Looking for a low-key strip of beaches in Mexico with affordable prices and a limited number of tourists?
Oaxaca’s “Costa Chica” is for you.
Located on Mexico’s Southern Pacific coast, Oaxaca is well-known for its rich biodiversity, diverse cultures, and exquisite cuisine.
However, its beaches often go unnoticed behind the massive shadow of Caribbean coastal giants like Tulum and Cancun.
Only 3 hours from Oaxaca City, the Oaxaca coast offers an abundance of resort-free beach towns, community-based ecotourism adventures, and 250 miles of pristine, secluded beaches and coves.
After having made several treks to the coast from my home in the eastern Oaxaca mountains, I’ve gathered 5 secluded beaches that will get you started on your discovery of Mexico’s most peaceful coast.
Here are 5 hidden beaches along the Oaxaca coast:
1. Playa Estacahuite, Puerto Angel
Playa Estacahuite is a favorite among the locals of Puerto Angel. A set of small coves nestled on the eastern edge of the laid-back beach town, Playa Estacahuite is perfect for an afternoon swim.
Unlike many beaches on the Oaxaca coast, the protruding rock structures of the surrounding coves protect the beach from rough waves and dangerous currents.
While at the beach, enjoy seafood at a nearby restaurant, have a drink at the beach bar, or take a surf lesson with a local surfer.
There are also kayak and snorkel tours of the nearby coral reefs and, depending on the time of year, you may be able to spot a whale.
Many different whale species begin to arrive off the Oaxaca coast in December, so mark your calendars!
2. Playa del Amor, Zipolite
Playa de Amor or “Beach of Love” is a beautiful hidden beach with an equally charming local folktale attached to its name.
Legend has it that after two young lovers blessed this beach with their loving presence, every couple thereafter that swam together in its cool blue waters received everlasting love.
So, if you’re traveling in Oaxaca with a partner, Playa de Amor is the best place to keep that spark in your relationship.
To reach the tranquility of Playa de Amor, you first have to walk to the eastern edge of Zipolite Beach, Mexico’s only nudist beach, and find a winding staircase built into the cliffside.
Once you descend into a comfy romantic cove, you can lay back and relax on the white sand, explore the rocky reefs, and take a swim to manifest eternal love.
3. Playa Cometa, Mazunte
Punta Cometa, an Aztec military fort in prehispanic times, is now a community-run ecological enclosure on the “Cerro Sagrado” or Sacred Mountain of Mazunte
This sacred mountain is the most notable and pronounced peak of Mexico’s South Pacific coast. It is a much sought-after site by visitors for its incredible “sun melts into the sea” sunsets.
But most visitors stop at the mountaintop and return to town without walking down the far cliffside to a tucked-away black sand beach.
Take some photos at sunset while seagulls fly overhead in this tranquil, picturesque haven.
4. Playa La Ventanilla, Santa Maria Tonameca
Only 10 minutes from Mazunte, Ventanilla is home to a community ecotourism center, the starting point for guided boat tours of the crocodile-inhabited Ventanilla Lagoon.
After the tour, make sure to stop by Ventanilla Beach where you’ll have the palm-tree lined coastline all to yourself, with the possible exception of some baby sea turtles huffing and puffing it to the ocean
If you’re looking for a solitary, peaceful place to relax, this is the spot for you.
5. Playa de Chacahua, Chacahua
Chacahua is an isolated fishing town, located amongst the mangrove-covered lagoons of a spectacular national park.
Only accessible by boat, Chacahua is definitely off the beaten path. But for those who make the trek, a genuine, preserved slice of Oaxaca’s coastal culture awaits.
If you are up for an adventure, take a 10-minute boat ride from Chacahua to Chacahua La Grua, stop by the crocodile conservatory, and then take a 15-minute stroll to the beach.
Once at the beach, you’re guaranteed a remote, peaceful, and tourist-free stretch of coastline.
Make sure to walk through the “Arco de Piedra” or “Rock Arch” during low tide and explore the beaches below the lighthouse.
But don’t let Chacahua be your last stop, Oaxaca is home to dozens and dozens of hidden beaches with rustic charm and peaceful isolation.
Just the beach and you.
Ben is a freelance writer, yoga teacher, and avid explorer. After having traveled to dozens of countries, including a year-long stay in the West African country of Benin, Ben settled in Eastern Oaxaca with his fiancée.
Together they enjoy hiking, running, and visiting the hidden waterfalls of Oaxaca. They also run a small business called “La Casa Verde” where they give dance, exercise, and yoga classes.
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