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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

Saturday, May 26, 2012

SAN AGUSTINILLO - TROPICAL PARADISE By Barbara Schaffer
























SAN AGUSTINILLO - TROPICAL PARADISE
By Barbara Schaffer

San Agustinillo - a mere 40 miles southeast of Puerto Escondido - is the European-baby beach: not babes, but little creatures that suckle and toddle about, whose model-slim parents tend to be French or Spanish. Unlike Mazunte or Zipolite, which are on the same road, it is a family beach and, even though most of the families are Mexican, it has an international vibe. It's my favorite place to splash in the surf, read and eat.

San Agustinillo is not for everyone. There are restaurants, small hotels and palapas on the beach, but there is no music - recorded or live. The restaurants serve alcohol, but there are no bars per se. And there are always more children in the water than adults. The surf varies from swimming pool calm to lots of waves - depending on the vagaries of the sea, but there are no riptides or undertows. If you feel more comfortable in a (small) crowd you can find it here; if you'd rather be by yourself, that works too. Since I received a strict summer camp education based on the buddy system of water safety, I cannot enter the water alone. Even if I am technically without a buddy, I feel that someone will notice if I drown when I body surf amongst the other bathers in San Agustinillo.

My favorite hangout is México Qué Lindo Qué Rico!, a restaurant cum small hotel owned by a young couple from Mexico City. Among its other charms is the cleanliness of its bathrooms. Typically, I choose a table on the beach and leave my possessions on a chair and trot into the water. The very handsome waiter keeps a close eye on everything and would never dream of offering you a menu before you were ready to order. There are also hammocks for those so inclined. Unfortunately, the place is not open all year.

Not to worry, there are other restaurants on the beach which are equally accommodating. I am extremely near sighted, so I usually tell the manager my name and instruct her to call it out if I blindly walk by after my swim.

The only drawback to San Agustinillo is that with its long stretch of mostly empty beach and coconut palms it looks too much like a movie-image of a tropical paradise. On the other hand, no matter how rotten my mood, I always feel better for having spent the day there.

To drive to San Agustinillo, take the Coastal Highway (200) towards Huatulco. The Mazunte/Zipolite turnoff is 35miles from Puerto Escondido. (The turnoff is just after a Pemex station.) Continue for five miles; San Agustinillo is the town after Mazunte. Turn right onto the first dirt road (the sign reads Bienvenido a San Agustinillo). That will lead you to the parking lot behind México Qué Lindo Qué Rico.

Sol de la Costa, February 2008

Puerto Ángel Things to Do


Puerto Ángel Things to Do

Drowsy pelicans in the harbor
  Drowsy pelicans in the harbor
by CyrilHH
 
 

Most Recent Things to Do in Puerto Ángel

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Boat trip
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Enzyme_X 378 reviews
Byron Luna
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There are several options to go on a boat trip in Puerto Angel. In some restaurants on Playa del Panteon you will be offerd to go with them. Another option is Byron Luna. He has his office right behind restaurant Suzy. Byron is a funny guy. Depends on your luck, you may see turtles, dolphins, orcas or whales.
The trip also includes some snorkeling. You'll see colourful fish and corlas. But, be awere of the waves.
Byron also trys to catch some fish. And later at Suzy's they can prepare them for a great price.
Written Apr 13, 2005
Address: Playa del Panteon
Related to:
 Fishing
 Sailing and Boating
 Diving and Snorkeling
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Playa Estacahuite
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eclair_smiles 27 reviews
Playa Estacahuite is a quiet and pretty beach, just east of Puerto Angel. I always got there by car, but you could probably walk as well (ask the locals for directions).
There are some snorkel and boat tours that leave Puerto Angel which include Playa Estacahuite.
There are not any hotels or cabanas in playa estacahuite. There are two small beach front restaurants, and they will probably rent you hamacas, but unless you like bugs....
Written Mar 1, 2005
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Naco watching on Puerto Angel harbor beach
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Nacos playeros
Puerto Angel, at least jurdging from its two town beaches (there are also some outer beaches which I didnt visit), seems to be a very popular vacation spot with the middle of the road kind of Mexican families. This makes for a very colorful and picturesque beach life, and it is fun to hang out on the beach or on the muelle (jetty) and watch on.

Apparently lots of Mexicans here (unlike the more sophisticated or hippie ones seen on the Zipo, Mazunte and San Agustinillo beaches) like to go swimming with their clothes on. They also seem to be somehow shy of the water. There was a woman hesitating for 15 minutes whether she should jump from a 2 meters max wall. She finally did. Her family had great fun teasing her and enjoyed the fact that I had been waiting to take the picture. She made a run for me after she had noticed but then thought better of it. Too much exertion for one day...
Updated Feb 7, 2004
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Puerto Angel - Quaint Fishing Town
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Drowsy pelicans in the harbor
Puerto Angel has its own feel quite distinct from the surrounding beach towns which - due to their Mexico City bohemia and international backpacker visitors - have taken on a more hippie style atmosphere. Puerto Angel, while being way larger and more urban than the others, first and foremost still is a fishing town and a navy post. At the same time it is a more family style resort for local tourists.
Updated Feb 7, 2004
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Playa San Agustinillo
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Very mellow.
In my view, the western part of Playa San Agustinillo is the second best beach of the area (Playa Aragon next door being superior). It has nice waves and is virtually empty.

Of course you may prefer Zipolite because it offers more activity and liveliness. But the waves and even more so the undertow there are reputed to be very dangerous.

The picture is taking just before sunset from my favorite bar, described in the nightlife part. In the back you can see the white rock that can also be seen from Zipolite beach. The white color comes from bird droppings.
Updated Feb 7, 2004
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Zipolite - Main Beach
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Nice waves
Zipolite has three beach segments:

one very long main stretch with plenty of comedores and accomodation,

a small secluded nude and quite gay beach called Playa del Amor on the extreme West towards Puerto Angel, located behind a small hill and framed by rocks,

and a less secluded (and less nude) beach (with a yet smaller secluded nude beach behind it) on the far East towards San Agustinillo, just below the recommended cabanas Shambala and El Cosmico.

Everywhere seems to be clothing optional, but most people on the main beach stretch wear their trunks and bikini bottoms, while the majority on the outer beaches goes nude. As you please, really.

Zipo beach is bigger and grander than San Agustinillo's but less mellow. There is way more people and also way younger people (lots of surfers because of the amazing waves) out and about on the beach and in the town, and also locals trying to sell you stuff (though without hassle).

So if you like a bit more beach life and a larger choice of comedores, but still without any signs of mass tourism, Zipolite is for you. For gay beach life, playa del Amor is the obvious choice.
Written Feb 7, 2004
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Fishermen on Playa San Agustinillo
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Catch of the day
Fishing still provides an important part of the income of the locals. And have a look at what fish you can catch here!!!

These two tourists apparently had joined the fisherman on the fishing trip. The fishing boats usually lay on the Western end of the beach, close to the outcrop with the chapel on it.
Written Feb 7, 2004
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Beach below Punta Cometa - Mazunte
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Might look even better with sunlight!
This remote beach just below Punta Cometa is usually deserted. Looked tempting when I was awaiting the sunset uphill, but I didnt make it back during daytime...

The coastline continues quite ruggish in this direction with a number of deserted beaches with greyish sand which was coarser than in Mazunte and San Agustinillo. There were also some remote cabana places this way which are probably reached most easily by continuing straight ahead on the dirt road past the cemetary, rather than taking a left uphill to Punta Cometa.
Written Feb 7, 2004
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Mazunte - Hammock place
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Typical hammock lodging
I dont remember which particular hammock place this one was, so I dont put it in the accomodation section. But it sure looked nice and is quite typical, I guess, and the colors make it deserving of a spot on this page, dont u agree?
Written Feb 7, 2004
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Puerto Angel - Friendly Kids
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CyrilHH 55 reviews
Showtime
These kids on the harbor jetty were actually busy at pelican fishing. But they took a welcome break and insisted to show off their acrobatic talents for the camera. They obviously had lots of fun at it.
Updated Feb 7, 2004


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