles, the southernmost state in Mexico is one of amazing biological diversity and a strong Mayan culture. From the beautiful colonial capital San Cristobal de Las Casas, you can visit Mayan villages in the highlands, where the women still dress in traditional bright fabrics.
The jungle is perfect for spotting colourful birds and monkeys and gazing at thundering waterfalls, while no visit brings the Maya to life as much as the spectacular ruins of Palenque, perhaps the finest in Mexico.
Oaxaca
Lapped by the Pacific Ocean, this traditional state is home to 17 different ethnic groups, each with their own language. Here you will find some of Mexico’s most colourful fiestas – Oaxaca is particularly known for its authentic Day of the Dead celebrations – and wonderful markets selling traditional handicrafts.
Diverse state: Oaxaca is home to 17 different ethnic groupsCREDIT: GETTY
Start with the cobbled colonial streets of Oaxaca city – try mole, the Oaxacan chicken dish cooked in bitter chocolate – then discover villages where most locals are descendants of the Mixtec and Zapotec people, and the amazing ruins of Monte Albán. Finish off at one of the small, laid-back beach towns that dot the coastline.
Mexico City
This vast metropolis is often skipped by families, but Mexico’s capital is a treasure trove of exciting sites. The entire city stands on what used to be a lake and the waterways of Xochimilco date back to Aztec times, when the Aztecs paddled between man-made islands in canoes.
Often overlooked: but Mexico City is a fantastic destination for familiesCREDIT: GETTY
Take a boat trip back in time, then head to the Zócalo main square to discover the ruins of the soaring pyramids that once made this city the Aztec capital.
An hour north of the city, you can scale the huge intact pyramids of Teotihuacan, built by a mysterious civilisation that predates the Aztecs, and Mexico City is easily combined with Oaxaca, which is an hour’s flight away or six hours in the car.
Baja California
A favourite holiday spot of the rich and famous, Baja California is also a peninsula of deserts and mountain ranges, lush oases and golden beaches.
Premium location: Baja California is a favourite of the rich and famousCREDIT: GETTY
San José del Cabo is home to beautiful beaches but is also a great base from which to see migrating humpback and gray whales, snorkel among reefs of kaleidoscope fish and huge rays and sail to uninhabited Espíritu Santo island to spot sea lions.
Children will love picking out 1,000-year-old rock paintings in the San Francisco mountain range, as well as trying tasty fish tacos – a local speciality – and marvelling at the surreal bendy boojum trees that sprout out of the arid landscape.
Celebrating Mexico's vibrant culture
This Telegraph article, brought to you by Disney Pixar, is about the rich and colourful culture of Mexico.
Disney Pixar’s newest animation Coco sees a young boy’s dream of playing guitar take him all the way to the colourful Land Of The Dead, where he uncovers his secret family history.
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