Best Beaches in Oaxaca, Mexico: The Top 25

Best Beaches in Oaxaca, Mexico: The Top 25

The best beaches in Oaxaca stretch across roughly 340 miles (550 km) of undeveloped Pacific coastline, from the nude-friendly cove of Zipolite to the nine protected bays of Huatulco — and unlike Cancún or Los Cabos, most of them still have more palm trees than hotels. This guide groups all 25 into five real regions of the coast, in a table you can actually use to plan a route, plus a full name-by-name list and how to move between them.

How the Oaxaca Coast Is Organized

The state of Oaxaca has one of Mexico's longest and least developed coastlines, and it breaks down into five distinct clusters that rarely get confused with each other once you've seen a map: the Puerto Ángel & Mazunte area (bohemian, low-rise), Puerto Escondido (surf town), Huatulco (resort bays), the Chacahua lagoon system (wild, boat-access), and the Isthmus around Salina Cruz (wind, not crowds).

If Puerto Escondido is your base, the two nearest clusters — Puerto Ángel/Mazunte to the east and Huatulco further east still — are both realistic day or overnight trips.

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The 25 Beaches, Region by Region

Here's every beach worth knowing, grouped the way locals actually think about the coast.

Puerto Ángel & Mazunte

The most laid-back stretch of the coast, built around two small towns rather than resorts.

• Zipolite. Mexico's best-known nude-friendly beach, with a strong current that demands respect and a famously mellow sunset scene.
• Mazunte. Calmer water than Zipolite, home to the national sea turtle center and a slower, more family-friendly pace.
• San Agustinillo. The quiet middle ground between Zipolite and Mazunte, popular with longer-stay travelers.
• Playa del Amor. A hidden cove near Puerto Ángel reachable only by boat or a short hike — bring your own shade.
• Estacahuite. A cluster of small coves right by Puerto Ángel, the easiest spot on this stretch for snorkeling.
• Ventanilla. Beach fronting a mangrove lagoon known for crocodile-spotting boat tours, just past Mazunte.

Puerto Escondido

Five beaches packed into one town, each with its own personality — covered in full depth in our dedicated guide, but the short version:

• Zicatela. The Mexican Pipeline — serious, powerful surf, not for beginners.
• Carrizalillo. A sheltered cove reached by 150-plus steps, calm enough for learners and families.
• Bacocho. Long stretch fronting the hotel zone, home to the town's main turtle release program.
• La Punta. Zicatela's laid-back southern end, popular with longboarders and yoga studios.
• Puerto Angelito. Two small, calm coves right in town, the easiest swim spot without leaving Puerto Escondido.

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Huatulco

Nine protected bays holding the calmest water on the coast — our full guide to all 9 bays of Huatulco covers the complete list, but the six most visited are:

• Santa Cruz. The marina bay and departure point for boat tours.
• Chahué. Beach clubs and watersports right by the second marina.
• Tangolunda. Calm, resort-lined, the easiest bay for young kids.
• Maguey. A flat-water cove ringed by seafood palapas.
• Cacaluta. Protected and undeveloped, made famous by the film Y Tu Mamá También.
• San Agustín. The farthest bay and the best reef snorkeling of the nine.

Chacahua & Manialtepec

West of Puerto Escondido, where lagoons meet the open Pacific.

• Chacahua. A remote lagoon-and-beach system inside Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, reached by boat.
• Cerro Hermoso. A near-empty beach inside the same park, popular with surfers chasing an uncrowded break.
• Manialtepec river mouth. Where the bioluminescent lagoon meets the ocean, best visited at dusk.

Salina Cruz & the Isthmus

Fewer tourists, more wind — the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is famous for exactly that.

• Barra de la Cruz. A world-class right-hand point break that has hosted professional surf tour events.
• Copalita. A river-mouth beach and surf spot right at the edge of the Huatulco zone.
• La Ventosa. One of the world's most consistent kitesurfing and windsurfing spots, thanks to the Tehuantepec wind.
• Salina Cruz municipal beaches. Working port-city beaches, more local than touristic.
• Punta Conejos. A quieter point break east of Salina Cruz, mostly visited by surfers.

Which Beach to Choose Based on What You Want

With 25 options, the fastest filter is what you actually want to do there:

• Serious surf: Zicatela, Barra de la Cruz, Cerro Hermoso.
• Calm water for families: Carrizalillo, Tangolunda, Puerto Angelito, Mazunte.
• Snorkeling: San Agustín, Estacahuite, Maguey.
• Wildlife & nature: Ventanilla, Chacahua, the Manialtepec river mouth.

Getting Between the Beaches

Distances along this coast are longer than the map suggests, since the highway winds through hills rather than running straight along the shore.

• Puerto Escondido to Mazunte/Zipolite: About 1–1.5 hours by car or colectivo.
• Puerto Escondido to Huatulco: Roughly 2–2.5 hours by car along the coastal highway.
• Puerto Escondido to Chacahua: About 1.5 hours to the lagoon entrance, then boat.
• Renting a car gives the most flexibility for the Puerto Ángel/Mazunte stretch; Huatulco's outer bays are boat-only regardless.

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FAQ: Beaches of Oaxaca

What is the most famous beach in Oaxaca?

Zicatela in Puerto Escondido is the best known internationally for surfing, while Zipolite is the most famous for its nude-friendly, laid-back reputation.

How many beaches does Oaxaca have?

Oaxaca's coast holds well over 50 named beaches across its five main regions, but the 25 covered here are the ones that come up in nearly every serious itinerary.

What's the safest swimming beach in Oaxaca?

Carrizalillo and Puerto Angelito in Puerto Escondido, and Tangolunda in Huatulco, all have calmer, more protected water than the open-ocean beaches like Zicatela or Zipolite.

Is Huatulco or Puerto Escondido better for beaches?

Huatulco has calmer, more protected bays built for swimming and snorkeling; Puerto Escondido has stronger surf and a more independent-travel feel. Most visitors to the coast see both rather than picking one.

Planning which of these to actually visit? Browse our guide to things to do in Puerto Escondido for tours and day trips that reach several of these beaches.