Oaxaca’s Beaches: Where to Find the Best Sun, Surf & Sand on Oaxaca’s Coast
Some of the best beaches in all of Mexico are hiding in plain sight along Oaxaca’s coastline. Think postcard-perfect bays, surf-worthy swells, and spectacular sea stack scenes made better as the sun sets behind them. This is Oaxaca’s “last coast.”
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Though word is spreading, Oaxaca’s coast still feels like a hidden gem and having a beach all to yourself is certainly not out of the question. While weekenders and wedding parties continue to keep their eyes set on places like Tulum, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo, I say look to Oaxaca’s beaches instead while the rest of the world is still asleep on it. Here are my top three favorite beaches on Oaxaca’s coast. For a few more Oaxaca beach ideas, head over to the blog post I wrote for Eternal Expat.
1. Bahias de Huatulco
Most people begin beach hopping Oaxaca’s coast from either Puerto Escondido or Bahias de Huatulco. My vote is for this snorkel-rich resort community. It’s home to 9 bays and 36 beaches, meaning you can really get your feet wet for the bays and beaches to come down the coast. My favorite of Huatulco’s beaches was Organo for its crowd-free vibes and do-it-yourself snorkeling opportunities and La Entrega, mostly for its proximity to the sunset point of El Faro, but also for its snorkeling and beautiful bay scenery.
Things To Do: Besides spend every single day on a different beach with snorkeling mask nearby, the most popular tours and experiences in Bahias de Huatulco are the 7 bays boat and snorkeling tours, visiting the magic waterfalls of Copalitilla, and canyoning the Zimatan River Canyon.
Where to Stay: I stayed at Hostal Azul y Blanco and was very pleased with that decision. I had a private room with air conditioning, but they also have dorms for even lower rates. It was a very friendly, social hostel and was entirely walkable to both the center of Crucecita and the beaches of Santa Cruz, as well as the well-stocked Chedraui supermarket nearby.
2. Zipolite
Don’t let the idea of a nude beach scare you off, as it almost did me. I wasn’t too keen on donning my birthday suit around a bunch of strangers, but after just a few minutes on this gorgeous white sand beach outside of Mazunte, I suddenly understood the allure. By day’s end, my suit was on the sands while I frolicked in the waves sin ropa. I’ve never felt more free. Besides the novelty of a nude beach, Zipolite has a lot to offer, including beachfront restaurants, boutique hotels, and a thriving spiritual community if you’re into that.
Where to Stay: Full transparency, I only took a day trip to Zipolite from San Agustinillo, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about El Alquimista Yoga Spa, with its daily yoga classes, adults-only pool, and an almost private beachfront location due to the rocks that separate it from the rest of the Zipolite sands.
3. San Agustinillo
I saved the best for last, in my opinion. San Agustinillo stole my heart almost as soon as I arrived to its sandy shores. Tucked between the bigger beach towns of Zipolite and Mazunte, San Agustinillo has a charm all its own. Almost all of the hotels are located right on the beach and its main drag is loaded with delicious restaurants to choose from, including Lobo del Mar for the best Italian ravioli to ever grace your tastebuds. Do yourself a favor and wake up for sunrise along the beach. After all, the sand is literally at the foot of your bed.
Things to Do: Literally 15 minutes by camioneta (the local transportation), you can access Mazunte and its treasures including the spectacular sunset point of Punta Cometa and the wildlife-rich Laguna Ventanilla where thousands of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles nest each year, or do as I did and go the opposite direction for a day on Zipolite’s beaches.
Where to Stay: Casa Corazon is where I stayed in San Agustinillo. My room was literally on the beach. Definitely a rustic spot to stay but worth the beachfront wake up at an insanely affordable price. Between the sunrise beach walks and nightly stargazing on the sand, they had to rip me out of my room by trip’s end.
For 6 more Oaxaca beach recommendations, check out my article for Eternal Expat.
