Playa Mazunte

The small beach town of Mazunte is just west of San Agustin on the Pacific Coast of Oaxaca. Far from the main tourist route and requiring a rough 8-hour road journey from Oaxaca City, it remains a quiet haven, so you’ll only have the company of a few backpackers and locals on this lovely beach.

The 1km long cove is sheltered by the Punta Cometa peninsula and lookout point which is a popular spot for watching the sun drop below the horizon. Surrounded by unspoilt scenery, the beach has a few hotels and restaurants overlooking the shore. At the far end there’s a secluded cove where you’ll find fishing and tourist boats along with a few cabanas and hostels.

Playa Mazunte may be named after a type of crab (mizontle) that were once prolific in the area, or it may refer to it being a place where many sea turtles return to lay their eggs in the golden sand. The area was historically a hub for sea turtle hunting but the number of turtles rapidly declined leading to a country-wide ban on turtle meat and eggs.

The town is now a hub for eco-tourism and a small company, Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte which is sponsored by Body Shop and manufactures natural beauty products. It is also the home of the National Mexican Turtle Centre which studies turtle species and monitors local water conditions.

Washed by the clear blue waves, Playa Mazunte has a faded hippie vibe and is a popular spot for yoga classes and retreats. Swimming can be dangerous due to the current. There are usually lifeguards on duty but it’s best not to go out of your depth when swimming.