Mexico
Mazunte
A former turtle-slaughter village turned eco-sanctuary where hatchlings scramble toward moonlit surf.
The turtles come at night. Olive ridleys crawl up the same beach where, a generation ago, their predecessors were slaughtered by the thousands for their shells. The village that once killed them now protects them — and the hatchlings scrambling toward moonlit surf are the living proof of what happens when a community changes its mind.
Mazunte was a turtle-processing village until the Mexican government banned turtle hunting in 1990, forcing the community to reinvent itself. The transformation has been one of Mexico's most compelling conservation stories: the former slaughterhouse is now the Mexican Centre for Sea Turtle Conservation, releasing olive ridley hatchlings seasonally. The village has attracted an eclectic community of yoga practitioners, surfers, and back-to-basics travellers who appreciate the unpaved roads, the absence of chain hotels, and the commitment to sustainability. Punta Cometa, the southernmost point on the Oaxacan coast, offers sunset views from a cliff sacred to the Zapotecs. The Pacific surf is powerful but the neighbouring San Agustinillo beach provides calmer swimming. Accommodation ranges from beachfront cabañas to clifftop eco-lodges, all small-scale and locally owned.
Solo
The yoga scene, the sunset cliff walks, and the turtle releases — Mazunte attracts solo travellers seeking meaning alongside beauty.
Couple
Cliff-edge sunsets at Punta Cometa, candlelit beachfront dinners, and the emotional weight of watching hatchlings reach the sea — Mazunte is quiet romance with purpose.
Friends
The surf, the beachfront mezcal bars, and the turtle conservation centre create a group experience that balances adventure with something more meaningful.
- The village's economy once depended on turtle slaughter — the switch to conservation saved both turtles and livelihoods.
- Punta Cometa is the southernmost point on the Oaxacan coast, with sunset views across the Pacific.
- The Mexican Centre for Sea Turtle Conservation operates here, releasing hatchlings seasonally.
Wood-fired pizza and mezcal cocktails at cliff-edge restaurants overlooking Punta Cometa.
Caldo de piedra — stone soup where river rocks are dropped into a gourd to boil the broth — from Zapotec cooks.
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