How To Discover Oaxaca’s Costa Chica: Explore Hidden Beach Villages

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When you make your home on Oaxaca’s Costa Chica, you’re not just choosing a beautiful beachfront property – you’re gaining access to a string of unique villages, each offering its own flavors, activities, and attractions. Let’s explore what each community brings to your coastal lifestyle, moving from east to west along this spectacular shoreline.

 

Puerto Angel: Your Practical Hub

Puerto Angel serves as the area’s practical center, where you’ll find essential services and supplies for coastal living. While not a tourist destination itself, this working fishing port offers several valuable amenities:

– A well-stocked produce market with fresh local fruits and vegetables

– Daily fresh fish and seafood direct from returning fishing boats

– Hardware stores and construction supplies

– Basic medical services and pharmacies

– Pool maintenance supplies

– Paint and home maintenance materials

– Several small grocery stores

– ATM and basic banking services

The real gems near Puerto Angel lie in its hidden coves. Estacahuite Beach offers excellent snorkeling in a protected bay and several rustic seafood restaurants perfect for lazy lunches. La Mina beach, home to the exclusive Villas Biznaga development, provides a serene escape with its pristine waters and dramatic rock formations. Snorkel, splash, collect shells and take your picnic for a genuine beach day.  For a special excursion, Bahía de la Luna offers one of the coast’s most secluded and beautiful settings for swimming and picnicking. You can also enjoy the restaurant here. It has a delicious menu to be savored in lounge chairs with cold margaritas!

 

Zipolite: Your Entertainment District & Mexico’s Chillest Beach Escape

Just a short drive west, Zipolite pulses with energy and offers numerous options for dining, socializing, and entertainment. Zipolite is a hidden gem known for its free-spirited vibe and clothing-optional beach culture. Small but lively, the village invites visitors to slow down and soak in its easygoing atmosphere. With an open, golden stretch of sand lined with rustic beach bars and cozy palapas, Playa Zipolite offers a unique spot for splashing in the waves, lounging under the sun, or grabbing a fresh mezcalito.

Though surfing here is popular at the west end of the beach, swimmers should be cautious of the strong Pacific currents. Still, the beach provides a perfect setting for sunbathing, enjoying fresh seafood, and watching mesmerizing sunsets. Beyond the beach, Zipolite offers eclectic shops, yoga studios, and wellness retreats, making it a place where relaxation and connection come naturally. It’s the ultimate place to unwind, make new friends, meet new people, and embrace the rhythm of the waves with:

– An incredible restaurant scene ranging from casual beach shacks to upscale dining

– Regular live music performances, beach parties and dancing

– Beachfront bars perfect for sunset cocktails in lounge chairs

– Massage services and spa treatments

– Surf lessons and board rentals

– Several yoga studios offering daily classes

– Art galleries and boutique shopping

– An evening artisan market

Wander around Zipolite and find its street art! Be sure to take a walk on the Adoquin in the evening and check out the local artisans.

Beyond Zipolite on the way to San Agustinillo, discover the stunning Playa del Aragón, a series of secluded coves perfect for private beach days and swimming in natural pools.

 

San Agustinillo: Low-key Charm & Family-Friendly

San Agustinillo is a quiet, idyllic spot, offering a more intimate and tranquil experience than its lively neighbors. Set against a beautiful double crescent bay, this village is a picture-perfect destination, ideal for a laid-back day, to connect with nature and unwind. With a handful of local eateries and beachside cafes, San Agustinillo provides a taste of  Oaxaca’s Costa Chica life without the commercial buzz.

San Agustinillo’s calm waters make it a great spot for swimming, paddleboarding, or even a beginner’s surfing lesson. Unlike the larger waves in Zipolite, the water here is often more forgiving, allowing families and less-experienced swimmers to enjoy a safer, relaxed beach experience. The gentle waves are complemented by nearby snorkeling spots and the chance to join boat excursions for whale and dolphin watching. With regular boat tours for whale and dolphin watching, beachfront massage services, and breathtaking sunsets, this charming beach village is an easy escape, adding variety and a touch of adventure to the coastal lifestyle. With its low-key charm, this village is a favorite for those seeking a slower pace and authentic coastal experiences.

– Sport fishing excursions with local captains

– Swimming in protected bays

– Stand-up paddleboarding in calm morning waters

– Fresh, local seafood restaurants right on the beach

– Excellent snorkeling spots

– Boat tours for whale and dolphin watching

– Beachfront massage services

 

Mazunte: Your Wellness Destination

Mazunte is the next coastal village heading west from San Agustinillo and a must-visit for anyone living along Oaxaca’s Costa Chica coastline. Known as the area’s wellness capital, Mazunte offers a large array of activities centered on holistic health and spirituality. It’s an ideal place to escape for the day to immerse in Oaxaca’s alternative lifestyle scene. With its mix of yoga studios, meditation centers, and healing retreats, Mazunte is the perfect spot to experiment different styles of yoga and breathwork. Its organic cafes, vegetarian eateries, and local shops offer fresh, nourishing options, while wellness workshops and events are regular occurrences, adding to the town’s peaceful, health-focused vibe. A lively party scene can be found in the evenings. Be sure to attend one of the Mazunte circus shows!

Mazunte serves as a delightful retreat where you can dive into daily yoga classes, sample natural cosmetics from the local cooperative, or simply unwind on one of its three beaches.

Mazunte’s Punta Cometa, located at the southernmost tip of Mexico, is a place of profound cultural and spiritual significance for the Zapotec people. Visitors gather each evening to watch the sun sink into the ocean. The trail to Punta Cometa is a scenic 20-minute walk, rewarding those who make the pilgrimage with one of the most breathtaking views on Oaxaca’s coast. This unique promontory is also steeped in history, featuring remnants of an indigenous observatory that once served as an astronomical site for early inhabitants.

Aside from its cultural heritage, Punta Cometa is classified as a natural reserve. Its rugged cliffs, dense vegetation, and biodiverse ecosystem create a sanctuary where land meets sea, producing a special microclimate that sustains a variety of unique plants and animals. Winding trails lead visitors to breathtaking viewpoints over the Pacific, offering panoramic ocean vistas and huge sunsets. Known as one of the best sunset spots on Oaxaca’s coast, Punta Cometa is more than just a scenic overlook—it’s a sacred place that connects people to nature, culture, and ancient wisdom.

Mazunte has managed to retain its small-town charm despite its popularity, with some unpaved streets, a strong sense of community, and a relaxed atmosphere. From the family-friendly Playa Rinconcito to the rustic beauty of Playa Mermejita, Mazunte’s beaches cater to every mood, making it a perfect place for residents in nearby areas to reconnect with nature and enjoy the best of Oaxaca’s coastal beauty.

– Multiple yoga studios offering various styles and levels

– Meditation and spiritual retreats

– Alternative healing therapies

– Organic cafes and vegetarian restaurants

– Natural cosmetics from the local cosmetic cooperative

– The National Mexican Turtle Center

– Punta Cometa, offering the coast’s most spectacular sunset views

– Mermejita Beach for peaceful morning walks

– Regular wellness workshops and events

 

La Ventanilla: Your Eco-Adventure Spot

La Ventanilla offers a unique eco-tourism experience along Oaxaca’s Costa Chica for those interested in nature and conservation. Located just beyond Mermejita Beach, this small village is home to a community-led wildlife reserve aimed at protecting the delicate mangrove ecosystem and its inhabitants. Named after a rock formation resembling a “small window,” La Ventanilla is the starting point for guided boat tours through lush mangrove lagoons where visitors can encounter an array of wildlife, including crocodiles, turtles, and numerous bird species.

The tours are operated by local cooperatives committed to preserving the area’s biodiversity while educating visitors about the importance of mangrove restoration. The experience is both immersive and enlightening, as knowledgeable guides—often members of families who helped found the conservation project—share insights into the challenges and successes of their environmental work.

In addition to the boat tours, La Ventanilla offers horseback riding along deserted beaches, providing a peaceful way to explore where the estuary meets the ocean. Nature lovers can also take part in evening turtle release events, where visitors are invited to help newly hatched sea turtles make their way to the sea—a moving experience that supports ongoing conservation efforts. This coastal sanctuary provides a glimpse of the pristine ecosystems and the strong community values that make the Oaxaca coast a truly special place.

– Guided boat tours through mangrove lagoons

– Bird watching opportunities

– Crocodile and turtle spotting

– Environmental education programs

– Community-led conservation projects

– Horse riding along the beach

– Photography tours

 

Your Home at Villas Biznaga

Strategically located on the pristine La Mina beach in Puerto Ángel, on Oaxaca’s Costa Chica, Villas Biznaga represents the perfect home base for enjoying all these coastal villages have to offer. This exclusive residential development masterfully blends luxury living with natural beauty, featuring 19 individually designed homes that emerge organically from the landscape.

Each residence prioritizes family living with thoughtful social spaces, patios, and terraces, while incorporating design elements that address natural phenomena like hurricanes and seismic activity. The development’s commitment to environmental integration and sustainable living creates an atmosphere of tranquility where residents can disconnect from urban life while maintaining easy access to all the activities and amenities of the surrounding villages.

 

Getting Around

Most villages are within a 5-15 minute drive from each other, making it easy to enjoy everything the Oaxaca’s Costa Chica has to offer:

– Private vehicles provide the most flexibility

– Local taxis are readily available

– Collective taxis run regularly between villages

– Most villages are walkable once you arrive

 

Important Dates

– November to April: Sunny blue skies every day

– December to March: Whale watching season

– July to September: Sea turtle nesting season

– October to May: Best surfing conditions

– Year-round: Swimming and snorkeling

Living on Oaxaca’s Costa Chica means you’re perfectly positioned to enjoy the best of coastal living while having a serene retreat to call home. Whether you’re interested in wellness activities, water sports, nature experiences, or simply enjoying fresh seafood at sunset, everything is within easy reach.

The magic of this location lies in its balance – you’re close enough to enjoy all the activities and amenities of these vibrant villages while being able to retreat to your peaceful sanctuary whenever you desire. Welcome to your perfect launching point for exploring the best of Oaxaca’s coastal life.