Playa Zipolite, Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico
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Live weather satalite....movie type.....takes a little time to load. |
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Lo Cosmico |
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The Mexican state of Oaxaca, (in green). |
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| Playa Zipolite is located at the most southern point of the state of Oaxaca, on the Pacific Ocean, right in the middle of the Mexican (surfers dream) Pipeline. |
Cabana's $5 to $10 US per night....Hammock, $1 to $3 US per night |
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WHERE TO SLEEP AND EAT: Hammocks in a communal palapa on the beach fetch $1 to $3 US, double that amount if you want a little privacy. Extras you will pay for include fans, mosquito netting, and security boxes where available. In places, flush toilets are rare, and while showers or regaderas are abundant, in some places there's no water. (you need to shop around). Ask before you pay.
Some people never stray from the sand, but the Posadas (Inns) up in the hills merit the diversion. One of the coolest is SHAMBHALA, also known as Gloria's, on the hillside at the western end of the beach. Sprawling over most of the cliff, the posada has meditation altars, a cafe, and a patio restaurant serving mostly vegetarian food. Spectacular views of a hidden bay are an extra bonus. Despite the owner's requests, drug use is all too common here. Your lodging options range from a beach cabana ($7.50 US) to a hammock hook ($1 US) and no one is turned away for lack of space. Luggage storage and a safe-deposit box are provided. Lo Cosmico, just east of Shambhala, offers clean, cool palapas slung with two hammock for $6.50 US. Open-air terraces with hammocks are slightly cheaper. Zipolite has no public market, but the cheapest and best eats can be found right in your hotel. In recent years many small stores have opened. Pochutla has many new markets, and small super markets offering local and international items for purchase. A battalion of palapas catering to travelers loom on the beach, serving seafood and tortilla dishes. Every once in a while I crave a steak and potato meal or a pizza....and visit EL TERIBLE. Some very nice eating establishments...some with entertainment have opened on the beach. COMINGS and GOINGS: Buses (30 min, 50 cents US) run to Zipolite from Puerto Angel and Pochutla approximately every half hour 6AM - 8PM. If coming from Puerto Escondido, you can avoid Pochutla by jumping off the bus at the crossroads for San Antonio on Highway 200, where you can catch a direct bus to Manzunte or Zipolite (20 minutes, $.25 cents US). It is hard to find taxi's out of Zipolite after 9PM (although Valle at Palapas Las Rockas can order you one any time of the day, of course for a small tip). Taxis between Pochutla and Zipolite cost about $2.50US). Especial Taxis cost up to $7 US. |