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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

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Airport transfers Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airport: which one should you fly into?

 

Punta Cometa headland above the sea near Mazunte, on the Oaxacan coast
East coast

Puerto Escondido to Mazunte and Zipolite: how to get there

About 65 km along the coast, with Pochutla as the hub for public transport. Here is how the bus, colectivos, taxis, driving and a private car compare.

Clean passenger seats inside a private transfer vehicle
Airport transfers

Arriving at Puerto Escondido airport (PXM): what to expect and how to get to your hotel

A small terminal, a short walk to the exit and 10 to 20 minutes to most of town. Here is what landing at PXM is really like and how to reach your hotel.

Private SUV ready for an airport pickup on the Oaxacan coast
Airport transfers

Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airport: which one should you fly into?

One airport is 10 to 20 minutes from town, the other is about 1 h 45 min away by road. Here is how to decide which one to fly into.

Puerto Escondido to Huatulco: travel time, road and options

Rocky shore and green hills around a calm bay in Santa María Huatulco, Oaxaca

East coast

Puerto Escondido to Huatulco: travel time, road and options

About 120 km east along the coast, roughly two hours by car. What the drive is like, which bay you are really heading to, and how each way of getting there compares.

Airport transfers Travelling with surfboards to Puerto Escondido: flights, buses and transfers

Two surfers carrying their boards along a sandy beach on the Oaxacan coast

Airport transfers

Travelling with surfboards to Puerto Escondido: flights, buses and transfers

Board bags, airline rules, which airport to pick, buses over the mountains and the last drive to Zicatela: a practical guide to getting your quiver to Puerto Escondido in one piece.

How to Get to Mazunte From Puerto Escondido: Colectivo, Bus, Taxi or Car

 

https://www.puerto-escondido.mx/en/2026/11/05/how-to-get-to-mazunte-from-puerto-escondido/

How to Get to Mazunte From Puerto Escondido: Colectivo, Bus, Taxi or Car

To get to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido, travel about 65 km east on Federal Highway 200: roughly 1 hour 10 minutes by car or taxi, or 1 hour 30 minutes by colectivo plus a short pickup ride. There is no direct public bus to Mazunte, so the budget route is a colectivo van heading to Pochutla that drops you at the San Antonio junction, where pickups run down to the beach. If you want zero changes, a private transfer, your own car or a day tour does it door to door. This guide on how to get to Mazunte compares every option, then covers the route and the trip back.

OptionTravel timeIndicative priceBest for
Colectivo to the San Antonio junction + pickup1 h 20 – 1 h 45MXN 80–130 per personBudget and solo travelers
First-class bus to Pochutla + taxi or pickup1 h 45 – 2 h 15MXN 110–220 per person + local rideTravelers with big luggage
Private taxi or transfer, door to door1 h – 1 h 20MXN 900–1,500 per vehicleGroups, families, late arrivals
Own or rental car1 h – 1 h 20MXN 140–220 fuel one way, no tollsHopping between beaches
Day tour Mazunte – Zipolite – Punta CometaFull day, round tripPer person, transport includedDay trippers who want zero logistics

Indicative 2026 ranges, not published fares. Colectivo, bus and taxi prices move with fuel costs and season, so confirm before you get in.

How to Get to Mazunte by Colectivo or Bus

The cheapest way is the one locals use. Colectivo vans to Pochutla leave from the stops along Highway 200 in the center of Puerto Escondido every 20 to 30 minutes in daytime. Ask the driver to let you off at the San Antonio junction (crucero de San Antonio), about an hour in; pickups and shared taxis wait there for the 10 to 15 minute ride down to Mazunte. If you prefer a reserved seat, first-class buses run to Pochutla; check times on the official ADO website, then take a pickup to Mazunte via Zipolite. Before you go:

  • Say the junction clearly: tell the driver San Antonio, entrada a Mazunte, or you will end up in Pochutla.
  • Carry small bills: drivers rarely have change for a 500-peso note.
  • Travel light: colectivos have little luggage space, so a backpack beats a suitcase.
  • Get cash first: Mazunte has only one or two ATMs and they often run dry; withdraw in Puerto Escondido.
Green hills and beach in Mazunte, the destination when you get to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido
Mazunte: a small bay, green hills and no high-rises, about 65 km east of Puerto Escondido. Photo: Hersom Alexander via Pexels.

Taxi, Private Transfer or Day Tour

With luggage, kids or a group, a door-to-door ride is worth it. It takes the coast road from the San Antonio junction and drops you at your hotel in Mazunte with no changes:

  • Street taxi: agree on the fare before you get in; one way usually costs MXN 900 to 1,500 per car.
  • Private transfer: a fixed price booked in advance, with pickup at your hotel or at Puerto Escondido airport.
  • Day tour: the Mazunte, Zipolite and Punta Cometa tour includes transport, so you only pick where to swim.
  • From Huatulco airport: Mazunte is about one hour away, a little closer than from Puerto Escondido airport.
Rocky seashore and waves at Mazunte beach, reached by the coast road from Puerto Escondido
The coast road reaches Mazunte between San Agustinillo and La Ventanilla. Photo: Hersom Alexander via Pexels.

Driving to Mazunte: The Route Step by Step

By car, take Highway 200 east past Santa María Colotepec, Santa Elena and Tonameca. About 55 km from Puerto Escondido, at the San Antonio junction, turn right onto the coast road toward the sea; Mazunte is about 8 km further, just after the turnoff for La Ventanilla. Plan 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes, and there are no tolls.

Watch for speed bumps (topes): every village has them and not all are painted. Avoid driving after dark, when cattle and unlit curves are the main risk, and fill up in Puerto Escondido, since the coast road has no gas station. Parking in Mazunte is informal along the main street; if you stop at La Ventanilla lagoon on the way, it has its own lot.

Path along Punta Cometa near Mazunte, the classic first stop after arriving from Puerto Escondido
Punta Cometa, a 15-minute walk from the village, is the reason to arrive before sunset. Photo: Armando Belsoj via Pexels.

From Mazunte Back to Puerto Escondido

The return is the same trip in reverse: a pickup from Mazunte up to the San Antonio junction, then any colectivo heading west to Puerto Escondido. Leave Mazunte by 5 or 6 p.m., because service thins out after sunset and night taxis cost more. Staying a few days? Our complete Mazunte beach guide covers what to do there, the Puerto Escondido to Zipolite guide helps if you continue along the coast, and if your trip ends at Huatulco airport, see all the options between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido.

Sunset over the Mazunte coastline, the best time to start the way back to Puerto Escondido
Sunset in Mazunte: watch it, then head back before the colectivos thin out. Photo: Jesus Alfonso via Pexels.

Frequently Asked Questions

About 65 km by road, a drive of 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes on Highway 200 and the coast road.

Once the route is sorted, the fun part is planning your time there. Start with our complete guide to Mazunte beach.