Zipolite
Verified

Zipolite

5(5 reviews)

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

Restrooms

Not Available

No public bathrooms. There are plenty of bars or restaurants nearby with toilets.

Food & Drinks

Not Available

Lots of options. From beach vendors selling coconuts and rum to upscale hotels.

Parking

Available

Free street parking available

Nudity Policy

OPTIONAL

Nudity is optional

The Good

  • Accommodation & Dining: A range of great accommodations, restaurants, and bars nearby to cater to every budget.
  • Chill Vibes: Experience the laid-back atmosphere that the beach is known for.
  • Nude Beach Intro: An ideal spot for those new to the world of nude beaches.
  • Beachside Treats: Enjoy affordable drinks and delectable food right on the beach.
  • World-Class Festival: The Zipolite Nudist Festival in early February stands out as one of the best globally.

The Bad

  • Surf Caution: The waters can be rough, posing challenges if you're not a confident swimmer.
  • Peak Period Crowds: The beach tends to get crowded from December to February.
  • Off-Season Humidity: The rainy season, from June to September, is not only humid but also sees many tourist businesses shutting down.
Naked Truth

The Naked Truth

It doesn't get better than this in Mexico. You can walk the length of the beach as naked (or un-naked) as you prefer. No one cares. Highly recommended getaway, especially if you don't enjoy the all-inclusive vibes of Huatulco's paid beaches. Zipolite is all about laid back vibes and acceptance - it is one of our favourite beaches in North America.

Insider Tip

Stay as close to the beach as you can! Nothing beats walking naked straight from your hotel room to the ocean.

Who's Here

Lots of couples and backpackers. Playa del Amor is very popular with LGBTQ+ crowd.

Beach Surface

Sand

Access Difficulty

Very easy

Vritomartis Resort - Nude Beach Resort

Photos

Zipolite Beach Mexico looking towards Hotel El Alquimista
Zipolite Beach Mexico looking towards Hotel El Alquimista
Click to view full screen
Zipolite Beach Mexico looking towards Hotel El Alquimista
The surf can be strong in Zipolite
Zipolite looking east
Rocky cove in front of El Alquimista
Rocky cove near El Alquimista - the current can be strong here
Golden hour in Zipolite
Zipolite's long beach
Zipolite's surf can be dangerous at times, lifeguards will signal where to swim
Fresh coconut + rum from a beach vendor
Sunset at Playa de Amor
Playa del Amor has a vibe of it's own and is a favourite with the LGBTQ+ crowd
Playa del Amor

Our Visit

Matt & Megan
Nude Beach Map. Visited 2023

Zipolite is Perfection!

Matt & Megan
Nude Beach Map. Visited 2023

Zipolite is Perfection!

That is how we'd describe Mexico's first and only legal public nude beach. It is the kinda place you discover and want to keep to yourself so it doesn't change. But the secret is out and so far Zipolite is still staying true to everything that makes this small town great.

Laid back vibes prevail here, whether you're a backpacker sleeping in a hammock on the beach or a cashed up visitor staying at the many hotels - everyone gets the vibe. There are no all-inclusives or chain hotels here and that is definitely a good thing. You can be naked or topless or dressed. No one cares. It's a little grungy, totally hippie and full of freedom. Zipolite is a small authentic Mexican beach town that embraces diversity and counterculture.. including nudity. Relax, let the inner hippie escape and you'll fit right in!

The long, wide and sandy one mile (1.5 km) beach extends from the rocky outcrop next to Playa del Amor in the east, all the way to the bay opposite upscale Hotel El Alquimista. Nudity is far more concentrated to the extreme ends of the beach, with the majority of higher end visitors on the western side of the beach in front of Hotel Nude, Hotel Naked (do you get the theme here?!) or El Alquimista.

The more affordable hostels and bars tend to be on eastern side of the beach, Hostel Casa Moringa is a popular low budget hang and we found a lot of bars around here do a great happy hour. Nearby here you will also find Playa del Amor, which is a small cove that has more of a LGBTQ+ presence. It is a popular place to watch the sunset because you will see it set directly into the ocean. The beach at Playa del Amor also tends to calmer than the rest of the beach. There are no bars or hotels here, instead a small vendor serves cocktails, beers and local mezcal. Access is via a small trail over the headland at the far end of the beach. We spent an afternoon here and watched the sunset before walking back the whole length of Zipolite fully naked (we were definitely not the only ones!).

Zipolite attracts all kinds of people - from young and solo backpackers, to families and older seniors who remember being here in the 70's hippie boom. There is a wide rand of ages, body types and nationalities. It is perfectly fine to be naked anywhere along the beach and some hotels (like Hotel Nude or Hotel Naked) allow nudity everywhere, however they ask you to cover up if you're eating inside at the restaurant.

Nudity is tolerated by the locals on the beach but not accepted in the shops or town. It is a great place to experience a nude beach for the first time and the friendly locals won't even give you a second glance. Beware of the surf which can be rough and not recommended for weak swimmers. The rocky area in front of El Alquimista can be especially dangerous with strong currents pushing swimmers onto rocks. Lifeguards not only patrol the beach, they also rent out surfboards and bodyboards for a reasonable price. Very handy! American and Canadian visitors were definitely in the majority when we were here from January to March to escape the cold.

The main road of Av. Roca Blanca runs parallel to the beach and access is easy. The small town is filled with inexpensive shops and funky dining establishments. The road closes to traffic around 5.30pm each night when local markets and vendors setup in the street. It's a great place to explore after a day at the beach and the food + crafts are stunning. You could take a collectivo (small bus) to / from nearby villages like Puerto Angel or Mazunte for 15-40 pesos, but be careful as they usually stop running early in the evening. There aren't any other public nude beaches nearby and Mazunte has more of a surf culture and yoga vibe.

Beware that the ATMs in Zipolite are extremely unreliable and often run dry. There is one at Hotel Nude and another at Hotel Adoquin which is on the main street of Av. Roca Blanca. When we visited both ATMs were empty for days and we needed to convince a cab driver to take us to Puerto Angel to get cash. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the cash free world is yet to arrive in Zipolite!

Questions? Comments? Add your thoughts or photos below!

Map

Getting There

The beach is easy to access and is right next to the main street in Zipolite. However the journey to Zipolite, regardless of your mode of transport, involves navigating through mountainous and winding roads. It's a scenic but challenging drive, so be prepared!

Taxis:
From Huatulco Airport:
Local Cab: The cheapest way to get to Zipolite but you'll need to walk about 500m outside the airport entrance to find a small taxi stand. The fare is typically 600 pesos.
Airport-Approved Cab: These taxis, available at the airport rank, charge around 1000 pesos.
From Puerto Escondido: The fare is generally 1000 pesos.
From Huatulco Downtown: Expect to pay around 800 pesos.

Note: Always agree on the fare before boarding the taxi to avoid any misunderstandings.

Buses:
ADO Buses: These large buses frequently ply between Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. If you choose this option, alight at Pochutla and then arrange local transportation to Zipolite.

Car Rental:
While available, renting a car tends to be on the pricier side in this region, and it's not a common choice among travelers.

Video

Recommended Attractions

Nude:
The Zipolite Nudist Festival started off small as a gathering for the Mexican Nudist Federation but it is big business now. The festival happens in early February and attracts people from all over the world.

Non-Nude:
Nearby Mazunte is definitely worth a visit, even if you just go to see the turtles at Tortugas Mazunte. It is a rehabilitation and educational centre for the study of turtles. There are LOTS of turtles and info about them.

While in Mazunte join the pilgrimage to Punta Cometa. The sunrises and sunsets here are epic - follow the well worn trail up the road past Cafe Cometa. All the locals will point you in the right direction and you definitely will not be alone at sunset. It is a great place to bring a snack and watch the sun sink into the Pacific Ocean. We didn't bring bug spray or a torch and we definitely should have! Taking alcohol here is forbidden but we did see a few people drinking wine very very discretely.

punta cometa trail

Recommended Accommodation


Zipolite is a small town of only 1000 people but there are lots of accommodation options - everything from hammocks on the beach to private suites overlooking the water. Beware that the eastern end of Zipolite can be very quiet at night and we heard a few people mention it was much too desolate for their liking. So if you'd prefer to be closer to the action we'd advise staying near Av Roca Blanca and avoid the eastern section of the beach.

Note that prices are significantly higher during the peak season from November to March. The Zipolite Nudist Festival in early February also fills up hotel rooms very fast.

Here are some other hotels on the beach where clothing is optional:

Nude:
Hotel Buda Mar - ⭐⭐⭐
Buda Mar is a fairly new hotel in Zipolite but seems to be gaining popularity very fast. It has its own clothing optional pool and is located close to the main street for easy access to restaurants, shops etc..
People rave about the friend staff and the location on the beach is normally nice and calm.

Gallery image of this property



Hotel Neptuno - ⭐⭐
Clothing optional and very affordable. Hotel Neptuno is on the beach but about a 10min walk from the main street.
Cheap and relatively cheerful, it is a step above cheaper dorm accommodation.

Gallery image of this property



Non-Nude:
Hostel Casa Moringa -⭐
Not clothing optional but a clean budget option located very close to the beach. Casa Moringa has dorm and double rooms with mostly shared bathrooms. You could save a lot by staying here and it gets mostly positive reviews. They have a kitchenette you can cook in and a large rooftop patio.
The hostel is on the far east side of the beach, close to Playa del Amor and about a 15min walk to the main street.

Gallery image of this property

Instagram Feed

Communities

Connect with fellow naturists and get the latest updates from these communities.

No Communities Yet

Know of a naturist community in this area?

Nearby Beaches

Loading nearby beaches...

Share this beach

Loading comments...