Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Mazunte is a small beach village on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, wedged between a wide beach and the Sierra Madre del Sur. It is best known for sea turtles, a community that moved from hunting them to protecting them, and a slow, friendly pace that has made it a favourite stop on the Pacific coast backpacker route.
Playa Mazunte
Punta Cometa
Playa El Rinconcito
Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte
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Mazunte is a place to slow down. The village is small and rustic, with a beach about one kilometre long, a handful of hostels and posadas, and restaurants along the main road.
The area also has an inspiring story. Once the centre of sea turtle hunting in Mexico, it became a conservation community after the trade was banned in 1990. Today you can visit a turtle center, buy natural cosmetics made by a local cooperative and watch sunsets from one of Oaxaca's most famous viewpoints.
The main beach stretches along the village and is lined with small restaurants and palapas. It is a good place for long walks, skimboarding and watching fishing boats.
Punta Cometa is the southernmost point of the state of Oaxaca. Photo: Anna Bertho, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
This rocky headland at the western end of the beach is also known as Cerro Sagrado, or Sacred Hill. It is the southernmost point of Oaxaca, and you can watch both sunrise and sunset from the tip.
Playa Mermejita is a small undeveloped beach beside Punta Cometa. Photo: Martin Barona, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
On the western side of Punta Cometa, this small undeveloped beach is reached by a dirt track or a walk. It feels remote and wild, and is better for sitting and looking than for swimming.
This sheltered cove at the western end of the village is a social spot, with cafes, occasional live music and a few places that serve coffee and juices.
The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga is an aquarium and research center for turtles. Photo: Tvdp77, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Set right beside the beach on the site of the old turtle slaughterhouse, this aquarium and research center holds all of Mexico's native sea turtle species and some freshwater and land turtles.
The cooperative began in the 1990s with the support of The Body Shop and now sells soaps, shampoos and other natural products. It is a good place for souvenirs that support the community.
La Ventanilla is a mangrove lagoon community west of Mazunte. Photo: Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A short ride west, this community runs boat and canoe tours through a mangrove lagoon, where you can see crocodiles and many birds.
San Agustinillo is a small beach village next to Mazunte. Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Local fishermen take small groups along the coast, and depending on the season you may see turtles, dolphins and sometimes whales. The trips can include stops at nearby beaches such as Zipolite and Puerto Ángel.
About one kilometre from Mazunte along the coast road, this beach village is quieter, with seafront restaurants and small guesthouses. You can walk there in a short time or take a shared pickup.
West of the main beaches, Escobilla Bay is where thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest, usually for a few nights after a full moon, in events called arribadas.
Zipolite is the next beach village to the east, known for its heavy surf and its relaxed, clothing-optional corner.
Zipolite is the next beach village east of Mazunte. Photo: Andrés Tonini, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mazunte's beach palapas serve similar menus, so pick the one with the most people and enjoy the slow pace. Order a tlayuda, the large, crisp Oaxacan tortilla topped with beans, cheese and meat, which is usually big enough for two.
Fish and tacos are plentiful, and the large Italian community has added wood-fired pizza and homemade bread. For a quick bite, look to the stalls near the main road and the small shops that sell fresh fruit and vegetables.
Popular dishes to try in Mazunte
Playa El Rinconcito suits social travellers who want cafes, music and sea views at the western end of the village.
Punta Cometa and the hillside above it suit couples and quiet seekers.
San Agustinillo suits travellers who want a calmer base within easy reach of Mazunte. It has a beautiful beach and good seafood restaurants.
Zipolite suits younger and budget-minded travellers who want a social atmosphere and bigger surf. It is a short ride east and has many hostels.
Where to stay in Mazunte
The Oaxacan coast is typically dry from December to May and rainy from June to November. Many visitors come in the dry months for sunny weather and calm travel, and Christmas and New Year are the busiest times.
Turtle lovers should aim for the nesting season, which begins around May and lasts for several months. The annual Fiesta de Mazunte takes place in January, and the village has also hosted a spring equinox festival and a jazz festival.
The nearest airports are Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, and both are linked to Mazunte by colectivo, taxi or bus. Most bus routes arrive in Pochutla, the nearest long-distance bus station, about 15 to 30 minutes away, where you can switch to a taxi, colectivo or camioneta.
Once you arrive, everything in the village is within walking distance, and the main road is Paseo del Mazunte. Pickup trucks fitted with seats connect Mazunte with San Agustinillo, Zipolite and Pochutla. Cash is important, because only a few places accept cards, and there is just one ATM in the village.
Settle in, walk the length of Playa Mazunte and visit the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga. Climb up to Punta Cometa before sunset.
Join an early canoe tour at La Ventanilla, then stop at the cosmetics cooperative.
Take a boat trip along the coast or a colectivo to Zipolite.
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