Playa Zipolite is a super-chill spot on the Oaxacan coast that has some half-decent beach breaks. Don’t come here purely for surfing, that’s our two cents. Come for the yoga, the laid-back hotels, and a bit of surf on the side. Wave wise, there are some stand-out right points but it’s mainly churning beach breaks.
An introduction to Playa Zipolite
Swaying coconut palms, the endless crash of Pacific waves, gliding packs of shearwaters over the whitecaps, and salt-washed bluffs topped by pockets of jungle…That’s the setting for what’s arguably one of the most upcoming hippy-come-surf towns on the Oaxaca coast: Playa Zipolite.
This one’s hit the headlines recently because it was officially named the first ever nudist beach in Mexico. But bare asses aren’t the reason we love it. We love it because it’s super-duper chilled and there are occasional spinning right-hand mini barrels on the north side of the bay, plus a series of lesser-known surf beaches stretching along towards Mazunte to the west.
Okay, so this isn’t going to beat Puerto Escondindo in any quality comps. There are better waves in Oaxaca (We repeat: There are better waves in Oaxaca). But for chill factor and easy-going living plus some decent summer-season rides and beach hotels right by the breaks, there’s no doubt that Playa Zipolite is worth a pitstop.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Playa Zipolite at a glance
The good…
- Remote beachy vibes
- Authentic hotels
- Good learner waves
The bad…
- These aren’t the best surf spots in Mexico
- Naked people on the beach – you might like, you might not.
What’s in this guide to Playa Zipolite?
Where is Playa Zipolite?
Playa Zipolite runs along the south coast of the Oaxaca region of Mexico. It’s close to the also-upcoming beach resort of Mazunte. You get here on the 175 highway out of Puerto Escondido, another major surf town that’s about 1.5 hours’ drive to the north. Or, you can come in via the 200 highway from Huatulco, which is home to the Bahías de Huatulco International Airport and its connections to both Mexico City and USA/Canada.
Playa Zipolite surf spots
Playa Zipolite isn’t really bursting from the seams with surf spots. There’s one main spot right on the main beach here, and a handful in the surrounding region. See why we say this one’s an R&R hub first and a surf vacay spot second? Anyway, here’s what’s on offer…
Playa Zipolite
Playa Zipolite is a surf spot. We won’t wax too lyrical about it because it certainly can’t match the prowess of Zicatela at al and it’s not the cream of the Oaxacan crop. What it is is a mushy bit of right-hand point that can be enjoyed by pretty much any level of rider, so long as you’re comfortable surfing relatively close to the rocks. Spring and summers improve the chance of scoring something nice a whole lot, since you really need S swells in this part of Oaxaca. The enemy will be wind, which is in full swing brushing across the bay by 10 am.
San Agustinillo
If you’re serious about surfing in the Playa Zipolite region, then be ready to make the transfer over to San Agustinillo. It’s tucked between Zipolite itself and the smaller town of Mazunte in the west. That gives it just the right amount of extra exposure to SW swells in the summer months to up the reliability and the consistency. We’d say it’s the best wave in the area and actually kinda fun on its day. The main spot is right at the western end of the bay, where you can catch decent rights that hollow out and bank up nicely before dropping you into the channel. There are rocks here, so watch what the locals do before paddling out. Just next to the main point are a series of gurgling secondary swell waves that attract the local surf schools, of which there is a growing bunch.
Mazunte
Mazunte is now seen as a bit of an alt beach town. It’s got its own medicore beach break out front but mainly draws folks who will make the trek over to San Agustinillo on surf camps.
We have a complete guide to the surf in Mazunte if you’re interested
Where to stay in Playa Zipolite?
The hotels are one of the strong points to Playa Zipolite. Uber-relaxed and almost all with front-on views of the Pacific Ocean, they are almost certainly what you’ve been imagining while dreaming of those swinging hammocks and chilled days on the beach. All of our recs below come with 9+ reviews and good proximity to the main surf breaks.
Casa Kalmar
Casa Kalmar is a beautiful hotel. We’ll always have fond memories of watching the evening light turn to pink and red over the Pacific from the side of its stunning infinity pool. The surf break of Zipolite town is right below (about five minutes’ walk). The vibe is boho chic, with thatched cottages and stylish interiors.
Hotel Casa Mixteca
Check out Hotel Casa Mixteca if you want a proper Mexicana feel to your stay in Playa Zipolite. Colorful rooms and a garden that blooms with elephant-ear plants and whatnot combine to give the place a proper tropical escape vibe.
Hotel Descalzo
One of the more classic hotel options on the main Playa Zicatela beachfront, Hotel Descalzo has a pool in a tropical garden, walking access to the sand (and surf breaks), and its very own in-house dog.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Playa Zipolite?
March to August is the prime time for surfing in Playa Zipolite. That’s the summer season, when the SW swells are most dominant, powering up the breaks on many of the finest south-facing Oaxacan beaches, from Puerto Escondido all the way to the Parque Nacional Huatulco. Wind is an enemy all year round. You basically need to be in and out of the water before 10am here or risk hitting more mush than you get in a gone-off taco. The winter can be okay, but wait for W elements in the swell and don’t expect the same power and size in the sets. Really, November to March is better for beginners.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
