Gay Zipolite: Mexico's Only Official Nude Beach 🇲🇽

Zipolite is living completely in its own rhythm.

This guide is about Mexico's only official nude beach town... a place where gay travelers, lesbians, nudists, and free spirits all coexist on the same 2 kilometers of sand. We spent nearly a month in this remote place after gay city-life in Guadalajara, and what we found wasn't just a holiday. It was something else entirely.

Was it a gay retreat? A place of unapologetic freedom? I've stopped trying to label it. What I know is this: Zipolite is staying with me. Long after the tan faded, the rhythm of this place... the waves, the sunsets, the easy smiles, the slow days, the picture-perfect sunsets... kept playing in my head. c I hope to return before it changes too much. And it will change. Places like this always do. So here's my advice: go now.

In this guide, I'll cover Playa del Amor (the famous gay cove), the best bars and pool parties, where to eat, how to get there (it's tricky), and everything else I learned from living here for a month.

Because Zipolite isn't just another beach destination. It's a social scene. It's Oaxacan culture (yes, the food counts). And above all, it's a kind of freedom most places only pretend to offer.

What Is Zipolite?

Zipolite is a 2-kilometer-long beach on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, about halfway between Puerto Escondido and Huatulco (we tell you how to get there below). The name means "Beach of the Dead" in Zapotec... but don't let that scare you. This place is very much alive.

Most importantly: Zipolite is Mexico's only official nude beach. That's the law. And the vibe? Relaxed, accepting, and wonderfully queer. You'll see everyone here... gay men, lesbians, straight nudists, families... but the gay energy is undeniable.

Often you'll hear Puerto Vallarta and Zipolite being compared as they are both gay Mexican beach towns. However, they are very different elements. While Puerto Vallarta is polished, Zipolite is a more raw, show up to dinner still sandy from the beach, down-to-earth kind of place. Think of Puerto Vallarta as the Mykonos of Mexico, while Zipolite is the lesser-known, but 100x better Anafi.

The Gay Map of Zipolite

Playa del Amor: Everything You Need to Know

Let's start with the main reason you've heard about Zipolite.

Playa del Amor (Love Beach) is a hidden cove at the southern end of Zipolite's main beach. Here's how to find it: walk all the way south along the sand until you reach the end (in other words, go left when you are looking at the water). You'll see a volleyball court and the backdoor entrance of a hotel. Behind it, stairs go up and over the cliff. Follow them down, and you're there.

If you are going around sunset, you'll notice a mass exodus of gay men heading towards that direction, so follow them in case you get lost.

The Setup

• Two beach bars: They play different music. Don't sit in between unless you enjoy bad Dolby surround sound. The furthest bar from the entrance of the beach is the best place for getting ideal sunset views.
• Pricing: You pay more for an umbrella. For a chair, just buy a drink. Or bring your own towel and post up in front of the bars... just watch out for high tide waves.
• The sides: The southern side has another water access point. After sunset, this area becomes more... adult. Let's just say men have a lot of fun there (and it is a nightly ritual)! If cruising is your thing, this is your heaven!
• Nudity encouraged: Again Zipolite is a nude beach by default, Playa del Amor included, but you don't have to be completely nude. However, you may hear the small complaints from long-time Zipolite visitors that Zipolite is becoming less and less nude as time goes on.

The Sunset Show

Every night at sunset, there's a fire show. On Thursdays, when the crowd is bigger, it runs longer. The beach starts emptying out around 8 PM when the bars close.

Who's Here?

Playa del Amor isn't exclusively gay, but it's very queer-friendly. You'll see mostly gay men, some lesbian couples, and straight nudists who usually leave right after sunset.

Gay Venues & Nightlife in Zipolite

Mornings and daytime here are slow by design. We would often go running on the beach in the morning, or hit the gym (Éxtasis is cheap and works fine for a very basic workout; Neuro Gym on the other side of the beach is the more popular option, way better equipped option), and save the energy for later.

The main street fills up at dinner. After that, the crowd disperses to bars and beach hangouts. The daily anchor is the sunset migration to Playa del Amor, and everything else orbits around it.

For daytime cruising, the beach near El Alquimista on the north side of Zipolite runs all day long. We didn't spend much time there ourselves since we weren't staying nearby, but the reputation is consistent.

The afternoon pool parties are the real social hub though. More on those below.

Gay Bars in Zipolite

La Máxima Beach Bar, Show & Hospedaje

La Máxima hosts epic drag shows every night, starting around 10 PM. The stage is right on the sand and the queens are genuinely good. They might just call you over if they spot you walking past on the beach. You'll end up here more than once whether you planned to or not.

Fetiche

Fetiche is hands down our favorite spot in Zipolite. They close by 11 PM at the latest, but they're open during the day too, and what happens in between is worth it: karaoke nights, electronic DJs, good cakes, ballroom events, Sunday markets. Check their Instagram before showing up since they post schedule changes at the last minute.

Chizme Bar

Chizme (meaning "gossip" in Spanish) is open most nights, with Sunday being the best. Usually it wraps up at 11 PM, but if the owner is there and in good spirits it can go on much later. Cocktail-focused, good for actually talking to people, and there's a dark room (loosely defined). One caveat: it's a naked bar (in true Zipolite fashion), so clothes go at the door, but it takes about 30 seconds to stop noticing.

Be careful of their house mezcal 🤣.

Uhuru

Uhuru is Maura's bar and it is unlike any other place you will visit in this world. She used to live in Switzerland and comes back to Zipolite every season to open her laboratory-cum-bar in a cute little beach shack from scratch.

There isn't really a menu, so just tell her what you like and she'll whip something together for you, most likely with a homemade mezcal as a base (we are in Oaxaca for that matter). Her cocktails are natural, healthy, and taste like something a magician made.

She sets her own hours and decides on a whim, though we found her open every night except one. Location is nearby La Maxima: here, but you won't miss it after walking back and forth through the beach a few times.

Chavela del Mar

Chavela del Mar brings in live music and DJs with people dancing on the pedestrian street next to the bar. Fun atmosphere, but doesn't draw much of a gay crowd as we thought it would.

Sebastian De Los Milagros

Sebastian De Los Milagros is one of the lovely LGBTQ+-friendly hotel options, but pretty much every weekend, they also throw banging sunset sets and other parties with fabulous DJs.

Keep an eye on their Instagram for the schedule.

SINnombre

🚨 The DJs are pretty solid and the staff is friendly at SINnombre, but maybe skip it. It's not gay-friendly in practice. We had a bad experience there with homophobia, and so did another couple we met. They don't have the "LGBTQ+ friendly" attribute on Google Maps, and that tracks with what we experienced.

Gay Pool Parties in Zipolite

The afternoon pool parties are where the real daytime social scene happens. Start early and most of these will lead up perfectly to Playa del Amor.

Hotel Men Zipolite

Hotel Men Zipolite hosts pool parties on Friday and Sunday during the daytime. Friday is a naked party. Sunday is a drag brunch with a proper show, and the queens (Muxes, too!) end up in the pool and drag the crowd in with them. This was consistently our favorite.

Casa Nudista

Casa Nudista also has afternoon pool parties, typically on Saturdays and naked by default. Clothes go at the entrance and two beers or a basic cocktail are included in the entry price (other drinks cost extra). Go early as the pool can get quite crowded. Cool vibe, though we had more fun at Men's Hotel.

Gay Shopping in Zipolite

Taller La Joya

Taller La Joya is a shop on the main street near the Palma Negra ice cream spot. They sell a few jockstraps and gay gear. You probably won't need any of it while you're in Zipolite, but it's fun to browse.

Where to Stay

We have a separate guide just for this: Best Zipolite Gay Hotels (coming soon).

Quick orientation:

• North of town: More resorts, some up on the cliffs. Includes El Alquimista and Naked.

• South (from Budamar to the end): Wilder, more "real" part. Lower prices. Closer to Playa del Amor. This is where we stayed the majority of the time (at Sebastian De Los Milagros), but we recommend exploring all areas to see what fits your vibe.

Our Favorite Spot: Villa Aikia

Perched on a hill at the northern edge of Zipolite, Villa Aikia is an adults-only, gay-owned boutique hotel with 18 ocean-view suites, a stunning pool overlooking the sea, and a restaurant serving Italian, Mexican, and seafood.

The vibe is upscale, relaxed, and quietly luxurious. It's a short walk to the beach, but far enough from the main strip to feel like a true escape. If you want privacy, comfort, and a place where you can be completely yourself, this is it.

Where We Like to Eat in Zipolite

We explored a lot of restaurants in Zipolite and these are some of our favorites. Rule of thumb, if you are looking for more budget-friendly cuisine, head south down the beach. And if you are looking for something a bit more upscale and classy, head north.

• Lola: Our favorite! Happy hour with drink deals (Tecate for 25 pesos, yes please!), delicious and generous dishes, very close to Playa del Amor. Even better sunset views here.

• Chiwi's Zipolite: Near La Máxima and Ururu. I might have had one of the best tuna cuts of my life here. Part restaurant, part bar on the beach, part club specializing in more trance music.

• Restaurant El Mare: On the street parallel to the main drag. Half Italian, half Mexican. Lots of pasta (also with fish), lots of wine. Not pricey.

• Tafary's Kitchen: Alien-themed. Best burger in town (Ryan likes the alambres). The owner is from Guadalajara and moved here four years ago. He's super nice and even gave us two little alien souvenirs.

• La Palapas Tacos & Grill: Really good alambres and tacos. Towards the end of the main street. Went back at least 4 times. Cheap too.

• Falafel Shalom: Exactly what it sounds like. You can build your own falafel plate with up to 6 fresh ingredients. They also have really good desserts!

• Pizzeria Fenice: Very decent pizza and atmosphere, like you're in a trattoria. Small but the dough is excellent.

• Teofila's: Good for breakfast or brunch. Really quality service, and beside the Éxtasis hotel and gym, so this was our go-to spot for breakfast.

More Things to Do in Zipolite (If You Need a Break from Boys)

• Hikes & Views: Hike to Playa Limón for ocean views, climb the Zipolite lighthouse, or head to Punta Cometa in Mazunte for sunrise/sunset over the Pacific (a sacred spot).

• Wildlife: Whale watching (December–March), dolphin swims (seasonal), and snorkeling in Puerto Ángel (hire Byron Luna locally). You can book most of these activities from your hotel or with people offering tours on the Northern end of the beach.

• Adrenaline: Surfing (strong waves here; check lifeguard flags. Serious surfers go to Puerto Escondido's Playa Zicatela) or an ultralight flight (12 minutes, ~$500 pesos, views of San Agustinillo and Mazunte). Book near Hotel Nude and Naked Zipolite.

• Mazunte: A 15-minute colectivo ride away. Visit the Turtle Museum (all seven species, $2 USD), see a sea turtle release (March–November), and explore the surf town's chill beaches... Playa Rinconcito is calmer than the main beach.

How to Get to Zipolite

This is the part that confuses everyone. Let me break it down as simply as possible.

By Plane

The closest airport is Huatulco International Airport (HUX) , about 45 kilometers away, but there aren't as many flights going there.

From Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM):

• This is another option and likely the most common, about 60-70 km from Zipolite. You'll need to take a taxi or bus to the center first, then follow the bus/colectivo instructions below.

From Huatulco Airport:

• Taxi direct to Zipolite – Around 800-1,000 pesos (about $50-60 USD). Takes about an hour. Best option if you can afford it.
• Cheaper option – Leave the airport, walk across the street, and negotiate with a taxi there. Some travelers report paying as low as 400-500 pesos.

By Bus + Colectivo (The Budget Way)

This is how we did it. It takes longer but it's cheap and part of the adventure.

Step 1: Take a shared van from Puerto Escondido airport to the center of Puerto Escondido. There is a little room on the right as you walk out of the airport to purchase tickets. This costs around 70 pesos. It's only a few kilometers, but do you want to walk it with all your luggage under the sun? No.

Step 2: From Puerto Escondido to San Antonio

The van will leave you at the Crucero Principal (main crossroads), where you can see the ADO bus terminal or Transportes Delfines station (near Chedraui). From there, go to the bus stop also at the Crucero Principal, in front of Restaurant Donajo. Take a bus or minivan heading to Pochutla or Huatulco. Ask to get off at Crucero de San Antonio... look for the Oxxo store on the corner of the main street, opposite a travel agency and that is where you get out.

• Cost: 68-80 pesos (about $3-4 USD)
• Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Frequency: About once per hour

Step 3: San Antonio to Zipolite by Colectivo

At the Oxxo, you'll find colectivos... shared pickup trucks or vans with a roof rack. Tell them you're going to Zipolite. The van will go through Mazunte and San Agustinillo before reaching Zipolite.

• Cost: 20-30 pesos (about $1-1.50 USD)
• Duration: 20-30 minutes

Step 4: Getting to Your Accommodation

Once you're dropped off in Zipolite, you might need a short taxi ride to reach your specific hotel. The whole town is only 2-3 km long, so this shouldn't cost more than 50-100 pesos ($2-5 USD). You'll see many taxis on the main road, usually available to share with someone.

Total budget cost from Puerto Escondido: Around 130-150 pesos ($7-8 USD) per person.

Via Pochutla (The Long Way)

Pochutla is the regional hub, about 15 km from Zipolite. Even though it's more direct, it actually makes the journey longer. Only do this if you have a specific reason to stop in Pochutla (like catching a direct bus to/from Oaxaca City).

From Pochutla to Zipolite: Take a colectivo from the main street in front of the bus station. Cost: about 12 pesos. There are two routes... one through Puerto Angel (faster) and one through Mazunte (scenic).

Private Transfer

If you're short on time or traveling with luggage, just book a taxi directly from Puerto Escondido Airport or Huatulco Airport to your Zipolite hotel.

• From Puerto Escondido: 1,500-1,800 pesos for up to 4 passengers
• From Huatulco: 800-1,000 pesos

Important Tips:

• Cash is king. Bring small bills. No one takes cards on colectivos or local buses.

• No Uber in Zipolite. Don't even try.

• Download offline maps (or grab an eSIM). Cell service can be spotty along the coast. Grab a Mexico eSIM before you arrive so you're not hunting for SIM cards in Pochutla.

• Pack light. You'll be transferring vehicles, and luggage space in colectivos is tight. Plus, you won't need much anyway, and there is a good laundry service behind Hotel Éxtasis.

• Speak some Spanish. "¿A Zipolite?" and "¿Cuánto cuesta?" will get you far. We used Langua to practice Spanish conversations while lounging in hammocks here... it actually works. For quick real-time exchanges with locals (ordering food, getting directions), translator earbuds are a solid backup too.

FAQ About Zipolite

Conclusion

We want to come back. Hopefully, it won't change too much. Hopefully, it won't become Puerto Vallarta number two. But that will take time.

It's a dream here. People come and go. After a while, you lose energy... but the beach recharges you.

So come. Stay a week or two. Take off your clothes (or don't). Eat the tuna at Chiwi's. Watch the sunset at Lola. Dance at Fetiche. Do whatever you like to do at Playa del Amor. And when you leave, you'll already be planning your return.

See you in Zipolite. 🇲🇽🏳️‍🌈