Four gems lost along the Mexican Pacific Coast.

Mexico is a country of contrasts. To the east, the calm of the Carribean Sea is punctured by havoc created by the ever-increasing touristic exploitation of its coast. To the west, the republic is submerged in the Pacific Ocean, whose ferocity at times sounds ironic.

We are referring to a coastline barely invaded by outsiders, one which naturally offers a rare treat for those restless travellers interested in discovering the beaches of this marvellous country, without sacrificing an iota of contact with local folk and the reality which is theirs.

In this post, I will share with you an account of four gems which I discovered one day and will forever treasure:

Maruata: Formed by three bays, has a very special energy. Or, at least, that’s the conclusion reached in 1995 by the environmentalist group “Rainbow” who came to this magical site from all parts of America. Since then, every Easter and Christmas, hordes of Mexican youth gather together under modest palapas for merrymaking and clandestine partying, thereby interrupting for a few days the tranquility which normally reigns and only a passing sea breeze dares to challenge.

Nexpa: Is the second best beach for surfing and the optimal alternative for those seeking to escape the unrelenting ballyhoo of Puerto Escondido. Located in a laid-back village, locals offer visitors the chance to rent wooden huts right on the beach. There’s even an expatriate American living in Nexpa who has been running a joint for years where folks, mostly of the surfer variety, meet up to catch unbelievable sunsets and chat around chelas.

Mazunte: Hands down one of the prettiest places along the Oaxaqueña Coast. I’ll never forget lying down on a hammock one night, under a palapa, while contemplating one of the starriest skies I’ve ever seen. If this isn’t your bag, you can always choose to spend a night in an ecology-friendly cabin. Incidentally, Mazunte is also one of the main locations for sea-turtle spawning in all Mexico.

Zipolite: Paradise on earth for those of you who just enjoy shedding any form of bathing wear whenever you hit a beach. During the 70′s, it was the only nudist beach in the entire country, and was a mecca for hippies from all around the globe. Some of the spirit still endures, although colorful and comfortable cabins are available now for those of you who wish to more than just camp down.

Zipolite Beach. Photo by: ScottHernandez