Nature reserve 2 km west of Mazunte
A community-run mangrove lagoon where local guides row you past crocodiles, iguanas and herons.
La Ventanilla is a small community a couple of kilometers west of Mazunte, in the municipality of Santa María Tonameca, where a river meets the sea and spreads into a lagoon lined with mangroves. In the 1990s, families here formed a cooperative to protect the lagoon instead of clearing it, and it has run as an ecotourism project ever since, recognized by Mexico's environmental authorities as a wildlife management unit.
The main reason to come is the boat trip. Guides from the cooperative row wooden boats through the channels, explaining the mangroves and pointing out American crocodiles sunning on the banks, along with iguanas and many kinds of herons, egrets and other birds. The crocodiles live in the lagoon freely; the guides keep a respectful distance.
The cooperative also keeps an area with deer and other animals that are being cared for, and in season it takes part in sea turtle protection on the beach, where visitors can sometimes join a hatchling release. The beach itself, a long, open stretch with strong surf, is said to take its name from a rock with an opening in it, the "little window" of La Ventanilla.
What to see and do
Take the rowed boat tour through the mangrove channels with a cooperative guide.
Look for crocodiles, iguanas and wading birds along the banks; early morning is best for birds.
Visit the area where the cooperative cares for deer and other animals.
Ask about joining a turtle hatchling release on the beach in season.
Getting there
La Ventanilla is about 5 minutes west of Mazunte by car or taxi: take the coastal road toward the highway and follow the signed turnoff to the sea. Colectivos heading from Mazunte toward Highway 200 can drop you at the turnoff, then it is a walk of roughly a kilometer and a half to the lagoon. Tours from Huatulco and Puerto Escondido often stop here too.
2 km west of Mazunte
Directions from Mazunte on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in La Ventanilla
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Weather warm
La Ventanilla shares the climate of Mazunte, 2 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Mazunte your base
La Ventanilla is an easy trip from Mazunte, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Mazunte
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San Agustinillo
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Mazunte's next-door village: a short strip of beach with gentle waves for bodyboarding and relaxed seafood restaurants. -
Zipolite
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A long, wild surf beach with a 1970s backpacker spirit, Mexico's best-known clothing-optional beach and big sunsets. -
Puerto Ángel
· Town · 7 km away
A small fishing port on a sheltered bay, with calm swimming beaches and boat trips to snorkel the coves nearby. -
Playa Estacahuite
· Beach · 8 km away
Tiny coves just past Puerto Ángel with clear, calm water, good for snorkeling over rocks and coral. -
Bahías de Huatulco
· Nature reserve · 39 km away
A national park of quiet bays, coral and dry tropical forest, toured by boat from the marina at Santa Cruz.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.