Zipolite

Zipolite is the long beach just east of San Agustinillo, a few minutes from Mazunte, and the most famous of the string of small beach towns on this stretch of coast. It started as a fishing settlement where almost no one lived, until hippies and backpackers found it in the late 1960s and 1970s. It kept much of that spirit: cabins and palapas along the sand, yoga, hammocks and an easygoing crowd from all over the world. It is also Mexico's best-known clothing-optional beach, and nudity is accepted along much of the shore.

The beach runs for about a kilometer and a half of open sand, framed by rocky points at either end. The waves are powerful and the undertow is strong, which is one explanation given for the name, often translated as "beach of the dead." Lifeguards and colored flags mark the dangerous spots, and many visitors come here to sunbathe and watch the surf rather than swim.

Behind the beach, the pedestrian street known as El Adoquín is the center of town, with small restaurants, bars and shops. At the eastern end, Playa del Amor is a small, more sheltered cove, and at the western end the rocks of Punta Shambhala are a favorite place to watch the sun go down.