Location
Mexico
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
November to April
About Playa Zipolite
Zipolite is a small beach village in the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla on Oaxaca's southern Pacific coast, between Puerto Ángel and Mazunte and roughly midway between the Huatulco and Puerto Escondido airports. The main beach is about 2 km long and around 40 metres wide, with medium-grained golden sand and open Pacific surf. Nudity has a long history here: a fishing village until hippie travellers arrived in the 1960s and 1970s, Zipolite became known in later decades as a free-spirited hideaway, and it is widely described as Mexico's only beach where nudity is legally accepted, following a 2016 municipal decision. Nudism was traditionally concentrated at Playa del Amor, a small cove at the eastern end, and at the far western end, and it has spread along the main beach. Under local rules announced in 2022, nudity is allowed at Playa del Amor, at the Shambhala end and in restaurants that permit it, but not in the village streets. The undertow is strong year-round; a volunteer lifeguard group founded in 1995 posts flags showing where swimming is safest. Since 2016 the Festival Nudista Zipolite has been held each year around the first weekend of February. Beachfront cabañas, hostels and palapa restaurants line the sand.
Getting there
Fly to Bahías de Huatulco or Puerto Escondido, then follow coastal Highway 200; from Oaxaca City the drive takes about three hours on the newer highway. From Highway 200, taxis and shared colectivos reach Zipolite via the turn-offs for Puerto Ángel or Mazunte, including from San Pedro Pochutla. The beach lies directly in front of the village, so there is no walk-in beyond the sand; Playa del Amor is a short scramble at the eastern end of the main beach.
What visitors say
Travellers and Mexican media describe a laid-back, bohemian village where nude and clothed visitors share the main beach, with Playa del Amor as the most consistently nude spot. Accounts agree that the surf and currents are dangerous, so visitors are urged to follow the lifeguard flags. Coverage from recent years notes that crowds and nightlife have grown, which led local authorities in 2022 to set rules on noise, event days, beach hours and behaviour, stressing that Zipolite is a nudist beach and not a place for sexual activity. The February nudist festival draws large crowds.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Media and reference sources report that the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla accepted nudity at Zipolite in 2016, and in April 2022 the local authorities set rules allowing nudity at Playa del Amor, Shambhala and willing restaurants, banning nudity in the streets and fining sexual activity on the beach 5,000 pesos plus community service. Beach hours were limited to 6:00 to 21:00. We did not open the municipal decision itself, so the record is not marked official.
Naturism at Playa Zipolite sits under Mexico's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: Mexico public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 15.6689, -96.4989
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Is nudity legal at Zipolite?
Nudity is widely accepted and was reportedly approved by the Pochutla municipality in 2016. Local rules from 2022 allow it on Playa del Amor, the Shambhala end and in restaurants that permit it, but not in the streets.
Where is the nude part of the beach?
Playa del Amor, the small cove at the east end, is the main nude area, with the Shambhala (western) end also traditional; nudity is now seen along much of the main beach.
Is it safe to swim?
Take care: the undertow is strong all year. Volunteer lifeguards post flags showing the safest places to swim.
When is the nudist festival?
The Festival Nudista Zipolite has been held annually since 2016, usually around the first weekend of February.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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