Oaxaca, Mexico is best known for its year-round warm weather, fabulous beaches, and gorgeous landscape. From the beautiful coast to the mountains and the more affordable price tag, it’s a great place to have a vacation.
There are also much fewer people because most go to the Yucatan Peninsula when visiting Mexico instead of venturing out into other areas of Mexico like Oaxaca.
Beaches in Oaxaca are much less pretentious and allow for more rest and relaxation. You’ll find that the beach towns aren’t obscured by resorts, large hotels, and commercialization.
Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy authentic Mexican meals and a slower way of life.
Oaxaca is a great low-key beach town.
Enjoy a mezcal cocktail and mole enchiladas for dinner.
Just some of the authentic food and drinks you can find in Oaxaca.
You can even see the Sierra Sur Mountain range from most beach towns in the distance, cutting into the bright blue sky.
Best Beach Towns in the State of Oaxaca
Keep reading for some of the best beach towns in Oaxaca. There are so many great options so buckle up!
1. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
This is one of the largest beaches in Oaxaca and is more like a small city than a beach town. For those visiting Oaxaca, it’s the main beach that people tend to visit because it’s well-known and has all the amenities. Including all the bars, and restaurants you could need.
This beachside destination is popular among surfers. The waves here put this place on the map, being one of the best surf spots in Mexico.
People from all over the world come here to go surfing. While surfing might have made it popular, tourists now also visit to relax on the beach, drink at the beach bars, visit night cubs, and soak in the sun.
Once you’re in Puerto Escondido, one of the best beaches to visit is Playa Zicatela. The vast, open beach has beach bars and lots of space to grab a spot and relax under the warm sun.
In addition, La Punta is a great place to watch the sunset, and La Barra is a gorgeous private beach off the end of La Punta that you can enjoy if you don’t mind climbing over a few rocks.
Finally, Carrizalillo Playa is a great place to swim and snorkel on a calm day. There is more to offer in Puerto Escondido than in any other beaches in Oaxaca.
If this is what you’re looking for, this is a great place to visit. You will find more than enough restaurants, bars, and accommodations without the hefty price tag or the large crowds that places like Cancun bring in.
2. Mazunte, Oaxaca, Mexico
Known for its bohemian flare, Mazunte is another great beach town to visit during your stay in Oaxaca.
The most popular thing to do is visit the Punta Cometa Natural Reserve, where the cape jets out into the Pacific Ocean.
It’s the ideal spot to enjoy stunning views during the day and catch the sunset at night. It is a stunning beach in Oaxaca.
Two trails on the preserve will each take you to two spectacular viewpoints and allow you to access a beautiful, private, and secluded beach.
Playa Mazunte has many vendors selling handmade goods, food, and restaurants along the beach.
It’s the main beach and a must-visit in Mazunte.
This laid-back beach town is known for its relaxing vibes. This is the place to unplug and recharge, whether it’s through yoga, meditation, or other calming and relaxing methods.
If you like this type of atmosphere, you’ll have a great time in this beach town. People come to this little town to find relaxation and a break from society.
If this is what you’re in need of, look no further!
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3. Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico
Zipolite is about as laid back as it gets. The tiny beach town has a reputation for its nude beaches – so be warned!
However, even with such a reputation, the only remaining nude area is at the very ends of both sides of the mile-long beach at playa del amor… So unless you want to be a nudist, you don’t have to be surrounded by it if you stay anywhere in the middle of the beach.
The beaches in Zipolite aren’t the best for swimming because the water can be intense and wavy, but it’s an excellent spot for surfers.
While in Zipolite, a must-do is dolphin spotting. Motor boats depart daily from the beach to bring guests on guided tours to spot whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.
It’s a great way to enjoy a different perspective of the ocean and the beach town and take in all the beautiful views.
These tours last about 2.5 hours and cost 200 pesos which is around $10 a person.
The town of Zipolite is also only steps from the beach, so you can walk around, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a slow afternoon.
4. Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Huatulco is a small region that consists of the small towns of La Crucecita, Santa Cruz, and Santa Maria Huatulco. These are some of the best non-touristy Oaxaca coastal towns.
They’re all very small and close together, so visiting all three often feels like visiting one town known as Huatulco. They are some of the coolest Oaxaca beach towns.
This region is close to pre-Hispanic ruins, including Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita, a ceremonial center that once had a large stone temple.
It’s also home to Huatulco National Park which is full of beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and diverse wildlife.
The area has a total of nine bays and more than 30 beaches.
It’s the place to be for beach lovers. However, if you want to do more than relax on the beach, the downtown area is very charming, and there are many great restaurants and bars to check out.
You can even tour a coffee plantation and try some of the most memorable coffee you’ll ever have. This is a great place to stay if you’re visiting Oaxaca.
Unlike some beach towns nearby, there are some resorts in Huatulco because it’s one of the busier beach towns in Oaxaca.
If you’re looking for a resort, this is great, but if you’re looking to break away from this type of tourist environment, some small beach towns nearby might be a better fit.
Huatulco is very affordable compared to other tourist resorts, so if you want to save money, this is the best option. (It will only continue to increase in price around here, so visit while you can still get a good deal.)
5. Chacahua, Oaxaca, Mexico
Chacahua is an island on the southern tip of Chacahua Lagoons National Park, the main attraction of this area.
While these Oaxaca beaches are gorgeous, there is no comparison to the park’s exceptional views. You’ll spot turtles, crocodiles, and lots of exotic birds and enjoy the mangrove forests and diverse landscapes.
If you love nature, this national park is a must-visit. The unspoiled landscape is what makes this area so special.
Because Chacahua is very off the beaten path, it’s not the easiest to get to. From Puerto Escondido, it’s about a 3-hour trip.
You can drive to Zapotalito and then take a boat to the island. (Note that there is a town near Puerto Escondido that is also called Chacahua, so be sure not to mix the two up when getting directions.)
Another great thing about this tiny island beach town is it’s very affordable to visit, but don’t expect too many amenities, it’s a very rustic area.
Be ready to do a lot of sitting back and relaxing. If this level of calm and tranquility is what you’re looking for, then this is the ideal beach town for you.
You can walk the entire island and you won’t get lost. It only has three parts: the beach that faces the ocean, the beach that faces the lagoon, and the small downtown area between the beaches.
If this level of secludedness interests you, you’ll love Chacahua.
6. Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico
This tiny beach town is a quaint fishing village with a rocky cliffside leading to remarkable views.
The scenery is breathtaking and is what makes this mini-town so unique. It isn’t very touristy, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve found it. It is one of the best Oaxaca beach towns.
This little town is like a dream come true to many people because of its quaint and small-town beauty and feel.
Life in Puerto Angel is slow and quiet.
You won’t find nightlife or large parties, and there will be few tourists if any.
You’ve likely never heard of it, which makes it even more special. The entire village is surrounded by large cliffs that create a picturesque and remote ambiance.
This is a great place to get accustomed to local culture and immerse yourself in a truly authentic experience. This is also a great place to swim and enjoy offshore snorkeling.
7. San Agustinillo, Oaxaca, Mexico
This is a small beach town just a 10-minute walk from Mazunte. Stay in one of the two beach towns and take an effortless day trip to the other.
San Agustinillo is quiet and a great place to spend the day relaxing. You should go on a boat tour to spot turtles, dolphins, whales, and other sea animals.
It’s a pretty magical and memorable experience.
The beaches are located along three coves and it’s relaxing to walk along the water in the calm coves and enjoy the view.
The coves also allow for different types of waves so you can find calm areas for swimming and wavier areas for surfing so if you’re looking for options, you’ve found them. This town is great for walking around and enjoying the expansive views.
Conclusions
As you can see the Oaxaca coast is a great place to visit in Mexico. It has some of the best beaches in the country.
The expansive ocean views, stunning mountains, and diverse landscape make it a great place to explore, relax, and gain an authentic and cultural experience.
This is the ideal spot if you’re looking to head to the beach without going to the more mainstream tourist locations.
A lot of the beaches feel like hidden gems and best-kept secrets, that’s because they’re often very private and laid back.
While all the beach towns in Oaxaca are great, hopefully, you found a place on this list that speaks to your interests.
They all have that off-the-radar ambiance that makes it feel extra special when visiting. Oaxaca couldn’t be a better beach destination, and with so many beach towns to choose from, there is something for everyone.
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