Zipolite is only inviting if you have zero modesty. Zipolite has a population of only 1,600 people and is the only nudist beach in all of Mexico. You will not see children playing in the waves or collecting shells, this is purely an adult playground. The west end is where all the action takes place. All the inexpensive hotels are here and many have bars and restaurants within them that really fire up at night. In the daytime all people really do is swim and sunbathe naked. The swimming part can be a little dangerous as the current is very strong in these parts. The swimming here is a bit precarious so if you prefer a safer and calmer beach you should probably head to the nearest beach of Mazunte.
You should be especially cautious because Zipolite has what some may call riptides. Riptides are when waves crash in two different directions which creates suction and could drag a swimmer way out into a dangerous part of the sea. These waves are scary and very narrow. If you feel or see someone being pulled you are not supposed to panic but try swimming sideways instead of for the shore until you feel the suction loosen. Zipolite has had several drowning’s so this place is nothing to mess around with. If you do not know the skills for swimming in a rip tide it is not recommended to swim here. You should pay close attention to the colors of the flags that you will notice waving on the beach which dictate the currents conditions. If you see a red flag or an orange flag you should stay away from the water.
Zipolite is located a couple miles to the east of Puerto Angel. If you wish to drive to Zipolite you can do so relatively easy by driving a car hopefully with four wheel drives as the main drag is dirt with no paving at all. The road is quite bumpy and can make for a fun off rode adventure. You can also choose to get to Zipolite by colectivo taxis which will charge around 11 pesos; camionetas charge 6 pesos and special taxis charge 32 pesos. If you would like to go to Pochutla you can take a taxi from Zipolite for around 18 pesos. If you are traveling in the evening it is recommended that you take a taxi privado which will take 30 minutes and cost 110 pesos, but it is much safer.
The area of Zipolite is only about a mile in length and the town is made up of just a few roads behind the beach. You will find the hotels and food to be on the western portion of the town and this area is called Roca Blanca. Roca Blanca actually has a paved road that is called Paisan and it runs the same direction as the other big road that runs from west to east. These roads connect by a little road made of dirt that is also on the western portion of the beach where you will find one more paved road.
If you are looking to find a bank that cashes traveler’s checks, and exchanges currency you will not find one in Zipolite. So you should know that Zipolite will accept US currency here for payments. You will find that a couple of the larger hotels do accept traveler’s checks as payment. If you need the police for any reason while you are here you will find them located in the center but rarely are there any staff on duty. If you have a police problem that needs immediate assistance you would be wise to head to Puerto Angel where they have a more reliable and well-staffed police station. If you have a medical emergency and need a general hospital the closest one you will find is between Pochutla and Puerto Angel. If you need access to the internet while you are here you will be happy to know they have an internet cafe called Danydoquin which is located on Paisan at the paved portion of the road. They will charge you 14 pesos per hour of service. They are open every day from 10am-9pm. If you need to wash your dirty clothes while you are here you can do so at the Navidad Lavanderia which is located on Paisan and you will see it is across the street from the Posada Esmeralda. If you would like they will wash your clothes and have them ready for you the very next day and they will charge 13 pesos per kilo of soiled laundry. They are open every day from 8am-6pm.









