Playa Zipolite is a coastal beach community located in the San Pedro Pochutla municipality along Oaxaca's southern shore, situated between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. Reachable via coastal highway 200, travelers can fly into Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airports or drive about three hours from Oaxaca City via the new highway, completing the final leg from the Mazunte or Puerto Angel intersections by taxi or shared cab.
The beach stretches for roughly two kilometres and is forty metres wide, featuring medium-grain gold-coloured sand and clear blue-green waters. Anchored by the secluded Playa del Amor cove to the east and the rocky sea cliffs of the Shambala retreat to the west, the ocean features powerful waves in the afternoon and dangerous circular currents offshore. Parallel to the shore runs the Adoquín, a brick-paved main street in the central Colonia Roca Blanca neighborhood.
Retaining its 1970s hippie culture, Zipolite offers a relaxed atmosphere dominated by palm trees, rustic cabins, and open-air palapa restaurants. It lacks high-rise developments, with simple concrete lodgings, shared baths, hammocks, and beachfront camping. The vibe remains subdued, though musicians visit during the high season, and a wide variety of dining options exist alongside expatriate-run Italian pasta joints, creperies, and vegetarian eateries.
The beach particularly attracts foreign backpackers, the Mexican middle class, and naturists drawn to Mexico's first and only legal public nude beach. While its powerful waves suit surfers, swimmers must exercise extreme caution due to severe undertows. Families and clothing-optional travelers frequent the shore, especially during major events like Holy Week and the annual February nudist festival.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nearest Airport | Huatulco Airport |
| Nearest Airport | Puerto Escondido Airport |
| Road | Coastal Highway 200 via the intersections for Mazunte or Puerto Angel |
| Road | Autopista Oaxaca Puerto Escondido (approx. 3 hours from Oaxaca City) |
| Local Transit | Taxis colectivos (shared taxis) or standard taxis from highway intersections |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Where to stay
Resorts, towns and areas near the beach — the closer you stay, the easier the early-morning and sunset hours when the light is best and the crowds are thin.
Zipolite's first clothing-optional resort, located directly on the beach.
Features dormitory beds, private rooms, a pool, and a sauna, situated half a kilometer from the beach.
04 Best time to visit & the water
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| High Season | November through May | Features subdued nightlife with visiting musicians and busier crowds. |
| Festival Nudista | First weekend of February | Annual naturist festival bringing large crowds to the main beach. |
| Holy Week | Easter week | Popular vacation period especially favored by Mexican visitors. |
Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-12
05 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- Heed the volunteer lifeguard flag system; circular currents and heavy undertows cause extreme drowning hazards.
- There are no bank branches in Zipolite; limited ATMs exist, but many local businesses remain cash-only.
- Most accommodations are basic without air conditioning or hot water, often utilizing shared baths.
- Police patrols and tourist information increase during peak periods like Christmas, Easter, and the nudist festival.