Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca GPS: 16°20'N 98°03'W Elevation: 656' (200 meters) to the north Cacahuatepec Putla de Guerrero, Oaxaca Santa María Zacatepec, Oaxaca to the northeast Oaxaca, Oaxaca to the east Santiago Jamiltepec Cacalotepec, Oaxaca Manialtepec, Oaxaca Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca to the south Laguna Corralero Playa Corralero Main Index Currency Hwy 200 History of the Oaxacan Coast Indigenous Language Map Regional Map [185K] Traditional Dance Visitors' Comments About • Home • Search

Located on the coastal Hwy 200 (Carretera Costera) 90 miles west of Puerto Escondido is the town of Pinotepa Nacional. See regional map [185K]. The 25,000 residents are mostly Mestizos with surrounding areas of mostly indigenous people dominated by the Mixtec with Amusgo and Chatino Indians as well. Pinotepa comes from the Aztec words pinolli (crumbling) and tepetl (mountain). It used to be called Pinotepa Royal, but this wasn't appropriate after the revolution so it was changed to Pinotepa Nacional. To the Mixtec, Pinotepa has always been called Ñíí Yu-uku, meaning place of salt. The coastal highway becomes Avenida Porfirio Diaz in town. There us a market about a mile west of the zócalo behind the secondary school and is most active on Wednesday and Sunday. The native women wear brightly colored pozahuancos, which can be found for sale in the market. Other items may include snakes, iquanas, and wild fruits. There is also some market activity adjacent to the zócalo itself. During Easter week, there are celebrations and parades with fireworks, and dancing on Easter Sunday. On July 25, another fiesta celebrates Pinotepa's patron, St. Santiago.

photo from Rubi Hayek

Hotels • Hoteles

• Hotel Carmona 954-32222 Avenida Porfirio Diaz 127, Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, 71600. Located on the western end of the downtown area where the main road splits into two one-way streets. Three-story hotel with clean rooms, pool, restaurant. about US$25 for a double, add $10 for airconditioning and kitchenette. (GPS 16°20.513'N 98°3.293'W) (1/06)
• Hotel Las Gaviotas Centro 954-32626, 954-32402. Calle 3 Poniente, about a block west of the zócalo. Three-story hotel, some airconditioned rooms, restaurant.
• Hotel Marisa 954-32101 Avenida Jaurez 134. inexpensive
• Hotel Tropical 954-32010 Avenida 3 Poniente & Progresso. inexpensive

Camping is available 2 miles east of Pinotepa on Río Arena. Take the dirt road on the east side of the bridge. (GPS 16°19.858'N 98°0.954'W) Photo of waterfall (88K) near camping area.

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Restaurants • Restaurantes

• Bora Bora is just east of town across from a Pemex station.

• Burger Bonny is on the southeast corner of the zócalo. They have good hamburgers, nachos, tortas, hot dogs, juices, liquados, and milkshakes.

• La India Across from the bus station. Recommended.
• El Mercado Municipal Located near the bus terminal. Los Comedores in the market have fresh seafood, hand made corn tortillas. Recommended (11/10)
• Restaurant La Roca is located near the camping area on Río Arena 2 miles east of town. (GPS 16°19.858'N 98°0.954'W) There is a lovely waterfall (88K) across the river from the restaurant.

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• San Sebastian festival January 20 in Pinotepa Don Luis, 15 miles northeast.
• Alvaro Carrillo An annual tribute is held for Alvaro Carrillo celebrating his life and music at the Casa de Cultura around April.
• Carnival Last week before Ash Wednesday.
• Día de la Revolución Mexicana 20 de Noviembre Photos
• Jesus the Nazarene See San Andres Huaxpaltepec below.
• Day of the Dead November 2.
• Guelagetza Photos of folk dancers from Pinotepa and surrounding communities.
• Virgen de la Rosario First Sunday in October in San Pedro Amusgos, 32 miles north.

• Airport: There is an airport listed for Pinotepa Nacional, identifier PNO, elevation 350', runway length 2953'. From a satellite photo, this appears to be a dirt strip with some vehicle traffic and a building complex has been constructed on one end, shortening its length. In other words, there is no airport.
• Buses: The new bus station is on the north end of town about 1 mile from the zócalo, 15 pesos by taxi. Estrella Blanca has first-class service and there are second-class busses and camionetas departing as well. The Estrella Blanca and Flecha Roja bus station (954-32254) is located about 3 blocks west of the zócalo. Two other bus lines, Fletes Y Pasajes and Estrella del Valle, have no station but depart daily from the bus stop one block north of the zócalo on Aguirre Palancares.

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Nearby Towns • Pueblos Cercanos

• Pinotepa Don Luis (or Pinotepa Chica) is located 15 miles northeast of Pinotepa Nacional. They celebrate the San Sebastian festival on January 20 with bands, fireworks, and Mixtec dancing. Carnaval festival climaxing on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Traditional dances and wooden masks. They also celebrate Semana Santa.
• San Juan Colorado is a small dusty Mixtec community that comes alive for Carnaval. Another festival on November 29 honors their patron, San Andres. This includes a church service and traditional dances.
• Cacahuatepec, an Amusgo community of about 8000, is located on Hwy 125 about 33 miles north of Pinotepa Nacional. Market day is on Sunday. Cacahuatepec has festivals on Easter weekend, June 24 (Patron saint day), November 1 (All Souls Day or Todos Santos), and November 2 (Day of the Dead).
• San Pedro Amusgos, another Amusgo community, is located 32 miles north of Pinotepa Nacional on Hwy 125. They celebrate June 29, the day of San Pedro, with costumes and processions. The fiesta Virgen de la Rosario is celebrated on the first Sunday in October. San Pedro Amusgos is a good place to buy huipiles.
• Other nearby Amusgo communities are Xochistlahuaca, Zacoalpán, and Tlacoachistlahuaca.
• The Mixtec community of San Andres Huaxpaltepec, population 4000, is located 10 miles east of Pinotepa on Hwy 200. They have a huge celebration during the 3 days before the day of Jesus the Nazarene, which is the fourth Friday before Good Friday. The town becomes a large market with a variety of wares offered.
• The Mixtec town of Huazolotitlán, population 3000, about 10 miles east of Pinotepa and south of Huaxpaltepec, has a number of wood-carvers.
• Santiago Jamiltepéc, population 20,000, 18 miles east of Pinotepa, has fiestas on January 1, February 15, September 1, and the week of Ramos before Easter. It's a good place to find local handicrafts such as carvings, masks, huipiles and hats. The busiest market day is Thursday.

Miscellaneous • Misceláneo

• 47 Batallon de Infanteria Zona Militar Domicilio, Conocido Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Oax. CP 71600. (954) 543-2127.
• Banda Sol Video clip.
• La Escuela Pinotepa Nacional.
• Money exchange is available at Bancomer and Banco Somex, 2 blocks west of the zócalo.
• Playa Corralero
• Hurricane Pauline photos.
• The post office (954-32264) is located about 3 blocks west of the zócalo.
• Telegraph and telephone offices are located on the zócalo.
• Trip Report by Jessica Ainsworth. Discusses textiles and travel to local towns.
• A doctor is available at Clínica Rodriguez 954-32330, one block north of the zócalo at 503 N. Aguirre Palancares. There are several pharmacies, including one on the zócalo.
• Mis Raices Pinotepense Una observación por Rubí I. Briceño López.

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The Pacific Coast of Mexico www.tomzap.com Tom Penick:  tom@tomzap.com