12 Amazing Oaxaca Beaches

The state of Oaxaca, Mexico has A LOT to offer and is a must-see part of Mexico! We traveled for 5 months down the Pacific coast of Mexico in our camper van and the Oaxaca Beaches were definitely the best. The variety of beaches in Oaxaca is incredible. There are Epic beaches for surfing, snorkeling, relaxing and even tanning naked. In this post I will outline all of the best Oaxaca beaches and provide information to help plan your next Oaxaca, Mexico trip!

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How to get to Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca is one of the most southern states in Mexico and is a very popular tourist zone. Oaxaca has some of the best beaches in Mexico and the capital, Oaxaca City is a cultural hotspot. Whether you are backpacking all of Mexico or planning a quick getaway, Oaxaca should be on the top of your list!

How to Arrive:

Flying to Oaxaca, Mexico is pretty easy from the USA. For most US cities you will need to have a layover in Mexico City before continuing on to your destination. If you are located near Chicago or Dallas-Fort Worth there are direct flights to Huatulco, Mexico. Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles also have direct flights to Oaxaca City, Mexico which would allow you to explore that city before continuing on to the Oaxaca Beaches.

If you are heading to the Oaxaca Beaches then I recommend flying into Puerto Escondido or Huatulco. These are the two best beach towns to access the majority of the Oaxaca Beaches.

Here are the top 12 Oaxaca Beaches (from North to South)

Laguna de Chacahua
Playa Coral
Playa Carrizalillo
Playa Zicatela
La Punta
Mazunte
Playa Zipolite (Playa del Amor)
Playa San Agustin
Playa la India
Playa Conejos
Barra de la Cruz
Playa Bamba

Laguna de Chacahua

1.Laguna de Chacahua

A must-see part of Oaxaca. It is one of the best Oaxaca Beaches and it has a stunning lagoon too. Laguna de Chacahua is on an island so taking a boat is part of the journey to get there. It feels like you arrive in a Caribbean paradise and it is the perfect place to come relax

How to Arrive:
- You will need to take a taxi or collectivo from Puerto Escondido (~1.5 hours). The taxi will take you directly to the boat dock, whereas the collectivo will drop you at the turnoff for Zapotalito. From here there will be taxis to take you the remaining 5 kms. Don’t worry this is all pretty organized. Once at the boat dock you will want to negotiate for a boat ticket. Laguna de Chacahua Location
  - Option 1 Boat only: They will try to charge you anywhere from 200 pesos to 600 pesos per person (300 pesos seemed like an average cost). The boat trip is a highlight of visiting Laguna de Chacahua because you get to zip through the mangroves and see some of the fauna of the lagoon. It’s a beautiful 45 minute journey. You will get dropped off right in the main part of town
  - Option 2 Boat + Collectivo: There is a cheaper option to take a quick 10 minute boat ride and then drive in a collectivo for 30-45 minutes until you reach the town. We never tried this option because it seemed like too much effort with our surfboards. I definitely recommend taking the boat at least one of the directions
Best Things to do:
- Surf – the wave at Laguna de Chacahua is a really good right. It is a pretty friendly wave even when it’s big and was one of the least crowded waves we surfed in Oaxaca.
- Surf Lessons – There is a really good area for surf lessons here and they were way less crowded and chaotic than the ones in Puerto Escondido
- Read a book in a Hammock – All the Beachfront restaurants and accommodation had shady hammocks to relax in
- Grab a drink at a lagoon front bar – there are a few cools spots to go for a drink in Laguna de Chacahua. We enjoyed Sakamiche Bar & Cafe
- Explore the other side of the lagoon – you can hike up to the light house, grab some food and explore the beach on the otherside

Playa Coral

2. Playa Coral

Gorgeous, secluded beach in Puerto Escondido with access via an abandoned hotel. Arriving at this beach is quite the experience because you have to pass a semi-abandoned hotel and water park. The beach is more peaceful than other Oaxaca beaches and the water is perfect for swimming or snorkeling.

How to arrive: It is easy to take a taxi or scooter to Playa Coral. You will need to pay a cover to access the beach (50 pesos) through the hotel. At the moment it seems like they are renovating the hotel. There is a steep ramp that you must walk down to access the beach. Playa Coral Location
Things to do: Snorkeling, swimming, tanning
Other notes: There is one restaurant serving food near the beach

Playa Carrizalillo

3. Playa Carrizalillo

The most popular beach in Puerto Escondido and for good reason! This is one of the best Oaxaca beaches because it offers surfing, snorkeling and great swimming conditions. You will be amazed by the color of the water when you are climbing down the steps to the beach.

How to arrive: It is easy to take a taxi or scooter to Playa Carrizalillo. You will need to walk down about 400 steep steps to reach the beach. Playa Carrizalillo Location
Things to do: Surfing, swimming, snorkeling
Other notes: there are lounge chairs, umbrellas and surfboards to rent on the beach. There are also restaurants.

Playa Zicatela

4. Playa Zicatela

Known as the Pipeline of Mexico this beach is famous for the massive surf. If you’re not a pro-surfer it is still a great beach to come and watch the pros and sun tan. You will not be able to swim at this beach during the summer months.

How to arrive: Easy to arrive at the beach from any part of Puerto Escondido. Playa Zicatela Location
Things to do: Beach clubs, surfing for pros, watch the surf, suntan

La Punta

5. La Punta

This is a beautiful beach at the southern end of Puerto Escondido. It has a perfect left handed point break and is better for all types of surfers. During low tide you can explore the caves and tunnels at the point. It is a popular beach for people to gather and spend the day and it’s very close to all the yummy restaurants in La Punta.

How to arrive: Easy to arrive by taxi, walking or scooter. I’d also recommend staying in this area. La Punta Location
Things to do: Surfing, surf lessons, swimming, exploring

Mazunte

6. Mazunte

Peaceful, beautiful beaches located in the cute hippie town of Mazunte. This is a less touristy place to come and enjoy the Oaxaca beaches. The water is crystal clear and perfect for a day trip from Puerto or a longer stay in town.

How to arrive: transport can be arranged from Puerto Escondido for a day trip. I’d highly recommend spending a couple nights in this cute beachside town. Mazunte Beach Location
Things to do: Swimming, snorkeling, hiking to the lookout point

Playa del Amor Zipolite

7. Playa Zipolite

A vibrant, fun and unique beach in Oaxaca, Mexico. This is Mexico’s first and only legal nude beach. You will see many people rocking their Birthday suits on the beach and at the beachfront restaurants and clubs.

How to arrive: organize transport from Puerto Escondido or spend a couple nights in town. It is only 15 minutes from Mazunte so you can also do a day trip from there. Playa Zipolite Location
Things to do: surfing, sun-tanning, beach clubs and restaurants
Other notes – highly recommend walking to Playa del Amor on the southern side of Playa Zipolite. Nude Beach club is also a good spot to go for lunch and some drinks

Playa San Agustin

8. Playa San Agustin

Sleepy beach community with amazing snorkeling! This is an off the beaten path destination and is one of the best Oaxaca beaches for snorkeling. The reef right off the beach is massive and you will see a lot of fish. This is also a great place to jump on a tour of the Huatulco National Park for more snorkeling opportunities.

How to arrive: The closes town in Huatulco and you would need to arrive by taxi or your own vehicle. If you are traveling by campervan there is an awesome iOverlander spot to stay at called Don Taco. Playa San Agustin Location
Things to do: Snorkeling, Snorkeling, Snorkeling! Swimming, Huatulco National Park tours, Kayaking

Playa La India

9. Playa La India

Playa La India was designated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 beaches in the entire world! The beach is only accessible by boat and is one of the stops on the Huatulco National Park snorkeling tour. The water is crystal clear and home to tons of marine life including sea turtles, coral reefs and plenty of fish. There are two reefs off the beach making it a top snorkel destination. The white sand and tranquility of the beach also make it one of the best Oaxaca beaches.

How to Arrive: Playa La India is only accessible by boat. The best way to visit the beach is on a snorkel tour of Huatulco National Park. Playa La India location
Things to do: Snorkeling, sun bathing, picnic

Playa Conejos

10. Playa Conejos

Playa Conejos is another stunning beach in Huatulco, Mexico. The easiest way to access it is via the Secrets All-Inclusive Resort, but there is also a public access point. The protected cove is incredibly beautiful and a great spot to snorkel, swim and kayak. If you stay at the Secrets Resort you can even do some sailing! I loved how peaceful and secluded it felt at Playa Conejos.

How to Arrive: Beach access to guests staying at the Secrets Resort Huatulco or those with a day pass. You can also access the beach by walking down a dirt path from the main road. Playa Conejos Location
Things to do: Snorkel, kayak, swim, walk around the bay

Barra de la Cruz

11. Barra de la Cruz

This beach is home to one of the most popular surf breaks in Oaxaca, Mexico. Barra de la Cruz is a perfect right handed point break, and a very popular surf destination so unfortunately it draws a lot of crowd. If you are traveling in the area and looking to score some world class waves you don’t want to miss Barra de la Cruz. You will probably want to skip this destination if you are not a surfer.

How to Arrive: The beach is easily accessed if you are staying in the community of Barra de la Cruz. There are plenty of cabanas and campgrounds to stay at. There is a 100 pesos fee per person to access the beach. Barra de la Cruz Location
Things to do: Surf

Playa Bamba

12. Playa Bamba

Are you looking for a beautiful off the beaten path beach in Oaxaca? Playa Bamba is an incredible spot. We spent a night camping here and were blown away by the beauty. It is very off the beaten path so you may not see any other tourists here. There are two surf breaks that work on the right south swell. Additionally, there is also a beautiful lagoon that you can spot different bird species in and to the southern end there are incredible sand dunes that can be hiked. We camped at the Blue Rock Restaurant and the owner was so lovely (as well as the food).

How to Arrive: Having your own form of transport is the best way to arrive here. Playa Bamba Location
Things to do: Surfing, Bird Watching, Climb the sand dunes, Walk along the beach, Eat at Blue Rock Restaurant

Oaxaca Beaches Wrap Up

It would be easy to spend months exploring all of the Oaxaca Beaches! I love that there is something for everyone to enjoy on these beaches. The snorkeling and surfing were definitely the main highlights. Make sure to keep a close eye on belongings, avoid the beaches after dark and bring plenty of sunscreen!

Have you been to any of these Oaxaca Beaches?