The Oaxaca coast is full of different cove beaches and towns. The unique thing about this coastline is that every Oaxaca beach and town has a totally different vibe, so you can find a place for any type of traveler or travel style. So this Oaxaca coast guide is going to break down the best beaches in Oaxaca so you can find the best fit for your next vacation.
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Puerto Escondido: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Puerto Escondido is a small city, so this is one of the most developed parts of the coast. However, it’s also a real Mexican town, so it has tons of culture to mix in with your Oaxaca coast beach vacation.
Puerto Escondido also has some of the best beaches in Oaxaca, so you can get the best of both worlds – lots of amenities and action, but also beautiful Oaxaca beaches. Check out my full guide for what to do, where to eat and where to stay in Puerto Escondido.
The town has several beaches within it, so I’ll break down each one below…
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Playa Bacocho: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Playa Bacocho is one of the best beaches in Oaxaca if you want to have a totally quiet relaxed vacation, but be only a couple minute taxi ride from all the action.
Playa Bacocho is famous for the turtle release (scroll down in my PE travel guide to find out the details) that happens every evening during turtle season. This Oaxaca coast beach is beautiful, but not really safe for swimming – so you’ll probably want to book a hotel with a pool. Hotel Villasol is a great vintage-style hotel with multiple pools, a restaurant, and a beach club on the beach. Or choose a vintage Airstream Puerto Escondido Airbnb for a design-worthy inspiring stay.
Find your Airbnb in Playa Bacocho.
Playa Carrizalillo: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Playa Carrizalillo is hands down one of my favs and one of the best beaches in Oaxaca. It’s a small, but gorgeous cove, filled with turquoise clear water, and an almost perfect and gentle wave.
You arrive at the top of the cliff, so you get an amazing birds eye view of the cove. You will have to descend and climb back up many steps – so this isn’t an accessible Oaxaca beach for those with mobility limitations.
This Oaxaca coast beach is safe for swimming, and great for a long day of lounging around. You can also take beginner’s surf lessons here, or do SUP.
There are only a couple hotels on the cliff overlooking the beach of Playa Carrizalillo, so most people stay in the little neighborhood just inland from the beach. There are several amenities here, but it’s a quiet area, and very quiet at night.
This Oaxaca beach is best for those that want to relax on a beautiful beach all day and have a quiet night. Although it is very easy to take taxis to other parts of Puerto Escondido with more action.
Find your Airbnb in Playa Carrizalillo.
Playa Puerto Angelito/Playa Manzanillo: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
These two Oaxaca beaches are actually in one cove, just separated by a jetty. They are both pretty beaches, safe for swimming, and often filled with locals or visiting national tourists.
Zicatela: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Zicatela is one of the best beaches in Oaxaca and even the world for surfing – it’s famous for its giant and intimidating wave that can get huge during rainy season. They hold international surfing competitions here.
Because of this, there is a strong rip tide and it’s not a safe place to swim (at all). But it is a pretty beach with a long stretch of sand and a fun place to enjoy the restaurants and bars.
I’ve stayed in Zicatela a few times, and I love this Oaxaca coast beach for the vibe. There are tons of great restaurants and bars here – the nightlife is full of energy. There are lots of great hotels here – from nicer hotels to mid-range to basic and very affordable. I have a full guide about what to do, eat and where to stay in Puerto Escondido, with an emphasis on Zicatela & La Punta (the beach below)
Even though you can’t swim at Zicatela, you can taxi or hop on a pasajero (the local transportation) to any of the other Puerto Escondido beaches in minutes.
Find your Airbnb in Zicatela.
La Punta/Brisas de Zicatela: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
La Punta is the very southeastern edge of Zicatela beach, but it has it’s own vibe.
La Punta has become the trendiest place to stay in Puerto Escondido, so you can find lots of organic shops, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. There is lots of good food here and good nightlife, though the nightlife ends at about 11pm when the bars close in this neighborhood to control the noise. Most people head to Zicatela after.
The center of La Punta feels like it’s own village, the roads are unpaved, and the feeling is very relaxed and barefoot.
The beach at La Punta is sometimes safe to swim, though with caution. You’ll have to pay attention to the flags and be aware of the current. It is stronger here than some of the calm beaches, like Playa Carrizalillo. To be honest, it’s a little too strong for me, but other friends of mine usually feel comfortable, depending on the weather and current.
La Punta is also one of the best beaches in Oaxaca for surfing, by far. There is a great consistent wave that crashes over the point (la punta), so it’s great for intermediate surfers. Lots of surfing classes and surf board rentals are available at this Oaxaca coast beach.
Find your Airbnb in La Punta.
Find Your Oaxaca Beach Airbnb or Hotel:
Just Outside of Puerto, Punta Pajaros: Oaxaca Coast Guide
This up-and-coming beach area is beautiful, wild, remote and artistic.
I’ve stayed here several times since 2019. It’s a beautiful natural place to disconnect from regular life, plus has the artistic, design-oriented atmosphere that permeates this beach. While it is still a very quiet and tucked away place, it has grown to include a couple restaurants and a small corner store.
It’s a long sandy beach about 30 minutes south of Puerto Escondido. It doesn’t take long to arrive on the highway, but then you navigate a dirt road for awhile to your Airbnb or hotel.
In 2019, I stayed in Casitas by the Sea, designed by architect, Alberto Kalach. Then in 2022, I stayed in the gorgeous Casas Maria Matilda, designed by the architects of Gaeta Springall Arquitectos. Nearby is the art foundation of Casa Wabi, also designed by a famous and award-winning architect, that you can tour. There are just a couple of hotels here including, Hotel Escondido and Hotel Terrestre. Otherwise you’ll find several beautifully designed airbnbs like the ones above.
If you choose to stay in an Airbnb, you can dine at Cobarde Mezcaleria, Hotel Escondido, La Palapa at Punta Pajaros, or Kakurega Omakase , just make reservations ahead of time. Otherwise there are no other food options, so you’ll want to stop at a grocery store in Puerto Escondido on your way to stock up.
I’d recommend renting a car to arrive or to visit Casa Wabi for a tour. Or you can take a taxi like I did during my first visit.
This is a place to relax, disconnect, swim in your on-site pool (the ocean’s current is dangerous for swimming), and do some early morning or evening beach walks/hikes. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten path Oaxaca beach experience, Punta Pajaros is lovely.
Find your Airbnb in Punta Pajaros.
Tierra Blanca: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Tierra Blanca is a little known and quiet Oaxaca beach but actually one of the closest beaches coming off the new Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido super highway.
This beach is located in between Puerto Escondido and Mazunte, about 20-30 minutes driving from Puerto. It’s down a short dirt road, and is a mostly virgin and empty beach with only a handful of houses for rent, one restaurant and one boutique hotel called Casa Mariposa.
We stayed at Casa Mariposa for 3 nights and it was such a relaxing and lovely few days. The beach is open ocean, so not safe for swimming, but great for splashing, wading and long beach walks. Casa Mariposa features a beautiful pool overlooking the beach and a few well decorated rooms, all surrounded by lush jungle greens. There is a shared kitchen that is the best equipped I’ve seen, large, with pro cooking tools, and lots of organization and space.
This is a great beach to come and disconnect and enjoy spending time in nature.
Agua Blanca: Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Agua Blanca is a small beach community about halfway between Puerto Escondido and Mazunte. While this area is very quiet and natural, it is starting to grow and has a few amenities to make your stay more comfortable.
Agua Blanca is a long Oaxaca beach characterized by its many rock formations. These create small pools which make this one of the best beaches in Oaxaca for families whose young children can bathe in the calm small pools. Otherwise this is open ocean with a strong current, so it’s generally not safe for swimming. There is good surfing in part of this beach.
There are a range of hotels and Airbnbs popping up here at every price point. Our favorite is Casa Palma y Coco, a beautiful Airbnb with just two rooms upstairs, each with a stunning view of the beach, and some shared areas, including a rooftop terrace with comfortable seating and even more stunning views, and a ground floor pool, seating area, kitchen and large dining table. This Oaxaca beach Airbnb is just one block from the ocean, so you’ll enjoy the sound of the waves crashing throughout your stay. The owners are wonderful warm people who will make you feel right at home.
The beach is lined with several palapa restaurants serving fresh seafood. Our favorites are Olguita and Eliel. Agua Blanca is also famous for fresh oysters when in season. Be sure to order some during your visit. These restaurants usually close around sunset so if you are planning to have dinner, best to bring some grocery items with you to cook at your Airbnb.
Mazunte: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Mazunte is a little Mexican village on the Oaxaca coast that is famous for it’s huge population of sea turtles. There is plenty of wildlife to see here – turtles, dolphins, crocodiles (in mangroves, not on the beach) and whales during the winter season.
Mazunte is one of the best beaches in Oaxaca for the people who like to get off-the-beaten path, but still want to have some comforts and amenities.
There is one main beach in town that is pretty and has a mostly calm area for swimming (though pay attention to the flags as some days the current can be rougher). There are also a couple of other pretty beaches within walking distance (Playa Cometa and Playa Mermejita). These beaches aren’t safe for swimming but are beautiful and nice to explore.
The traveler type in Mazunte leans young and bohemian. But of course there is still a mix of many types of travelers.
One of my favorite things about Mazunte is the gorgeous natural area – Punta Cometa. This point jetties out as the southernmost point of the Oaxaca coast. There are easy trails to walk along the cliff and admire the waves crashing on the rocks below. There is a small remote beach here you can explore, and it’s also the best place to watch the sunset in Mazunte…and maybe on the whole Oaxaca coast.
If you are heading to Mazunte, check out my full guide of what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.
Find your Airbnb in Mazunte.
San Agustinillo: Oaxaca Coast Guide
San Agustinillo is a little town directly adjacent to Mazunte and within 10-20 minutes walking distance, so most things that I’ve said about Mazunte apply to San Agustinillo too – the access to wildlife, the ability to hike Punta Cometa, etc..
San Agustinillo is even a bit smaller than Mazunte, so it has an even more relaxed and quiet vibe. The traveler type skews slightly older than Mazunte – with the majority of people seeming to be in their 30s-50s. Lots of couples and families. I’ve met many creative young people here from various countries who had interesting jobs or hobbies. Though, again, there is a little bit of everyone here.
There are lots of cove beaches on the San Agustinillo Oaxaca coast that wind around and have rock formations dotted here and there. This is nice because for its beauty but also because it makes lots of different wave and swimming environments – from calm areas to more aggressive waves.
San Agustinillo is one of the best beaches in Oaxaca because it gives you the best of both worlds – quiet and relaxation with lots of amenities close by. If you are heading to San Agustinillo – check out my full guide for the town.
Find your Airbnb in San Agustinillo.
Zipolite: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Zipolite is definitely the best beach in Oaxaca for people who enjoy nudist beaches – because that’s just what it is!
But even if you prefer to visit the beach clothed, it’s a beautiful beach and a cool little town.
The beach is quite long and guarded on both ends by big cliffs. It’s picturesque and a beautiful place to watch the sunset on the Oaxaca coast.
It can be a little tricky to swim here, depending on the tide and currents, because the currents are strong. But it’s definitely nice for wading, splashing, and enjoying the beach.
The town has a very laid-back feel, but with plenty of good restaurants. The type of traveler here tends to lean European, but I have seen a mix of all ages and backgrounds.
Find your Airbnb in Zipolite.
Puerto Angel: Oaxaca Coast Guide
I have only passed through Puerto Angel, but got a glimpse at the town and the beach and have read a bit about it. Puerto Angel is a traditional Mexican fishing village on the Oaxaca coast. The town beach is a good port, so you will see boats docked all around. Still it is picturesque with it’s steep cliffs bordering the small cove.
Puerto Angel seems to have less tourism than some of the other towns, so would be a glimpse into traditional Mexican life on the Oaxaca coast.
Find your Airbnb in Puerto Angel.
Playa Estacahuite: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Playa Estacahuite is a tiny cove beach right next to Puerto Angel. It’s off-the-beaten path, quiet and beautiful.
This Oaxaca beach is super quiet with only a couple of palapa beach restaurants. However, it’s only 5 minutes drive to Puerto Angel so you could easily get back and forth for amenities. Especially if you rented a car.
I had the immense pleasure of spending a few days at the luxurious and beautiful Airbnb, Bianni Beuú. This home is perfect for groups as it sleeps 10 and is spread out of 4 floors. The architecture and decor is stunning and there is an incredible aerial view of Playa Estacahuite from every floor. Plus the infinity pool, rooftop jacuzzi, and incredible artist designed tile really seal the deal. Highly recommend.
Playa Estacahuite would be one of the best beaches in Oaxaca to disconnect and enjoy a remote vacation.
Find your Airbnb in Playa Estacahuite.
Huatulco: Oaxaca Coast Guide
Huatulco is a Oaxaca beach area known for it’s big resorts. The town is actually a few minutes inland, and the coastline is dotted with resorts – many all-inclusive.
But the interesting thing about Huatulco is it’s completely beautiful 7 Bays. It’s a National Park consisting of 7 cove beaches. Some of them are pretty remote and completely empty.
Playa San Agustin and Playa Riscalillo: Best Beach in Huatulco
Years ago I visited Playa San Agustin on a road trip and we literally had the beach completely to ourselves. We drove about a half hour down a bumpy dirt road and found a dramatic, beautiful and empty beach on the Oaxaca coast.
Playa Riscalillo is even a bit further down the same dirt road, and is an amazing beach for swimming. The Oaxaca beach is in a small cover and the water is clear and turquoise. There are a couple local restaurants, but this beach is mostly quiet and a great place to get away from the crowds.
Playa La Entrega: Best Huatulco Beaches
Playa Entrega is one of the most popular beaches in Huatulco so it can get quite crowded but it’s also a perfectly clear and calm cove beach that makes it great for swimming. This is a good beach to arrive early to beat the crowds.
Playa Maguey: Best Huatulco Beaches
Huatulco has the best beaches in Oaxaca for those who want a resort experience. But it can also be amazing as a day trip if you have a car. Or if you prefer not to stay in a resort, there are some smaller hotels and more remote areas to stay/explore in this area.
Find your Airbnb in Huatulco.
I keep this Oaxaca beach guide updated frequently as I visit the Oaxaca coast several times a year. And as i get older and now have a family, I find myself drawn to different beaches which reaffirms that there is a beach for every travel style.
More Oaxaca Coast Guides:
Complete Oaxaca beach guide, choose the best beach for your travel style.
Transportation:
How to Get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite from Oaxaca.
How to Get from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte/San Agustinillo.
Hotels + Airbnbs:
Eco Friendly Treehouse in Puerto Escondido
La Punta Puerto Escondido Hotel with Pool
Artistic Hotel in San Agustinillo
Boutique Hotel in San Agustinillo.
Hotel and Beach Club in Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondido Hotel with Rooftop Pool
Architect Designed Punta Pajaros Airbnb
Design Lover’s Airbnb in Punta Pajaros, near Casa Wabi
Oaxaca city:
And tons of Oaxaca city posts here.
Mexico posts here.
Chiapas posts here.
What to Pack for the Oaxaca Coast:
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