THE UNIVERSAL
fernando miranda 
Before the arrival of more than 44,000 turtles, they carry out a protection operation on the beaches of Oaxaca
Before the arrival of more than 44,000 turtles, they carry out a protection operation on the beaches of Oaxaca
Pochutla.— With more than 3,000 attendees from at least 10 countries and a nudist community from all over the Mexican Republic, this weekend the eighth edition of the Zipolite Nudist Festival officially began, which this 2023 returns en masse after two limited years due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Held on the only nude or "clothing optional" beach in the country, the Zipolite Nudist Festival has become an internationally recognized space of freedom, which is why this edition has participants from Canada, the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain and the United Kingdom, explains the organizing committee.
According to Mercedes Aguilar Ruvalcaba, a member of the organizing committee, the festival has returned this year with great force, which also translates into a significant economic benefit for this and other destinations on the Oaxaca Coast, since before the start of the activities Zipolite registered 100% hotel occupancy in the 80 establishments and visitors have had to stay in nearby communities such as Mazunte, Puerto Ángel, San Agustunillo and even Pochutla.
They estimate an spill of 154 million pesos from February 3 to 5 in the main destinations of Oaxaca
“We have had a great response, everyone was waiting because it is the only opportunity we have to meet friends. We meet with the nudist community from other countries and from all the states of the Republic”, Mercedes Aguilar pointed out to EL UNIVERSAL.
Given this response, the organizers detail that new activities have been added that facilitate coexistence, such as body painting, nude volleyball, yoga, catamaran rides and dinners.
This return has been even more significant, after eight months ago Zipolite became one of the communities most affected by the impact of Hurricane Agatha on the coast of Oaxaca, significantly hitting service providers.
Until this Friday, the organizers registered an influx of more than 3,000 people, thus exceeding only at the outset the 2,500 visitors that were estimated to arrive at this nudist destination this weekend, according to the Oaxaca Secretary of Tourism (Sectur).
"Keep coming to Zipolite, to the festival, but above all to continue living together and feeling free," invites Belén Martínez, the image of the most important nudism event in Mexico.
According to estimates from the Sectur Oaxaca, the entity expects an income of 154 million pesos on the first long weekend of the year and the arrival of 42,823 national and foreign visitors to the tourist destinations of Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca City. and Puerto Escondido, to which is added the return of the nudist festival.