I showed up in Zipolite planning to stay three nights and left two weeks later. This happens to people here. It is not a fancy beach. There are no resorts, no jet skis, no pool bars with DJs. What there is: a long stretch of sand backed by palm-roofed restaurants, budget cabanas you can rent for a few hundred pesos, and a pace of life that makes it very hard to leave.
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Zipolite is also Mexico’s only legally recognised nudist beach, which either intrigues you or makes you nervous. In practice, plenty of people wear swimsuits. The nude section is toward the western end near Punta Cometa. Nobody cares what you do or don’t wear. That attitude extends to everything in Zipolite — it is aggressively laid-back.
The Beach
Zipolite runs about 1.5 kilometres, curving from the rocks near Playa del Amor at the east end to Punta Cometa at the west. The sand is coarse gold. The surf is strong — Zipolite has a serious undertow and people drown here every year. Red flags mean stay out entirely. Even on calm days, swim where you see locals in the water, not in front of the rocky sections where currents pull hardest.
The western end near Punta Cometa is quieter and where the nudist section starts. The central stretch has the densest cluster of palapa restaurants. The eastern end near the rocks is good for wading in calmer water pooling between the boulders at low tide.
Where to Stay
Cabanas with a hammock and a fan start around 300-500 pesos. These are basic — a roof, a bed or hammock, a mosquito net, shared bathrooms. The ones at Roca Blanca end of the beach have been around for years and are a known quantity. Small hotels with private bathrooms, actual mattresses and sometimes air conditioning run 600-1,500 pesos.
Camping on the beach itself or at properties that allow tent pitching costs 100-200 pesos per person. Bring a mosquito net and insect repellent — sand flies (jejenes) are brutal at dawn and dusk.
There are a few newer, more polished options in the 2,000-3,500 peso range that have appeared in recent years as Zipolite has grown in popularity. These have proper pools, decent rooms and restaurant service, but they are not why most people come here. The charm of Zipolite is its roughness.
Eating and Drinking
Palapa restaurants line the beach and almost all of them serve the same thing: fish tacos, ceviche, whole grilled fish (pescado zarandeado), shrimp cocktail, cold beer. The seafood is fresh — the boats come in daily — and cheap. A whole grilled fish with tortillas and salsa runs 120-180 pesos. A plate of fish tacos is 60-90 pesos.
Tere’s is one of the places that has been around forever. Several Italian-run places reflect the long European presence in Zipolite. The Adoquin in Pochutla (the nearest larger town, 20 minutes by colectivo) has more variety if you need a break from beach food.
For nightlife, Zipolite has a handful of beachfront bars that play music and get going around sunset. It is not a party destination — this is not Playa del Carmen or Tulum. The scene is more like a campfire with cocktails. If you want actual nightlife, Puerto Escondido is 40 minutes west.
Punta Cometa
The headland between Zipolite and Mazunte is the southernmost point in the state of Oaxaca and the sunset walk up to the point is the daily ritual. The trail starts from the western end of Zipolite beach or from Mazunte side and takes about 20 minutes. Get there half an hour before sunset to grab a spot on the rocks. On clear evenings the sun drops straight into the Pacific and the entire headland turns gold.
Getting There
Zipolite is on the Oaxacan Pacific coast, roughly 250 kilometres from Oaxaca city. The route goes over the Sierra Madre del Sur on mountain roads.
From Oaxaca city: OCC first-class buses run to Pochutla (the nearest town to Zipolite) in about 6 hours. Passenger vans on the newer highway are faster but the driving is white-knuckle. From Pochutla, colectivo taxis and pickup trucks make the 15-minute run to Zipolite for 30-40 pesos.
From Huatulco: About 1.5 hours by bus or colectivo via Pochutla. Huatulco airport (HUX) has flights from Mexico City. This is the fastest way to reach Zipolite from anywhere outside Oaxaca state.
From Puerto Escondido: About 1.5 hours east on Highway 200, either by OCC bus or colectivo. Puerto Escondido also has an airport with Mexico City flights.
Nearby Beaches
Mazunte is a 15-minute walk west past Punta Cometa or a quick colectivo ride. Calmer water, a turtle museum (Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga with live sea turtles), and a more wellness-oriented vibe with yoga retreats and vegan cafes. The beach is swimable and less intense than Zipolite’s surf.
San Agustinillo sits between Zipolite and Mazunte — a long crescent of sand with the gentlest water on this stretch of coast. Better for families and swimmers who are nervous about Zipolite’s currents.
Puerto Angel is 20 minutes east — a working fishing port with cheap seafood restaurants on the waterfront. Playa Panteon on the sheltered side of the bay has calm swimming water.
Playa Ventanilla is west of Mazunte and has a mangrove lagoon with crocodile-spotting boat tours and a sea turtle release program in season (roughly July-December).
When to Go
November through April is the dry season — clear skies, warm water, reliable sun. December through February is the peak season when prices go up and cabanas fill. The Zipolite Nudist Festival in late January/early February books out fast if that is your thing.
The rainy season (June-October) brings afternoon thunderstorms but also lower prices and fewer people. The rain usually passes by evening. September and October are the wettest months and some places close for low season.
The water temperature is warm year-round. You do not need a wetsuit.
Safety Notes
The ocean is the biggest safety concern. Do not underestimate the currents. If you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to shore, not against it. Volunteer lifeguards patrol some sections but coverage is not consistent.
Crime-wise, Zipolite is mellow. Basic precautions apply — do not leave valuables unattended on the beach, lock your cabana, keep cash in small amounts. The beach is well-populated during the day and the palapa restaurants have staff around most of the night.
Mosquitoes and sand flies are the other reality. DEET-based repellent works. Natural repellents mostly do not. Dawn and dusk are the worst hours.
