Playa Zipolite
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Playa Zipolite is a beach community located in the municipality of San Pedro Pocutela on the southern coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. Zipolite is known as Mexico's first and only legal public nude beach and has retained much of the hippie culture that made it famous in the 1970s. This beach is popular with foreign tourists, especially backpackers, who stay in one of the many rustic cabins and campsites along the beach. In fact, locals call this place "Death Beach," and for good reason. Although this beach is popular and is close to many attractive resorts, it is also the most dangerous beach in Mexico, with around 50 swimmers using it every year due to the strong currents.
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Origin of the name
Over time, the origin of the name Sipolite has been lost. Translated from Zapotec, it means "Death Beach". Some versions mention dangerous underwater currents offshore. According to local residents, the Zapotecs threw the bodies of their dead into the sea, which is why the beach remained empty until 1969, when replacement foreigners began to arrive. Another theory is that it comes from the Nahuatl word zipolitlan or zipotli, meaning "rugged." "A place with continuous steps and hills."
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history
Archaeological finds at the eastern end of the beach indicate that the area has a long history, but only one family lived here in the first half of the 20th century. It was once a fishing village, but in part because of the beach's isolation, counterculture hippies began to flock here in the 1960s and 1970s. Law enforcement was minimal at the time and drug use was common. In the 1970s and 1980s, this beach earned a reputation among Mexican and foreign tourists as a paradise for free love. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Zipolit suffered severe damage from two hurricanes and fires. The first hurricane was Hurricane Pauline on October 7, 1997, a Category 4 storm that destroyed nearly everything in the town with intense flooding, causing Mazunte and Puerto Rico to collapse. Ángel cut off the town from the mainland. There were no fatalities. Then Hurricane Rick struck on November 9, 1997. Although less intense than Pauline, the storm caused damage to roads and other infrastructure that was only partially rebuilt after Pauline. The last major disaster was a fire on February 21, 2001, which destroyed many wooden structures and palm-roofed buildings on the beach. Since its founding in the 1960s, Zipolite has grown from a handful of beachfront huts and palm-leaf thatched shacks to concrete but still basic hotels and other buildings with some amenities. . Behind the seaside buildings is an area called Colonia Roca Blanca, a street informally called Adkin that forms the center of the town. Recently, the local government has added a tourist information service, and police patrol the beaches day and night during the peak season.
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Community
The community is called "Zipolite" and consists of about a mile of beach and a road that runs parallel to it. The central area, Colonia Roca Blanca, is on the western edge and has many hotels and restaurants. Colonia Roca Blanca is named after the island or large rock off the coast that is white from bird droppings. As recently as 2014, Main Street was the only paved street in the community. Officially called "Paisan", but locally known as "Adkin". Colonia Roca Blanca has been completely renovated and the town now has 3 streets paved with yellow bricks and stones. Behind the beach and Adkin is a main road that connects Zipolit to other local communities such as San He Agustinillo and Puerto He Angel. There are no building codes here, so the materials and quality of buildings vary. There are no banking services here. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available at Playa Zipolite Hotel and Hotel Nodo. There are several bank branches in Pochutla. There is no currency exchange office, but there are plenty of places where you can use US dollars. There are very few places that accept credit cards. Almost all hotels facing the beach have a palapa-shaded restaurant and bar in front and accommodation in the back. These accommodations range from wooden cabins to simple concrete structures, often with hammocks and tent areas. Most bathrooms are shared. There are no high-rise buildings here, and few accommodations have air conditioning or hot water. Zipolite also has a variety of restaurants ranging from standard Mexican fare to international and vegetarian options. Many local restaurants are run by Italian expats and serve pasta and pizza. In a restaurant, the French expatriate owner serves crepes. Nightlife in Zpolit is quiet, but during high season (November to May) there are some surprisingly good musicians roaming the city. Local band Zipolite Beach Billys hold open mic performances every week and are very popular with tourists and locals alike. Many beachfront hotels have their own small bars. There are also many small nightclubs such as Livelula Bar, Zipolipas and La Puesta. Posada Mexico also frequently hosts live music performances. Zipolite has a large yoga community, offering classes in Alchimista and Loma Linda. Zipolite still attracts people attracted to the hippie lifestyle. Attitudes towards drug use, particularly cannabis, are also generally relaxed. The police station is mostly empty, but during busy periods such as Christmas and Easter weeks and during the Nude Festival in February, it is supplemented by regular patrols from San Pedro Pochutela, in addition to the regular local auxiliary police. , special security measures will be taken. Other efforts include checking Zipolit Beach and other areas for drunk drivers and boaters. From Huatulco or Puerto Escondido, take Highway 200 along the coast to Zipolite. It can also be reached by land from Oaxaca City via Highway 175. It's a narrow and very winding road that takes six or seven hours to complete. The highway ends in Puerto Angel, and private and collective taxis ply between this port and Zipolite.
pineapple palm tree
Piña Palmera is a rehabilitation and education center that serves children and adults with disabilities, the majority of whom are indigenous, living in rural Oaxaca. It is a private charity that has been around since the 1980s and to date has helped over 5,000 people with one or more of his projects. Most staff are volunteers. The initiative is supported by Swedish charities and is not affiliated with any political or religious group. As of 2009, approximately 350 people participated in the program.
beach
Zipolite is an almost pristine beach, approximately 40 meters wide and 2 kilometers long, characterized by medium-grained golden sand. The water is clear with blue and green tints. This is one of the beaches featured in the hit Mexican movie "Y tumátambién". It stretches from an isolated cove called Playa del Amor in the east to the modern resort of Shambala at the west end, partially protected by rocks. Behind this is a sea cliff. The beach is lined with palm trees and has rustic cabins, hotel rooms and hammocks, as well as some more refined accommodation at the western end. The beach is part of Riviera Oaxaqueño, which includes the nearby beaches of Puerto He Ángel and San He Agustinillo. This beach is popular with foreign tourists (mainly backpackers) and middle-class Mexicans, especially during Mexico's Holy Week holiday. The first weekend of February hosts Nudista Zipolite, an annual nudist festival organized by the Mexican Federal and Local Hoteliers Association. The appeal of this beach is that it is one of the few beaches where nudity is allowed. Previously, this was mostly done in the protected Far East, Playa del Amor and Far West areas, but nowadays, perhaps because some hotel owners have become more open-minded, families with children are also welcome. Even on the "main" beaches the number of nudists is increasing, both inclusive and flexible. In 2016, the city of Pochutela declared nudity legal in Playa Zipolite. Swimming is possible here, but caution is strongly recommended. The waves are big in the afternoon, perfect for surfing, and the bottom wave is always strong. Offshore waters have strong currents that move in a circular pattern, with some currents pushing swimmers towards the shore and others pulling them out to sea. These currents are strong but not very wide. The frequent occurrence of drownings among swimmers prompted the creation of teams of volunteer lifeguards and a system of flags to indicate the safest times and places for swimming. This team of lifeguards was founded in 1995 and was trained by local philanthropist Piña Palmera and American citizen Joaquin Venado. In 1996, the number of drownings at the beach was reduced by half. As of 2009, the lifeguard service includes 10 lifeguards, all-terrain vehicles, motor boats, radios and other equipment provided by the state. From 2007 to 2009, there were no drowning incidents in Zpolit, but the number of registered rescuers was 180.
naturism and naturism
Nudity is legal on the beaches of Playa Zipolite, including Playa del Amor, east of the main beach. Elsewhere, Mexican law condemns only "immorality," so the issue ultimately becomes one of judges' standards. As of 2016, Playa Zipolite is the first and only legal nude beach in Mexico. It is a "free beach" that has been an informal home for nudists for over 40 years and is known as one of the best nudist venues in the country. It is safe for naturism and naturism as there are many nudists here and there is a long tradition. Since 2016, every year on the first weekend of February, Zipolite hosts the Naturist Zipolite Festival, organized by the Mexican Nudist Federation. Most hotels and businesses in Zpolit require visitors to wear clothing on their premises, but some offer accommodation for those who wish. Practice nudism on and off the beach: Hotel Nudo is Zipolite's first clothing-optional resort. Located next to the beach. CAMP is a clothing-optional hotel and resort with a swimming pool and sauna. The hostel offers dormitory beds and private rooms. 0.5 km from the beach. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, the Nudist Festival will still take place as scheduled, from January 29 to February 1, 2021, and the wearing of masks is encouraged. tower.
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