Travels along the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico - in photos

Mazunte

01.05.2012

Our trip to the coast of Oaxaca was the perfect antidote to our normal everyday life in Mexico City. It felt like we'd travelled to another planet, far from the stress of our Massive Urban Colony, also known as DF, an ideal place to disconnect for a while, charge our batteries and live the simple life close to nature.

Part 1 - In search of Mazunte

As we drove down the coast, we passed lots of palm trees. Elsewhere it was very dry, this area being famous for its dry rainforest. During the months when no rain falls, the trees lose their leaves.

The roads were blissfully "empty" after the traffic jams of DF, and mainly populated by this type of public transport, small trucks where people sit inside or cling to the back.

This part of the country is quite poor and undeveloped.

Along the way, we passed lots of small wayside stalls selling lots of fresh fruit...

.. or coconuts

A colourful fruit stall in Puerto Angel

Our first stop was at San Agustinillo for a bite to eat in lovely cool "restaurant" overlooking the beach.

The pace of life is much slower here but we didn't mind, with a view like this to entertain us!

The family which served us some egg dishes and Coke

Beautiful uncrowded beaches

San Agustinillo is a small fishing village, just starting to become known by the alternative tourist industry.

Looking down the main street.

Don't know how safe it is to ride in these pick-ups... the words on the front windscreen say "No-one knows when I'll return"!

We drove up the coast till we came to Mazunte...

Our ecological bungalows, El Copal, right on Mermejita Beach

There are only four bungalows. This was ours, up on the side of the hill.

Looking towards our bungalow from the outdoor sink and shower area.

Guess who got to sleep here... by myself?!

Looking out towards the small balcony with hammock

Cristina and Marc slept upstairs under the palm roof

The amazing view from the restaurant and communal area

Marc soon found the hammock!

Down to Mermejita Beach

Looks like we're the only ones here!

The impressive surf... well, I guess this is the Pacific Ocean!

Back to our open-air shower...

... and sink

We decided to check out Mazunte...

This is the main road where many of the eating places and a few shops are

Like most Mexican towns and villages, Mazunte has a freshly-painted church.

Small lanes lined by shady palm trees

A sign down by the "hippies" beach

The beachfront...

This beach has a few more people!

A boat on the beach, waiting to take tourists for an excursion

Children playing on the beach

A vendor walks up the beach selling his wares. People were selling anything from food, bags, homemade clothes, drinks, trinkets...

At least her wares keep her cool!

Cristina and Marc facing the enormous Pacific breakers

Taking the full force

A pelican on the look-out for his supper

Now I wonder what they're looking for?

Boats like this one take people to see the dolphins and turtles, or to go fishing.

As there are no jetties or piers, when a boat returns from a trip, a man on the beach clears the area, and then the boat heads for the beach full speed and ploughs into the sand as high as possible!