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Major city · Mexico

Zipolite

Go for 3 nights if you want a beach with no dress code and cheap seafood; skip if you need calm water, ATMs or nightlife beyond one street.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season, whale season Dec–Mar)
avoid Sep–Oct (heaviest rain, storm swell), Easter week and Christmas–New Year (full and expensive)
Airports
HUX · PXM
Nights
3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Zipolite is a 2 km beach village on the Oaxaca coast, Mexico's only officially clothing-optional beach. It is small, walkable and cheap, with strong surf, a pedestrian main street after 17:30 and almost no cash machines. Three nights covers the beach, Playa del Amor and a day trip to Mazunte or Puerto Ángel; two is enough if you only want to swim and eat.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Zipolite, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Beerbottle at a beach bar / shop2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)M$25–35 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi within the village2026 estimateM$50–100 (≈ US$3–6)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimateM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or shared cabaña bed, a night, per personMX$250 (≈ US$14)
  • Mid-range bedBeachfront double room, a night, per roomMX$1,400 (≈ US$80)
  • High-end bedBeachfront double room, a night, per roomMX$3,200 (≈ US$180)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$600 (≈ US$35) · Mid MX$1,300 (≈ US$75) · High MX$2,600 (≈ US$150)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mexico's only officially clothing-optional beachStrong surf and volunteer lifeguardsCheap seafood on the sandPlaya del Amor coveSunset over Roca Blanca
Airports
HUX Huatulco International (About 45 km by road; travel time check. Official taxi from the terminal costs more than a cab hailed outside the gate.) · PXM Puerto Escondido International (About 1.5–2 h by road via Pochutla or a taxi (check); cheaper by local bus and colectivo.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Zipolite: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C

21°C

1 rd

Feb

32°C

21°C

1 rd

Mar

33°C

22°C

1 rd

Apr

34°C

23°C

2 rd

May

34°C

24°C

6 rd

Jun

33°C

24°C

12 rd

Jul

33°C

23°C

11 rd

Aug

33°C

23°C

12 rd

Sep

32°C

23°C

15 rd

Oct

32°C

23°C

9 rd

Nov

33°C

22°C

3 rd

Dec

32°C

21°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The whole village is about 2 km end to end and flat: walk everywhere. Taxis and colectivos pass on the main road; colectivos to Pochutla, Mazunte and Puerto Ángel stop running in the late afternoon, usually around 18:00. The main street closes to through traffic every evening at about 17:30 and turns into a market and restaurant strip.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mazunte

go

Door to door: 20–30 min by road

Colectivo or taxi along the coast road, or a walk west through the jungle (duration check)

Turtle centre and a calmer swimming beach; last colectivos back leave in the late afternoon.

Puerto Ángel

go

Door to door: 10–15 min

Colectivo or taxi, 4 km east

Sheltered bay for snorkelling and boat trips to look for dolphins, turtles and, in season, whales.

Puerto Escondidocaution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Colectivo or bus via San Pedro Pochutla, or a taxi

Doable as a long day for the surf town and Zicatela, but the return colectivos stop early; check times before you go.

San Pedro Pochutla

go

Door to door: 30–40 min

Colectivo from the main road

Transport hub and the nearest real market and banks; useful on the way in or out.

Oaxaca Cityovernight

Door to door: 4 h direct

Direct minibus (Líneas Unidas) or ADO bus from Pochutla

A new highway cut the run to about 4 h; still too far to do as a return day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Playa (beachfront)

Palapa rooms and small hotels right on the sand; loudest at night, closest to the water.

Roca Blanca / east end

Paved street behind the beach with restaurants and hotels; quieter, near the path to Playa del Amor.

Main street (Adoquín) and back lanes

Cheapest rooms and cabañas, 2–5 min walk to the beach; street becomes pedestrian-only from about 17:30.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$500–900 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
Mid
M$900–1,800 (≈ US$50–100) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
High
M$1,800 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Beachfront double room1 × 3 nights × MX$1,400MX$4,200
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MX$1,300MX$7,800
Huatulco airport taxi to Zipolite, one way1 × MX$600 · checkMX$600
Colectivo Pochutla → Zipolite2 × MX$20 · checkMX$40
Surfboard rental, half day2 × MX$250 · checkMX$500
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250 · checkMX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$1,364
Trip total≈ MX$2,501 per person per day, bed includedMX$15,004≈ US$850

check

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
Beach seafood plate (fish, shrimp, ceviche)2026 estimateM$150–300 (≈ US$9–17)
Beer: bottle at a beach bar / shop2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4) / M$25–35 (≈ US$2)
Colectivo ride to Mazunte or PochutlacheckM$20–50 (≈ US$2–3)
Taxi within the village2026 estimateM$50–100 (≈ US$3–6)
Surfboard rental, half day2026 estimateM$200–350 (≈ US$11–19)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimateM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The sea is the real risk: rip currents are strong and drownings happen, so swim only between the lifeguard flags. On land it is a small, relaxed village, but there is little police presence, so keep cash and phones secure and avoid the dark beach alone at night.
  • Rip currents are strong and drownings happen: swim between the lifeguard flags and never at an unguarded stretch.
  • Almost no working ATMs: the few machines are often empty or broken, so bring enough pesos for your whole stay.
  • No real police presence; keep valuables in a safe or with reception, and avoid the dark beach alone at night.
  • The 4 km road walk to Puerto Ángel has no shoulder and fast traffic: take a taxi or colectivo instead.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / tourist line)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ZipoliteZipolite

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassies on the Oaxaca coast; the US has a consular agency in Oaxaca City and embassies are in Mexico City.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Huatulco airport → Zipolite, taxi: M$400–850 (≈ US$25–50) depending on where you pick it up (check)
  • Pochutla → Zipolite, colectivo: about M$20 (≈ US$2), 30–40 min (check)
  • Zipolite → Mazunte, colectivo: about M$20–30 (≈ US$2) (check)

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde hay un cajero? — Where is the ATM? (DON-deh eye oon kah-HEH-roh)
  • ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es seh-GOO-roh nah-DAR ah-KEE)
  • No, gracias — I don't want that, thank you (noh GRAH-syahs)
  • ¡Ayuda! — Help! (ah-YOO-dah)

Bring cash: ATMs in Zipolite are few and often empty or out of order.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Zipolite. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, whale season Dec–Mar) · avoid Sep–Oct (heaviest rain, storm swell), Easter week and Christmas–New Year (full and expensive) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for HUX and PXM: last colectivo times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: beachfront, Roca Blanca, main street, Playa del Amor path.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Playa del Amor steps, lifeguard flag posts, Mazunte turtle centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Cash and ATM fixtures so the no-ATM warning is actionable, not just a note.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources