A hidden gem nestled on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Mazunte, Oaxaca is a tiny pueblo magico (magical town) with laid-back, bohemian vibes, a thriving yoga scene, mesmerizing sunsets and even a turtle sanctuary.
While Mazunte has a lot to offer it’s still pretty off the beaten track so it hasn’t lost it’s down to earth Mexican small beach town vibes. It’s popular with yogis and is home to some beautiful boutique eco resorts making it an ideal getaway for those seeking a relaxed Mexican beach vacation away from the crowds.
Mazunte offers a much more authentic, affordable and unique experience compared to touristy resorts like Cancun and Tulum. Whether you’re a yogi, beach lover, or just looking for an authentic and serene vacation, Mazunte, Oaxaca, Mexico is a great choice.
My Mazunte Travel Guide
I met some great people and fell so in love with Mazunte, and nearby Zipolite, that I ended up spending alot longer than expected here – it’s one of those places that hard to leave and quickly became one of my favorite places in Mexico.
If you’re thinking about visiting Mazunte here’s my comprehensive Mazunte travel guide to help you plan your trip and enjoy this magical Mexican beach town.
Where is Mazunte, Mexico?
Mazunte is a small beach town on the Pacific Coast in the Oaxaca state of Mexico. It’s located approximately 265 km south of Oaxaca City and situated between the larger beach resorts of surf mad Puerto Escondido and the resort towns of Huatulco (which both have small airports).
The neighbouring beach town, Playa Zipolite is famous as Mexico’s only official nudist beach and is another relaxed hippie hangout. Mazunte isn’t the easiest place to get to, that’s why it’s not been overun with tourists, so I’ll describe the various options for getting to Mazunte later on in this blog.
Why is Mazunte a Pueblo Magico
Mazunte is a sleepy pueblo mágico (magical town) of low key, thatched and adobe buildings surrounded by two beautiful beaches on either side of a magical wave lashed headland called La Cometa.
Mazunte was designated as a Pueblo Magico, or Magic Town, by the Mexican government in 2015. This is in recognition of its natural beauty, unique culture and traditions, and its commitment to preserving its environment and local heritage. Mazunte is probably the most relaxed pueblo magico in Mexico!
Things to Do in Mazunte
One of the best things to do in Mazunte is … nothing! It’s a great place to simply relax and soak up the natural beauty. Take it easy and wander round relaxing in the cafes and checking out the street art.
However, if you prefer things a little more active there is plenty to do in Mazunte, despite it’s small size. From exploring the beautiful beaches and the vibrant yoga scene, and the chance to connect with nature.
Here’s some of my favorite things to do in Mazunte:
Relax on Mazunte’s Beach
Mazunte has two beautiful and unspoilt beaches which are separated by Punta Cometa, a narrow, rocky cape that extends into the ocean.
The golden sands, overlooked by lush green mountains (apart from when I visited in late May at the end of the dry season) and facing the rocky outcrops in the Pacific Ocean, paint a picture of a dreamy paradise – but before you jump in for a swim be aware that the currents can be strong on the Oaxaca Coast – it is prime surfing territory after all.
Playa Mazunte & Playa Rinconcito
The main beach, Playa Mazunte, is the most popular and easily accessible from the town. There are a few restaurants and low key beach bars lining the sands. At its west end lies Playa Rinconcito, a protected cove which has calmer waters and is the best swimming beach in Mazunte.
Playa Mermejita
This long wild sandy beach is a quieter alternative to Playa Mazunte as it’s located slightly further walk away from town. Swimming is discouraged due to the strong current but Playa Mermejita is perfect for a relaxing stroll along its wide unspoilt beach and watching the sunset.
Nearby Beaches
You can also easily visit the nearby beach town of Zipolite, home to Mexico’s only official nudist beach, only 15 minutes away. If you want to explore more beaches there’s also San Agustinillo – the smallest and most peaceful beach, in between Mazunte and Zipolite, and the small fishing village of Puerto Angel.
There’s also many beautiful bays and beaches around Huatulco with more upmarket 5 star and all inclusive resorts. Huatulco is a great place for boat trips and snorkelling or you could try surfing in Puerto Escondido which is home to some of the best waves in Mexico.
Hike to Punta Cometa at Sunset
Punta Cometa, a mini peninsula extending into the Pacific Ocean, is one of Mazunte’s most famous landmarks and the southernmost point of Oaxaca state and offers amazing views, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Hiking to Punta Cometa to watch the sunset is kind of a pilgrimage or spiritual ritual and one of the best things to do in Mazunte. There’s a special energy on the peninsular and I wasn’t surprised to hear that La Cometa has been a sacred space since pre-Hispanic times.
It takes about 20 minutes to reach the sunset point and it’s a good idea to bring a torch for the way back. Check out this article for more tips on hiking Punta Cometa.
Join a Yoga and Meditation Class
There are a couple of yoga hotspots in Mexico, but for laid back, bohemian vibes with a huge variety of yoga retreats, drop in yoga classes and other offerings like ecstatic dance, cacao ceremonies, kirtan, tantra, temazcal, massage, reiki, breathwork and mediation workshops, then Mazunte is definitely the place to go.
Mazunte has numerous yoga retreats and meditation classes, workshops and retreats available. Mazunte’s relaxed atmosphere and thriving yoga community creates a unique opportunity for inner exploration and to connect with like minded people.
Hridaya Yoga is the most famous yoga and meditation retreat in Mazunte, they offer many yoga retreats as well as their signature 3 or 10 day silent mediation retreats.
There’s also plenty of yoga classes and activities to drop in to and try across the town if you just want to dabble instead of joining a retreat.
Casa Om is also a great place for drop in classes with a variety of different styles and practices each day and also offers accommodation and a residential package.
Uma Yoga offers an intimate 4 day chakra journey yoga and mediation retreat in the jungle. You can find more yoga retreats in Oaxaca and read real reviews on bookyogaretreats.com.
Mazunte is also a great place to learn Spanish in super relaxed surroundings at Instituto Iguana.
You can also find out what’s going on in Mazunte and Zipolite on the Conscious Community Facebook group. If you’ve also been to places like Goa and Koh Phangan you might even see a few familiar faces here!
Get Involved with Turtle Conservation
The beaches of Mazunte and the neighboring towns are among the top nesting regions for sea turtles worldwide. Mazunte is known for its significant role in the conservation of endangered sea turtles and is home to the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, (the Mexican National Turtle Center) a research and conservation center dedicated to the preservation of sea turtles and protects olive ridley, brown, hawksbill and leatherback turtles.
It wasn’t always this way though, the National Mexican Turtle Center used to be a sea turtle slaughterhouse when the area was heavily involved in sea turtle hunting. It now offers educational tours and workshops on turtle conservation. You can take part in an array of activities related to turtle conservation and can even release baby sea turtles into the wild.
Take a Boat Trip
The waters off the coast of Mazunte are teeming with marine life, making it the perfect spot for a boat tour where you have a good chance of spotting dolphins and sea turtles. If you visit between December and April you might even spot humpback whales during their seasonal migration.
If you want to see more of Oaxaca’s nature and wildlife you could take a day trip from Mazunte to visit the nearby Laguna Ventalilla. This is an unspoilt lagoon and estuary where you can take a tour around the mangroves to spot birds and other wildlife including crocodiles and iguanas.
Where to Stay in Mazunte: Best Hotels
There are some beautiful boutique resorts and budget hotels and hostels in Mazunte to choose from, but there isn’t a huge amount of hotels in Mazunte so it’s a good idea to choose where to stay in Mazunte in advance to book it to avoid disappointment as Mazunte grows in popularity.
Most of Mazunte’s accommodation can be found near the 2 beaches – Playa Rinconcito and Playa Mermejita, or along Calle Rinconcito, the main street. There’s also budget accommodation found on the sandy tracks near Casa Om and Institutio Iguana. Since the ocean can often be too rough for swimming I’d recommend picking a hotel with a pool.
You can walk from one end of Mazunte to the other in about 30 minutes, but in the hot midday Mexican sun it can feel like quite a slog, especially if you’re getting late for a yoga class, so choose your accommodation near to the yoga school, language school or beach to make your trip easier.
Here’s my pick of the best places to stay in Mazunte:
Zoa Hotel Mazunte
This beautiful 5 star eco boutique resort is perched in a stunning location on the cliffs between Mazunte beach and San Agustinillon. With incredible views from the plush rooms, swimming pool and restaurant and plenty of activities on site it’s the perfect place to stay to get away from it all. It’s only a 5 minute walk to the beach. Click here to check prices. If Zoa is fully booked for your dates check out Cocolia Hotel
Casa Lu Boutique Hotel
The only luxury beach resort in Mazunte with plush beach facing rooms with private patios boasting wonderful views over the beach and the swimming pool and walking distance to all the action on Mazunte’s main street. Click here to check prices
Posada Ziga Playa
The best budget hotel in Mazunte right on Rinconcito beach. Rooms are simple yet comfortable but the highlight is the large sea facing balconies complete with hammocks and friendly hosts. Click here to check prices
Uma Yoga
One of the best luxury yoga retreats in Mazunte, held at the beautiful and eco friendly Hotel El Copal. Practice yoga, relax with a massage and enjoy the infinity pool with views overlooking the jungle and quiet Mermejita beach. Click here to check prices.
Casa Mazunte Tierra Viva
If you’re looking for a budget friendly stay close to everything in Mazunte with all the amenities of home including fully equipped kitchenettes, air conditioning and wifi check out the comfortable fully equipped bungalows at Casa Mazunte. Some bungalows can sleep 6 people making it a good choice for a gorup of friends of families. Click here to check prices
Hotel Rinconcito
A super conveniently located option on the main street with a nice swimming pool and restaurant, comfortable rustic chic rooms with AC and private balconies complete with hammocks. It’s location is literally right in the middle of everything. Click here to check prices
Another popular choice is Hotel Pochote Mazunte although the location on the main road can make it a bit noisy.
Restaurants and Nightlife in Mazunte
When it comes to eating out and restaurants in Mazunte, vegans and vegetarians are spoiled for choice as this tiny town has probably the best healthy, vegetarian food scene in Mexico. Some of the best places to eat and drink in Mazunte include
Terraza del Arquitecto – One of my favourite hangouts in Mazunte with healthy smoothie bowls, delicious cocktails and stunning sea views. The sushi and pizza restaurants next door are also excellent and there’s an great bakery and smoothie bar in the middle of the main street.
Almost opposite from that is El Armadillo which serves amazing vegan food and I also liked Luz del Sol, a vegetarian restaurant slightly out of town on the way to Hridaya.
Nightlife in Mazunte is relatively quiet, with just a few bars and restaurants offering a relaxed ambiance to enjoy the evening. El Copal Mazunte is my favorite place for sunset drinks with a view but for a more lively nightlife experience, head to the nearby town of Zipolite which has more options.
Mazunte is the perfect place to unplug and unwind, but be aware, if you are a digital nomad or need to get work done Mazunte and the Oaxaca coast doesn’t have great internet. There aren’t coworking cafes and the wifi in many hotels and cafes was pretty weak and would drop out alot and often there was no service on my local Mexican sim card. Mazunte is not the place to go to get alot of work done – it’s a place to go and disconnect and chill out!
Another thing to note is that only some shops and restaurants in Mazunte accept cards so it’s essentail to carry cash in Mexican pesos. It recommend withdrawing cash before you arrive, as there are not many ATMs in Mazunte and they can sometimes run out of cash.
Tips for Planning Your Trip to Mazunte, Mexico
Best Time to Visit Mazunte
The weather in Mazunte is warm throughout the year. Average high temperatures range from 86-95F, with average lows from 76-80F and the water temperature averages around 80-85 degrees. The dry season is from November to April and the rainy season is between June and September.
The ideal time to plan a trip to Mazunte is between November and April for sunny and dry days. This is also the high season for tourism with peak periods around Christmas/New Year’s and Semana Santa, the holy week leading up to Easter.
I visited Mazunte in May and it was hot! You definitely need AC at this time. You might notice in my photos the vegetation is not so lush and green because it had hardly rained for 7 months so it would be better to visit after the rainy season finishes in November when the jungle is more alive after the rains.
Events and Festivals in Mazunte
Mazunte also hosts several events and festivals throughout the year that you might want to consider when choosing your dates. Every year, the town hosts the Festival Internacional de la Tortuga Marina, a celebration of the conservation efforts of local turtle species.
Other popular events include the Mazunte Festival Artesano, which showcases traditional crafts from around Mexico, and the Mazunte Carnaval, a vibrant parade with music and dancing. There’s also the Festival Nudista next door in Zipolite which is usually held at the end of January or early February.
Mazunte is also home to the Mazunte Jazz Festival, an annual event that celebrates jazz music and culture. The festival takes place in April and features performances by some of the best jazz musicians from around the world. There are also workshops, jam sessions, and other activities during the festival.
If you are combining your trip to Mazunte with visiting Oaxaca City then you might want to time your trip to coincide with The Dia de los Muertos festival, or Day of the Dead, which is celebrated in Oaxaca from October 31 to November 1, and it is one of the most spectacular events in Mexico. It is advisable to book your flights and accommodation early, especially if you plan to visit during these times.
Getting to Mazunte and Getting Around
The nearest airports to Mazunte are Huatulco (HUX) and Puerto Escondido (PXM) both have daily flights from Mexico City and other places in Mexico and make a good entry point for exploring the Oaxaca Coast.
There are direct budget flights from Mexico City that take about 1 hour, much quicker than a 19 hour bus ride! You can connect in Mexico City from an international flight to reach Puerto Escondido or Huatulco quickly and easily. Check Skyscanner to find the best deals.
There’s also 30 minute scenic flights from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido but these are more expensive and get booked up way in advance. See prices, availability and book here.
How to get to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido
Mazunte is only about 1 hour from Puerto Escondido or Huatulco airport. The easiest and most convenient way to get there is by taking a taxi or book a transfer that will take you from the airport straight to your hotel in Mazunte.
You can also take a bus from Puerto Escondido if you have the time and patience. I took the Transportes Delfines bus that leaves from across the road from the Chedraui supermarket heading to Pochutla and Huatulco. I had to get off at Crucero de San Antonio and took the collectivo to Mazunte and Zipolite. It took about 1 and a half hours and cost 50 MXN for the bus and 20 MXN for the collectivo.
Check out all the transportation options and book online here
How to get to Mazunte from Oaxaca City
There are a couple of options for getting to Mazunte from Oaxaca City and vice versa. The quickest and most expensive is to take a 30 minute scenic small plane flight to Puerto Escondido and then a 1 hour taxi from there. The flight offers fantastic views but is expensive and gets booked up way in advance. Check prices and availability here.
Most people take the bus. You have two options – If you suffer from motion sickness opt for the longer, less windy route with the more comfortable and more expensive ADO bus to Puerto Escondido and then take a taxi, transfer or local bus from there to Mazunte. The bus travels overnight and takes about 11 hours. It’s a popular route so you should book your bus online in advance.
If you’re OK with windy roads then take one of the mini buses from Oaxaca City heading to Potchula. This takes the most direct and quickest route but it’s also the most windy route. It’s the cheapest and quickest option at only 7 hours and I didn’t find it that bad, but then I don’t normally get travel sick.
If you’re heading from Mazunte to Oaxaca City then you can make life easier by booking this combined transfer and bus ticket which will pick up you in Zipolite and take you to Pochutla and get you on the Lineas Unidas minibus to Oaxaca. You can book it here.
You could also break up the journey after about 3 hours stop off at San Jose del Pacifico for great mountain views, hikes and magic mushrooms! If you want to book the transfer and bus to San Jose click here.
Check out all the transportation options and book online here
How to travel between Mazunte and Zipolite
Mazunte and Zipolite are only 15 minutes apart and collectivos run between them, stopping at San Agustinillo for 10 MXN so it’s easy to get between the two and you could even choose to stay in one town and visit the other on a day trip.
Mazunte and Zipolite are just 3.5 miles apart and a 20 minute taxi or collectivos/pasajeros (shared pick up trucks with benches and a kind of tent covering) run between them for about 10 MXN so you can easily explore both of them.
Mazunte is a small town, and the best way to explore it is on foot. For longer distances, taxis are readily available and fairly cheap. You could also rent a bike to explore the area.
Safety Tips for Mazunte
While Mazunte is one of the safest places in Mexico and I felt very relaxed and had no problems even as a solo female traveler, it’s always a good idea to take basic precautions. Avoid deserted areas at night, keep your valuables safe.
Always apply sunscreen to protect against the strong sun and be careful of swimming in strong currents and riptides. Don’t forget to take out travel insurance, it offers peace of mind and covers unexpected incidents.
Final Thoughts about Mazunte, Oaxaca, Mexico
As a yoga lover, Mazunte, with its tranquil beaches, variety of yoga classes and like minded community is one of my favortie places in Mexico. Even if you’re not into yoga, Mazunte offers an escape from the stresses of everyday life and the packed tourist resorts elsewhere.
Mazunte gets more and more popular every year though, so if the thought of a super chilled, authentic, Mexican beach vacation appeals to you better go soon before the word is truly out!
More Mexico Blog Posts and Travel Guides:
I hope my Mazunte travel guide helped you to plan your trip to this laid back slice of heaven and that you have an amazing time. If your planning a longer trip around the region check out my Mexico City and Oaxaca itinerary and my other Oaxaca posts.
If you’re into surfing don’t miss my Puerto Escondido guide, if you want to check out the free spirited nudist beach check out my Zipolite guide and to explore the colorful culture, history and amazing cuisine read my Oaxaca guide.
If you’re heading to Mexico City check out my guide to where to stay in Mexico City.
