Mazunte, Oaxaca

to the west Playa Ventanilla
Puerto Escondido
Punta Cometa
to the north Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Tonameca, Oaxaca
to the east Playa San Agustinillo
Puerto Angel, Oaxaca
Zipolite, Oaxaca

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Turtle Museum
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Of Turtles and Things
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Mazunte with Turtle Museum at right More Aerial Photos

Mazunte is a quiet little place that is trying to make a go at eco-tourism after centuries of being dependent on the now illegal turtle and turtle egg trade.

Although there are few amenities, this is a great place to get away from it all and it's located just a few miles west of Puerto Angel past Zipolite and Agustinillo. Playa Mazunte is home to an impressive turtle museum - the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga. And on the western point of the crescent shape bay is Punta Cometa, the southernmost point in Oaxaca. Also nearby is Playa Mermejita, one of two Oaxacan nesting grounds for the rare leatherback turtle.

Playa Mazunte is the local beach with the west end known as Playa Rinconcito. The nearby beach of Playa Agustinillo is calmer and better for swimming than Playa Mazunte. It's only 3 minutes away.

The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga researches, breeds, and displays numerous varieties of live turtles and fish, besides photos and other exhibits. Efforts are being made to reestablish the once plentiful local turtle population. The museum has guided tours for a moderate admission fee (around $5 per person.)

In 2010, the roads leading from the main road to the beach were upgraded, paved with stone.

Hotels • Hoteles

Additional accommodations are located in San Agustinillo 1 km to the east, Playa Ventanilla to the west, and Puerto Escondido, to the far west.

Alta Mira Bungalows (958) 584-3104. 415-388-9067 (U.S.). Located at the west end of the beach. Mazunte's best accommodations with spacious palapa bungalows, four-poster beds with mosquito netting, lofts, tiled bathrooms, and wrap-around balconies with panoramic views. During high season, December thru Easter, reservations are recommended. High season rates: $35 for a double. Low season rates: around $25. Some rooms have sewage smell. (4/05) Breakfast and Supper served upon request by the hostess, Doña Rosa. (one negative report on food) Long staircase to the beach.
Los Cocos Located on the main road. Rooms with baths. $20/double. (6/03)
Cabañas Balamjuyuc next door to Restaurant Omar, high up on the hill with ocean view. Vegetarian restaurant, therapeutic massage, temaxacal, boat trips, snorkel fishing. Rooms with shared bathroom, sewage smell. US$25. Email: balamjuyuc@hotmail.com (4/07)
Cabañas Yuri has 4 good sized palapa style cabañas (2 of which are much nicer than the others) with nice views of the beach, no-frills double beds, space for hammocks, and indoor private showers (between $15 and $25/ double occupancy). Basic rooms with mosquito netting over the beds, and shared bathrooms are US$11/person (6/08).
Casa Mermejita 045 (958) 108-1042 (cell in Mexico). Camino a playa mermejita. Beach house with 3 separate cabañas, swimming pool, sleeps up to 9. casamermejita@gmail.com (12/11)
Casa Pan de Miel 045 (958) 100-4719 (cell). Nine air-conditioned suites overlooking Playa San Agustinillo, pool, kitchenette, wireless internet. casapandemiel@yahoo.com.mx (12/08)
El Copal Calle del Panteón, Playa Mermejita. Four eco-friendly cabins and restaurant, Wi-Fi, book exchange, games, solar-powered, balconies with hammock, beach chairs, beach palapa, safe boxes. Airport pick-up and drop-off service available. Email nadia@elcopal.com.mx. (1/11)
Laura Ruiz Houses for rent, land sales and travel information. laura@laondadelacosta.com (01/09)
Palapa El Mazunte besides being a restaurant, they also have 9 rooms available for rent. High season $5/person, low season $6/two persons and $3/extra person, hammocks $2/person, and space for tents $2/person (11/99). If you have the option, get the upstairs rooms with the beach view. Shared bathrooms.
Posada la Barca Right on the beach between Mazunte and San Agustinillo below Posada Arigalan. Enquire at Posada Arigalan.
Posada del Arquitecto Rinconcito beach. Skype: Posada.del.Arquitecto. Cabañas with private bathrooms, wireless Internet, hammock, safety-deposit, and fan. Dormitories, hammocks and floating beds with shared bathrooms and lockers. Café tavern, yoga classes, massage, tours. Email: info@posadadelarquitecto.com. (6/09)
Posada Ziga at the east end of the beach near the turtle museum. 15 rooms with views, private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and ceiling fans. Oceanview restaurant. High season rates: US$29-41 for a double. Low season rates: US23-33. Photo. (01/11).
La Terraza Pool, air conditioning, restaurant, bar. I have one report of the hotel not honoring a confirmed reservation.
Posada las Mazuntinas (958) 589-5845. Buganbilia no. 7. Modern, palapa-style cabanas offering quiet seclusion located an 8-minute walk from the beach. Private bathrooms, terraces with hammock, some units with kitchens, window screens, etc. US$35 to $55. Email: mazuntinas@aol.com. (5/07)
Cuartos Omar in the middle of Mazunte's main beach near the Centro de las Tortugas. 6 nice rooms in a two story adobe and thatch building. Each room has mosquito-netted beds, nice view of the sea (especially the 2nd story rooms), and nice locally produced wooden furnishings... shared bathrooms, $10 to $15/double. If you have a tent, you can set it up under their palapa for $3/tent (6/03).
Posada del Arquitecto Skype: Posada.del.Arquitecto (no telephone). Beautiful rustic style cabañas by Rinconcito beach, with private bathroom, safety deposit box, hammock, ventilator $300-$500 pesos, with or without view of the ocean. Hammocks, dormitories, swinging beds $40-$70 pesos per person. Cafe, yoga classes, tourist information, bar and more. email: info@posadadelarquitecto.com. (6/09)
Tierra Verde Located at the entrance to Punta Cometa. An eco-retreat center with compost toilets and solar energy, beautiful copal trees and the sounds of Mermejita beach. Dorms 60-80, Roomy Cabanas 200-500 by season. Yoga Hall and activities. Most residents are involved with the Agama Yoga program. Drug, Tobacco, Meat, Alcohal free zone. agamayogamexico@gmail.com. (1/11)
Rancho Cielo de Tortugas Playa Mermejita, 1 km southwest of the Turtle Center. Spacious oceanview cabanas with king-size beds. Solar and candle-lite, large garden, organic fruits, traditional Oaxacan and international cuisine. Doubles US$90. By reservation only, contact ranchocielodetortugas@hotmail.com (7/10)
ZOA Hotel Secreto (555) 290-2288 (Mexico). Cerrada de Museo de la Tortuga. Located on a hilltop overlookin Playa Mazunte. 5 cabañas, restaurant, pool, yoga, massage, eco tours. booking@zoahotel.com (2/12)

Help keep this information current. Email tom@tomzap.com with updates. Ayúdenme a mantener ésta información al día. Envía tus actualizaciones por e-mail a tom@tomzap.com.

Restaurants • Restaurantes

Huevos Rancheros at Omar's

Palapa El Mazunte toward the west end of the main beach. Nicely kept with a slightly more varied menu than many on the beach. Their licuados or fruit smoothies are delicious and locals say the cook takes care when it comes to food cleanliness. They also have lodging, see above.
Alta Mira offers breakfast and dinner. They have a wide variety of dishes and Doña Rosa is an excellent cook with 20 years of experience in Italian, Japanese and vegetarian restaurants... and you can beat the view. During the low seasons, if you are not lodging at the Alta Mira, be sure to let them know in advance that you'll be having dinner there.
Tania On the main road on the west end of town. Recommended. (2/05)
Restaurant Yuri is toward the east end of the beach 70 yards to the west of the Turtle Museum in the shade of about a dozen palm trees. Lodging available, see above.
Restaurant Omar in the center of the main beach, has about 8 tables, fresh fish and shrimp, cold beer and rooms for rent, see above.

Help keep this information current. Email tom@tomzap.com with updates. Ayúdenme a mantener ésta información al día. Envía tus actualizaciones por e-mail a tom@tomzap.com.

Real Estate • Bienes Raíces

Tour Operators, Outfitters • Operadores Turísticos, Proveedores

The local cooperative offers a US$15 tour to see turtles, dolphins, and go snorkeling. 3 hours. Received one recommendation.
Ola Verde Expediciones Adventure company specializing in rafting and kayaking. Coffee plantation tours, kayak lessons, custom trips. olaverdeinfo@gmail.com. (2/11)

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Transportation • Transportación

Help keep this information current. Email tom@tomzap.com with updates. Ayúdenme a mantener ésta información al día. Envía tus actualizaciones por e-mail a tom@tomzap.com.

Miscellaneous • Misceláneo

Agama Yoga Located a 5-minute walk east of the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga. Teaches the pure and genuine Yoga discipline based on Indian and Tibetan Tantra Yoga. Rooms and camping available for students. info@agamayogamexico.com. (4/10)
Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte S. de S.S. produces shampoo, hair conditioner, body oils, moisturizer, and deodorant. (55) 56 61 61 70 or 56 61 61 56 (Bioplaneta in Mexico City). Web.

See Mazunte Beach Photos
See also Of Turtles and Things, an article from the Mexican Meanderings newsletter.
See also the Ecosolar web page on Mazunte (en español).

The Pacific Coast of Mexico

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Tom Penick: tom@tomzap.com