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Lagunas de Chacahua is a national park on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, west of Puerto Escondido, protecting a chain of coastal lagoons, mangrove forests and long sandy beaches. Established in the 1930s, it is one of Mexico's older protected areas. The small village of Chacahua sits on a sandbar between lagoon and ocean, home to fishing families in a region with deep Afro-Mexican roots.
Most trips begin at Zapotalito, where boats leave for a ride across the lagoons. Laguna de La Pastoria opens into a network of mangrove channels where herons, egrets, ibises and other birdlife feed among the roots. Boat routes continue to Laguna de Chacahua and the village, with its lighthouse and stretch of Pacific beaches and dunes. A crocodile nursery near the village is part of a conservation project for local species. Laguna Las Salinas lies farther along the coast. Surfers find consistent waves at the point near the village, and evenings are quiet, lit by small restaurants serving fresh fish.
Simplicity rather than comfort is the trade-off: accommodation is basic cabañas, and electricity and supplies can be limited. Many visit on a day trip from Puerto Escondido, home to Zicatela Beach, although staying a night allows for better sunsets and calm mornings. Turtle nesting at Playa Escobilla lies to the east.
WiserMap travel guideLagunas de Chacahua Mexico Mangrove Boats and Wild BeachesExplore Lagunas de Chacahua National Park on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, with boat trips through mangroves, birdlife, crocodiles, beaches and Puerto Escondido tips.Read the guide
Laguna de Chacahua is the main lagoon of the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, a shallow body of water fringed with mangroves and separated from the Pacific by a sandbar. Boats cross it from Zapotalito to Chacahua village. Morning trips are calmer and better for birdwatching.
La Pastoria is the largest lagoon in the park, linked to Laguna de Chacahua by mangrove channels and opening to the sea near Cerro Hermoso. Fishing families work its waters, and herons and egrets feed along the edges. Boat tours from Zapotalito usually cross it on the way to Chacahua.
Laguna Las Salinas is a smaller, shallower lagoon in the park, surrounded by mangroves and salt flats. It is quieter than the main lagoons and good for spotting wading birds. Ask boat operators in Zapotalito to include it in a longer tour, and bring a hat, sunscreen and water for the trip.
Narrow channels wind through dense red and white mangroves between the lagoons of Chacahua. Small motor boats or kayaks glide under tunnels of roots and branches where crabs, birds and sometimes crocodiles can be seen. Ask your boatman to slow down here, and keep your hands inside the boat.
A small crocodile breeding center by the lagoon near Chacahua village raises American crocodiles and some other reptiles, helping protect local populations. Visitors can see crocodiles of different ages up close in pens. Many boat tours stop here; a small fee or donation supports the work.
The lagoons and mangroves of Chacahua are home to many birds, including herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, cormorants, pelicans and ospreys, with more species in the winter months. Early morning boat trips give the best sightings. Bring binoculars and ask local guides to point out nesting areas.
Playa Chacahua is the long open Pacific beach beside Chacahua village, with a point break popular with surfers and a row of simple palapa restaurants and cabins. Swimming is safer near the lagoon mouth on calm days, as the surf can be strong. Sunset over the beach is a highlight of a stay.
Cerro Hermoso is a quiet beach and fishing community at the western end of La Pastoria lagoon, where the lagoon meets the sea below a rocky hill. It has a few palapa restaurants serving fresh fish. Boats from Zapotalito can stop here; ask about sea conditions before swimming.
The lighthouse of Chacahua stands on a rocky hill at the edge of the village, above the beach and the lagoon mouth. A short climb gives one of the best views in the park over the coast, the lagoons and the mangroves. Go in the late afternoon for softer light and cooler temperatures.
Chacahua is a small Afro-Mexican fishing village on the sandbar between the lagoon and the ocean, reachable only by boat or a rough sandy track. It has simple cabins, hammocks and seafood restaurants. Electricity and internet are limited, so bring cash and a flashlight and plan for a slow pace.
Zapotalito is the small fishing village at the eastern edge of the park where most visitors catch a boat to Chacahua. The boat cooperative offers shared rides and private lagoon tours with stops at the mangroves and crocodile nursery. Arrive in the morning, agree on the price first, and carry cash.
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Photo: Carlos Miguélez Monroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carlos Miguélez Monroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carlos Miguélez Monroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carlos Miguélez Monroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carlos Miguélez Monroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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