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With its aquamarine waters set beneath dramatic cliffs, under-the-radar Playa Estacahuite is among the most pristine and swimmable seashores in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Nevertheless it’s way more than a ravishing seashore. It’s a chance to expertise and join with a surprising pure panorama.
Why Go to Playa Estacahuite?
Over the previous 15+ years of spending winters in Oaxaca, we’ve been lucky to have skilled a number of idyllic days at Playa Estacahuite.
Its unpolluted, calm waters and laid-back vibe makes it the type of place you’ll really feel blessed to have entry to.
Though the seashore is a simple day journey from Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, it’s (up to now) been spared the tour bus crowds pouring down the Barranca Larga–Ventanilla Tremendous Freeway connecting Oaxaca Metropolis to the coast.
For now, it’s the perfect place to spend a relaxed day of lounging, diving right into a recent seafood lunch underneath a country seashore palapa and floating in clear, calm water.
In case you’re on the lookout for a clear swimming seashore close to Puerto Ángel, Zipolite or Mazunte, Playa Estacahuite (pronounced “eh-stah-kah-WEE-teh”) is your house to be.
Playa Platino – Platinum Certification for Cleanliness
How pristine is that this seashore? Bahia Estacahuite is one among solely three licensed Playa Platino seashores in Oaxaca!
A Platinum Seaside is a designation given to Mexico’s cleanest seashores by the Mexican Authorities underneath the Playa Platino program of the Mexican Institute for Normalization and Certification.
It acknowledges seashores for his or her magnificence, environmentally sustainable practices, neighborhood involvement, position in selling accountable tourism and cleanliness.
For lovers of the outside like myself, efforts to guard the pure atmosphere are all the time price celebrating.
🌟 Professional Tip: Playa Mermejita (in Mazunte) and La Entrega (a preferred seashore in Huatulco) are the opposite two Playas Platinos seashores in Oaxaca.
Location of Estacahuite Seaside
The journey right here is a part of the journey.
Bahía Estacahuite is positioned off winding Freeway 175, (Carretera Puerto Ángel – San Antonio) on the Pacific Coast of Mexico (Google Map).
It’s a 1-hour drive from Huatulco (50 kilometres from La Crucecita) and 1.5 hours from Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, making it preferrred for a day journey.
Set on a scalloped shoreline outlined by rugged cliffs and sheltered bays stretching between Mazunte and Puerto Ángel, it’s scenic drive although a panorama that’s a mixture of dry tropical forest and luxurious greenery, relying on the season.
You’ll see cacti and succulents set amidst blooming bushes such because the swish Flamboyán, the flaming Tulipán, the yellow Guayacan and pale pink Coquito.
From Freeway 175, the bay itself is accessed through tiny 8 de Octubre road (Google Map) on the japanese fringe of Puerto Angel.
Getting There
By Automotive
Though there are a number of methods to get to Estacahuite, by far the best is by automotive. It’s a bit off the overwhelmed path.
We normally hire a automotive so we will spend the day stopping at fruit stands, looking for physique cream and soaps on the Pure Cosmetics Cooperative, chatting with mezcaleros at palenques and absorbing the surroundings.
For a two-week automotive rental, we usually pay round $200 USD (that features the dear however necessary third get together legal responsibility insurance coverage in Mexico).
We hire our automobiles on Discovercars.com. It’s a web-based automotive rental reserving web site that compares charges from a number of firms to search out the perfect deal.
Examine for the perfect automotive rental charges at Discovercars.com
Public Transportation (Colectivo)
To get right here by public transportation from Puerto Escondido through Pochutla, take one of many blue and white Transportes Delfines mini-buses that run between Puerto Escondido and Pochutla.
Catch one on the terminal in Puerto Escondido (Google Map) or different bus cease alongside the west facet of Freeway 200 in the direction of Pochutla/Huatulco.
The buses run each quarter-hour from 5:00 am to 7:30 pm. The fee ought to be round 50 pesos. Examine for the present worth on the Transportes Delfines Fb Web page or deliver small payments.
Or take the Sur bus to Pochutla.
From Huatulco, catch the bus to Pochutla from the Estrella Blanca Bus Station (Google Map) simply off Blvd Chahue in La Crucecita.
In case you’re coming from Oaxaca Metropolis, Lineas Unidas takes you all the way in which to Pochutla.
As soon as in Pochutla, head to the Lineas Unidas station (Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas Núm. 85, Pochutla) and hop on shared minibus/vehicles that runs alongside the coast stopping at Mazunte, Zipolite and Puerto Angel.
Ask the motive force to cease on the freeway entrance to the village of Estacahuite. From the freeway, it’s a 7 minute stroll down the hill to the seashore.
Taking a Guided Tour to Estacahuite
One other good choice to take a guided Wildlife Eco-Tour from Huatulco to Mazunte.
This 7-hour tour consists of pick-up and drop off at your lodging in Huatulco, an accredited information in addition to transportation in an air-conditioned automobile.
You’ll start the tour in Mazunte, designated a Pueblo Mágico (Magical City) by the Mexican Authorities, resulting from its distinctive traits and appeal.
Among the high issues to do in Mazunte embody looking for artisanal crafts, sampling native specialties like mezcal and exploring La Ventanilla, a nature protect dwelling to birds similar to herons and kingfishers in addition to iguanas and American crocodiles.
In contrast to Bioluminescent Manialtepec Lagoon, there’s no swimming in these waters.
This tour additionally features a cease at Zipolite Seaside (one among Mexico’s few official nude seashores) earlier than passing via the fishing village of Puerto Ángel after which Estacahuite for lunch. The tour wraps up with a return to Bahías de Huatulco.
In case you’re doing the journey independently I like to recommend heading to Playa Estacahuite first and doing all your explorations later within the day. You possibly can simply slot in a fast stops at every of the above in a day journey.
Examine costs and availability of a Guided Tour to Estacahuite on Viator.com.
Taxi from Huatulco
One other solution to get to Estacahuite is to rearrange for a personal taxi to switch you there and again. It consists of pick-up and drop off at your lodging in Huatulco and transportation in an air-conditioned automobile..
Worth varies by provider. Anna’s Journey Huatulco quotes a worth of 2200 MXN pesos as at Dec. 1, 2024.
Parking
Parking is proscribed, so it’s greatest to reach early to safe a spot. Your greatest guess is to park on 8 de Octubre itself. There’s paid parking on the backside of the steep hill close to the seashore palapas, but it surely’s dear.
In case you park on 8 de Octubre, you’ll entry the seashore through a brief path from the highway. It winds down via tropical vegetation, including to the sensation that you simply’ve stumbled upon one thing actually particular.
In case you don’t need to sit instantly on the seashore, you possibly can decide to dine at one of many eating places on the high of the cliff.
The views from the clifftop eating places overlooking the bay are particularly breathtaking—excellent for a meal or a drink whereas taking within the surroundings. On a sizzling day they’re breezier and have a extra in depth menu (extra on that later).
If you wish to swim, you’ll nonetheless be capable to entry a seashore however will likely be utilizing completely different stairs.
Prime Issues to Do
1. Benefit from the Finest Swimming Seaside in Oaxaca
Playa Estacahuite’s calm waters make it preferrred for swimming and non-motorized watersports.
And there are literally three seashore coves to select from.
Center Seaside
The primary seashore you’ll probably see upon arrival is the center seashore.
This centrally positioned stretch of sand has the calmest water however typically the best variety of individuals.
It’s the perfect swimming seashore for households with younger kids or timid swimmers like me.
Left Seaside
The one furthest to your left upon arrival has the perfect snorkeling. There’s truly a channel via the rocks into the water for simple entry.
Nevertheless it additionally appears to obtain essentially the most boat site visitors.
🌟 Insider Tip: There’s a passageway within the rocks between the center seashore and the seashore to the left. Comply with the footpath to simply pop forwards and backwards between the 2.
Proper Seaside
To entry the seashore to the far proper, you descend through the steps beneath the Estacahuite signal or make your means alongside the center seashore to past the rocks.
There’s not many companies on the proper seashore (and no washroom services) so we normally stick with the opposite two seashores.
Though Estacahuite is dwelling to a number of the most swimmable seashores in Oaxaca (not like Zipolite and Mazunte recognized for his or her riptides and robust undertow), by mid-afternoon there will be sturdy waves in any respect three seashores.
There are not any lifeguards and not one of the seashore are flagged. So ensure verify water circumstances earlier than swimming.
We discover the waters are at their most tranquil and uncrowded within the morning.
Nevertheless, the comparatively small measurement of the bay means it’s by no means too crowded, even throughout busier instances of the yr similar to Christmas, Semana Santa and peak season January to March.
So it’s an ideal spot to sit back out and take in the solar away from the crowds.
2. Snorkel Amongst Tropical Fish
For these looking for a bit of extra journey, the encircling waters supply good snorkelling among the many coral reefs and rock formations simply offshore.
You possibly can usually see angelfish, parrotfish, blue damselfish and sergeant majors in addition to olive ridley and different sea turtles.
The wind tends to choose up within the mid afternoon and churn up the sand, so the perfect visibility is mornings.
Convey your personal gear or hire a masks and snorkel (and life vest) from Perla del Mar or one of many different beachside palapas (150 MXN pesos).
3. Go Kayaking alongside the Shoreline
The calm, sheltered waters of this crescent-shaped bay make it preferrred for freshmen and skilled paddlers alike.
Glide over the sapphire waters, taking in views of the rugged cliffs that body the bay and the tropical vegetation that surrounds it.
In case you’re feeling adventurous, paddle across the rocky outcroppings to discover close by coves and get a novel perspective of the shoreline’s dramatic surroundings.
You possibly can hire kayaks (and life vests) for the hour or day on the kiosk between the 2 seashores.
4. Feast on Seafood
Estacahuite is dwelling to a handful of rustic, beachfront palapa-style bars (similar to El Arrecife) that serve up botanas (snacks) and chilly drinks similar to naranjadas, limonadas, jarras de frutas and different typical drinks.
For one thing stronger, there’s the same old widespread Mexican beer similar to Victoria, Corona in addition to cocktails together with margaritas, Micheladas, Cheladas and extra.
At restaurant El Ripio the place we normally hang around, the menu options conventional Oaxacan seafood specialities of ceviches of shrimp, fish, octopus (or blended) ranging in worth from 250-300 MXN pesos.
Don’t miss the possibility to strive the native oysters, that are dearer than these at Playa Agua Blanca additional north alongside the Pacific Coast, however are nonetheless shucked recent when you wait.
In case you’re craving one thing extra substantial, go for filete al ajo (fish in garlic) or camarón empanizado (breaded shrimp).
They’re all paired with a view that’s onerous to beat.
🌟 Professional Tip: Not a seafood fan? Your go-to choices listed below are guacamole or fries. If that doesn’t hit the spot, you may need to deliver your personal snacks or try the breakfast at Las Palmas restaurant.
5. Take a Boat Tour of the Bays
Taking a ship tour is a improbable solution to discover the rugged great thing about this stretch of Oaxaca’s shoreline, with alternatives to see dolphins, dramatic rock formations, and blowholes spraying ocean mist into the air.
Resorts
In case you’re tempted to remain longer (and who wouldn’t need to spend a number of dreamy nights right here?), there are a number of lodging choices close by.
The closest lodge, Casa Bichu, presents boutique luxurious with easy accessibility to Estacahuite seashore, loads of facilities similar to a swimming pool, AC and spectacular views.
For these on the lookout for a extra inexpensive choice, Xeno Hostal presents up to date dormitory rooms in addition to a swimming pool. (Don’t confuse it with the Xeno lodge in Zipolite which is far additional away).
For a style of luxurious at very interesting costs, Casa Roni is a 5-bedroom villa with loads of appeal.
🌟 Professional Tip: There’s not quite a bit to do at evening at Estacahuite itself. However when you’ve got a automotive you possibly can simply go into Puerto Angel or Zipolite for eating and nightlife.
Ideas for Your Go to
- Convey money (pesos in small denominations), as lots of the native eating places don’t settle for bank cards (or the machines occur to be out of order.)
- Pack reef-friendly sunscreen, further water, bathroom paper (there is probably not any) and any seashore gear you’ll want similar to snorkel gear, seashore chairs, umbrella and floats.
- Arrive early to benefit from the calmest waters and safe a parking spot.
- Weekdays are usually quieter in the event you’re on the lookout for a extra chill expertise.
Ultimate Ideas
Estacahuite Seaside is greater than only a useful day journey—it’s a spot the place you possibly can decelerate, join with nature, and luxuriate in probably the greatest seashores on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Whereas its eating places are less complicated than these at different “hidden” seashores in Oaxaca similar to Playa Agua Blanca and Playa Roca Blaca, the water right here is way more swimmable.
Whether or not you’re spending the day floating in Playa Estacahuite’s clear blue waters, having fun with recent seafood underneath a shady palapa, or absorbing the beautiful Pacific Coast views, that is the type of place the place you possibly can actually escape the crowds and unwind.
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