Best Things To Do in Mazunte and Zipolite

Mazunte and Zipolite are charming villages nestled on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, which offer a serene and laid-back atmosphere that perfectly complements the energy of Puerto Escondido. Mazunte and Zipolite are even a lot more relaxed and hippie than Puerto Escondido. With their picturesque beaches, commitment to eco-tourism, and a variety of delightful dining options, Mazunte and Zipolite are must-visit destinations if you are looking for relaxation and natural beauty.

Tip: Unlike in Puerto Escondido, credit cards are not accepted widely and most places only take cash. There is only one ATM in Mazunte which sometimes does not have cash and is only refilled every couple of days. Therefore I would strongly recommend to get enough cash before you get there.

What to do in Mazunte and Zipolite

Enjoy the beaches

Mazunte is blessed with breathtaking beaches that invite you to unwind and soak up the sun. The bays and beaches here are more scenic than in Puerto Escondido due to the cliff and rock formations directly near the beaches. Compared to Zicatela beach in Puerto Escondido, I found beaches in and around Mazunte a lot better for swimming.

Begin your beach-hopping adventure at Mazunte Beach, where the golden sands and crystal-clear waters create a tranquil oasis. For a quieter experience, head to San Agustinillo Beach, where you can enjoy the gentle waves and take long walks along the shore. Zipolite Beach, known for its bohemian and hippie atmosphere, is perfect for relaxation and embracing the laid-back vibes. Zipolite is also known as the “naked beach” as many visitors embrace nude sunbathing here.

Watch the sunset at Punta Cometa

I think this was the best sunset I have seen in my entire life! You are not allowed to bring beers to the place (they will check your backpacks before entering) to avoid littering. However, this sunset experience does not need any alcohol to make it more worthwhile seeing as the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. As a highlight (if you are there during winter months), you might even get to see whales swimming in the sea while enjoying the sunset – it really cannot get much better.

Visit a coffee farm

There are plenty of coffee farms in Oaxaca and if you have a rental car you can drive to one of these yourself (avoid a Sunday because many will be closed for visits as the owners spend the day with the family). Also companies in Mazunte and other towns offer tours to the coffee farms. I can really recommend Cafe Pluma “Oro del Sur”, they were super friendly and gave us a really nice tour about the production process of coffee. You can also buy freshly made coffee there. It is advised to bring some bug spray as the fruit flesh of the coffee beans attracts a lot of mosquitos!

How to get to Mazunte and Zipolite

From Puerto Escondido

To reach Mazunte from Puerto Escondido, you have a couple of options. The most popular is taking a colectivo, a shared taxi service that takes the direct route, allowing you to arrive in Mazunte within 1-1.5 hours. The colectivo services Transportes Delfines leave in Puerto Escondido in the main part of the town near Chedraui (Google Maps location here). You will have to take the colectivo to San Antonio, where you will get dropped of at the junction in front of the Oxxo store. From there change into another colectivo (they pass by frequently) headed to Mazunte.

I would strongly recommend renting a car to get to Mazunte and explore the many beaches around.

From Oaxaca City

If you are coming from Oaxaca City (check my article on Oaxaca City here), one very common option (that we took as well) is an overnight bus that leaves from Oaxaca Bus Terminal in the evening and arrives in Puerto Escondido in the morning. Total journey time is about 11.5 hours and costs about 40USD. There is also a bus leaving in the morning and arriving at 7pm in the evening, but we did not want to waste a full day in the bus on the road. It is recommended to book tickets in advance (Check busbud for prices and availability) as the bus is usually very full.

However, I would personally not recommend it due to curvy roads that will slam you from left to right and back in your seat for almost the entire night. If I were to do it again, I would take a colectivo that departs in the afternoon from Oaxaca and that takes the direct route so you make it to Mazunte by around midnight.

By plane

Nearby airports are Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, from where you can pick up rental cars and can get to Mazunte in about 1 hour. We had a car from Hertz that we picked up from Huatulco airport and the process was very smooth. Alternatively, check Discover Cars for best rental car options during your stay.

Having insurance for rental cars is recommended as the roads have many roadbumps (topes) that can potentially damage the car’s underbody. Insurance packages with rental car provider are around 150-200USD extra per week, depending on the rental car company and type of car. If you plan to travel for a longer period to multiple destinations and use rental cars more often, I would recommend a credit card that includes rental car insurance, for example an American Express Platinum Card.

Recommended places near Mazunte and Zipolite

Puerto Escondido: Best Things To Do in Puerto Escondido

Oaxaca City: The 6 Best Things To Do in Oaxaca City: A Comprehensive Guide

When to visit Mazunte and Zipolite

The best time to visit Mazunte is during the winter months, from November to April, when the temperatures are pleasant and not excessively hot. In the summer months it can get really hot with temperatures north of 35 degrees celsius.

Where to stay in Mazunte

Compared to Puerto Escondido, the town is pretty small and you can reach almost everything walking. Many accommodations are in the hills that surround Mazunte. We stayed in Casa Aditi and really liked our stay there due to its nice view into the bay of Mazunte. The road that leads to the place is a bit tricky with a car but manageable, otherwise it is a short 10 minute walk down to the town.

Similar to Puerto Escondido, the area is rising in popularity with tourists at the moment and accommodation options have not caught up yet. Hence, they can be scarce (especially in peak seasons around Christmas and New Years) so make sure you check out booking.com and airbnb for options early enough.

If you have a rental car, staying in one of the adjacent towns like San Augustinillo or Zipolite is also a great option – all places in the area have a similar laidback vibe and are worth staying in!

Where to eat in Mazunte and Zipolite

In Mazunte, you can start the day with a nice breakfast and coffee in Terraza del Arquitecto directly at the beach. Also, Granito de Arroz (run by the owner of our airbnb Casa Aditi) offers a lot of nice options for breakfast with many vegetarian and vegan options too. For dinner, I really enjoyed FISH and LOVE where you can choose from a variety of freshly caught fish that is presented to you when you get in. While the Google reviews are mixed, I really found the fish super fresh and delicious and prices fair for the amount and quality that you get.

In Zipolite, we really enjoyed Gula Gula for breakfast directly at the beach. We spent the day at Xhuba beach bar, which serves nice shrimp tacos as a snack for lunch. For dinner, head to the main street Av. Roca Blanca behind the beach for lots of food options.