San Agustinillo & Mazunte

The next beach town to the west of Zipolite is San Agustinillo, a small community with several restaurants and boutique hotels. Three small bays are linked together with a total length of around 1km. They border Aragón Beach to the East and Mazunte to the West. On the Eastern part of the beach, there is a small lagoon during the rainy season. The beaches of San Agustinillo are known for being much calmer than Zipolite, but still good for beginning surfers. Most people visit San Agustinillo to enjoy the beach, take beginner surf lessons, or take a boat tour to observe dolphins and other marine creatures.

Just 1km further West is the popular beach town of Mazunte. Mazunte is famous for its sea turtles, and it used to be a center for the commercialization of their meat and eggs. However, as laws came into force to protect them, Mazunte started to focus on their conservation instead. The most famous place in Mazunte is the National Mexican Turtle Center. It holds every species of marine turtle inhabiting the Mexican coast, as well as 6 species of river turtles and 2 types of native land turtles. It is open to the public Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 10 to 2:30 p.m.

Other than the museum, the beach at Mazunte is also a highlight. There are big waves near the shoreline, but it is still great for swimming as soon as you cross the waves. The sunset is best seen at Punta Cometa, the southernmost point of Oaxaca. It is within walking distance of Mazunte. Finally, Mazunte is also known for its Jazz Festival, which is usually held at the end of November.