Things to do
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La Ventanilla
A community cooperative a few kilometres west of Mazunte runs rowing boats into a mangrove lagoon where crocodiles bask on the banks and iguanas and herons sit in the roots. The tour takes about an hour and a half. The cooperative also releases turtle hatchlings in season. Colectivos and taxis on the coast road drop at the turn-off.
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Playa Zipolite
A long open beach a few kilometres east of Mazunte, known for decades as Mexico's clothing-optional shore and for a laid-back strip of palapas and cabañas behind the sand. Undertow is strong, and the name is often glossed as beach of the dead in Zapotec, a reminder taken seriously by lifeguards. Swimming is safest at the rocky ends and on calm days.
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Punta Cometa
A rocky headland at the southern tip of Oaxaca's coast, reached on a short trail through dry forest from the west end of Mazunte beach. Sunset is the ritual here, with the sun dropping into the Pacific and the cliffs turning gold, and in winter whales sometimes spout offshore. A community ticket booth stands at the entrance, and the sheer rocks at the edge have no railing.
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Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga
Built on the site of the old turtle processing plant, the government research centre keeps aquariums and tanks of Mexico's sea and freshwater turtles, from leatherbacks to olive ridleys, alongside conservation exhibits. It stands at the top of Mazunte beach. Seeing the species side by side explains why the coast's nesting beaches matter.
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Playa Mermejita
West of Punta Cometa, a wild beach with reddish sand and almost no building behind it, reached on a dirt track or over the headland. Heavy surf and strong rips make it a beach for walking and sunsets, never for swimming. Turtles nest along it, and the sand is quiet enough to watch the waves break without music. Shade is scarce, so water and a hat matter on the walk in from Mazunte.
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Puerto Ángel
Fishing launches crowd the small harbour of this working port east of Zipolite, and the waterfront serves fish caught that morning. Boats leave from the beach for snorkelling coves and wildlife trips along the coast. Playa Estacahuite, a short drive away, has clear water over rocks for snorkelling. The town makes a practical base for cash, supplies and a pharmacy.
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San Agustinillo
Between Mazunte and Zipolite, a small village beach curves around a sheltered bay where the waves suit bodyboarding and gentle swimming. Fishing launches take visitors out to watch turtles and dolphins and, in winter, humpback whales. A cliff at the western end separates it from Mazunte, a short walk or taxi ride away. Guesthouses line the sand, and the main coast road runs just behind them.
