Mazunte – Bohème mexicaine

August 19, 2021

Mexico

WEATHER

Mazunte has the savanna climate prevailing. It is hot every month, 28 ° C-30 ° C, ditto for the water temperature, with a dry season (Nov to April) and a wet season (May to Oct). Concretely, the weather was fine during the day with the deluge at night.

TRANSPORTS

Puerto Escondido - San Antonio 1h30 in collectivo for 50 pesos.
San Antonio - Mazunte 20 min for 30 pesos.
I am traveling this time with Niels and Stephanie I met in Puerto Escondido. I sympathize with a German couple just behind me, Lara and Nico. They will do the 2nd collectivo with us and spend their stay with our small group. So nice.

To visit

Mazunte

Mazunte is a village located on the Pacific Rim in the state of Oaxaca. It is famous for sea turtles. Backpackers' paradise, this little hippie village offers inexpensive restaurants, a relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful beaches. What more ?

If you are looking for a little more comfort and tranquility, opt for the village of San Agustinillo. Located a 10-minute walk from Mazunte, this village also offers a wonderful beach with must-do restaurants if you go there. I will tell you about it below in the Bars & Restaurants section.

To do

I could not explain it but I am spellbound. Here there is nothing and there is everything. Time passes quickly and slowly at the same time. I am super relaxed but I am not sleeping. I don't do anything with my days but I'm not bored. The atmosphere has an unspeakable “je ne sais quoi”. This is weird! More Zen, you die. Suffice to say that I went into lemur mode. Every day, I tell myself, maybe I'll leave tomorrow and then the next day, no I'll see tomorrow. Finally, I will stay 2 weeks in this eden cut off from the world. Because it must be known, the internet in this region is a challenge. The connection is very unstable or even non-existent on some days of heavy rain. There you go!

Did you know ?

Mazunte has an interesting history. Before the middle of the 20th century, there was almost no human population. But that changed when a dedicated market for sea turtle meat and eggs developed. In fact, in the 1970s, many of them came to Mazunte to lay their eggs. This town then becomes a center for sea turtle hunting in Mexico, with its own slaughterhouse. Concern over the dwindling number of sea turtles ultimately led to an absolute ban on turtle meat and eggs in Mexico and deprived most of Mazunte's families of their main source of income. To replace it, ecotourism based on the conservation of turtles and natural cosmetics have developed. Phew!

Punta Cometa

At the western end of Playa Mazunte a crescent forms which juts out into the Pacific Ocean and is called Punta Cometa. The strategic location of this hill makes it possible to appreciate incomparable views of the surroundings but above all magnificent sunsets. An hour before sunset you will see people start to climb following a path. The walk is easy, even very pleasant and only lasts 20-30 minutes.

The 1st time, I went there alone. I love to isolate myself for the sunsets. You're kidding ! Installed up there for 10 poor minutes, who do I see show up ? My little group which has grown a little by the way. 😂Well, finally there will be about ten of us watching it together. I love.

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Mermejita: my favorite

Mystical place

I arrive for the 1st time on this beach and the only thing I say to myself is “oh how beautiful”. I came especially for the sunset because from the top of Punta Cometa, I had spotted this place. I wanted another point of view and what I feel here is hard to describe. My heart beats for this place. I already love it. There is something here that loves you, that asks you to stay but above all to come back. Wow! I contemplate this panorama for hours. I take a multitude of photos. In a few minutes, it changes radically. Bluffing!

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I find them magnificent. Not shy, they even let themselves be carried away. Some will think that I am ecstatic about anything, it's true.😃

Housing

- Hostel Casa Del Angel -

3 different rooms in 2 weeks

Only downside: mosquitoes. Despite the humidity, they continuously water the plants. Go find out why! Suddenly, the stagnant water brings even more mosquitoes, already present in Mazunte. I will have an average of twenty bites per day despite the products of all kinds used.

Pour réserver, cliquez ici

Hostel booked on Booking by Niels. With him and Stephanie, we chose to share a room every 3. Price: 900 pesos (36 euros) per night. Yes it's expensive but divided by 3, that changes everything. We will do 3 days together because Stephanie is going back to Germany, her vacation is coming to an end. Niels leaves for Guatemala.

So I migrate to another room which includes a double bed with private bathroom negotiated 600 pesos (24 euros) with Gustavo, the owner. I will only do 3 nights in this one.

I meet in the hostel Sandrine, with whom I get along well. She is in full time training so is not there during the day. As for me, I am there only in the morning. I always come home late, only to sleep. She offers to share her room (which has 2 beds) which she reserved for 9 days at 700 pesos per night. Nickel! I am coming back within my budget.

Overall the hotel is comfortable. By this humid heat, the swimming pool is very appreciable. Everything is well maintained and clean.

Bars & Restos

Here are some addresses on which I had a crush

Maralto

Mexican restaurant that will prepare you unforgettable breakfasts. I tested a good part of their menu, coffee, fruit juice, dishes, everything is extremely excellent and well presented. Even a sandwich is not a simple sandwich. Very good value for money. You come once, I can promise you will come back.

La Palapa Cometa

Bar that looks pretty, with uncomfortable seats, but sublime burgers. Wow ! How they are good. My favorite: the shrimp burger. Octopus lovers will tell you this is the best. At 100 pesos for a burger (4 euros), we expect anything but that. We will have spent evenings skimming their menu of burgers and drinking their inexpensive cocktails.

La Luna Sirena

Homemade fruit juices, veggie bowls, falafels, a vegetarian menu with spicy and tasty dishes. We succumb for this place to the terrace offering a view of the sea.

La Termita

Pizzas like you find in Italy. To die for! In an idyllic setting with your feet in the sand.

Anecdote

In Mexico, there is the Scorpion Mezcal which, as its name suggests, contains a scorpion in the bottle. The poison is diluted in alcohol and would bring strength and youth to the drinker.
This discussion takes place one evening at the table with the friends in a restaurant. In the process, we ask the establishment if they have any because obviously we would like to taste mouahaha. And that's the case; here we go for a tasting. Well it's super good! Clearly, I didn't feel stronger, nor younger for that matter, but surely more drunk.🤣

Encounters

From day 1, we met Eric on the beach. Californian, 29 years old, super sociable, good dancer, funny; he travels most of the time. Resourceful, he sells all kinds of products on Amazon with several brands. His business allows him to travel while earning a living. He almost drowned a few years ago. This day marked a turning point in his life.

Carolina, 30 year old Mexican living in Mexico City. She works for an organism in the environment. His job, which is mainly done behind a computer, allows her to work on the go. Adorable with communicative laughter, she joined the group on the 3rd day. Soon we saw each other every day. The ritual started with breakfast at Maralto's, which has become a staple, our landmark at the start of the day. Suddenly, beach afternoons and restaurant evenings often followed. Over the days, a covid rumor started to circulate that everything was going to shut down. When in doubt, most of them left: a flock of sparrows. The village is depopulated reducing our group to the 3 of us, who have become inseparable. But what we laughed about ! I cried laughing more than once.

To the left, HamzaHamza, super cool 29-year-old Moroccan. He travels around Mexico for his vacation. he soon returns to Paris. It was adopted very quickly. To the right, PimDutch, 25 years old. Measuring 2m, it does not go unnoticed here. Convivial, he will have made us laugh.

Sebastien and Frida, a nice surprising couple. He lives in the United States, she in Mexico. Their romance began a year and a half ago. Despite the distance that separates them for many months, their love resists. So romantic !

Assessment

3 days which turned into 2 weeks during which I met a lot of people. Amazing what I could laugh at. I was no longer taking off. I already know that I will return to Mazunte. I literally hovered. Carolina goes to Huatulco, Eric to San Cristobal and I to Zipolite. One last breakfast before parting. Ciao friends! We will meet again.

Sandrine, que j’ai finalement peu vue jusqu’ici, a fini sa formation à Mazunte et décide de poursuivre sa route avec moi.

Next destination: Zipolite. 15 mins by taxi for 100 pesos (6 euros).