Home >> Oaxaca >> Ventanilla

Playa Ventanilla

see also Laguna Ventanilla
to the west
Barra de Navidad
Laguna Ventanilla
Puerto Escondido
to the north
Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Tonameca, Oaxaca
to the east
Playa San Agustinillo
Mazunte, Oaxaca
Puerto Angel, Oaxaca
Punta Cometa
 Main Index
Aerial Photos
Hwy 175
Hwy 200
Turtle Museum
Regional Map
Visitors' Comments
About • Home • Search

Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous

Playa Ventanilla is a small remote seaside village. It is located 2 miles west of Mazunte on Hwy 175. There is a sign along the highway indicating where to turn. A dirt road leads from the highway to the town. Camionettas will take you to the road, but you have to walk in. It's about a ten-minute walk (1km). Taxis will drive you in and arrange to pick you up later if necessary.


Playa Ventanilla   More Aerial Photos

Fifteen years ago Playa Ventanilla was nothing more than a coconut plantation with three families living there. After the Hurricane Pauline in 1997, more families moved into the area to build a small close-knit community. In December 1999 the town finally got electricity. For the traveler seeking a tranquil interlude, this peaceful village is as close to paradise as one can get. The never-ending mystical beach leads you to Puerto Escondido. At the beginning of the beach, is a high rocky peak which is the subject of folklore. Playa Ventanilla is a great spot for an adventure or just a day at the beach.

The local cooperative, Servicios Ecoturisticos de La Ventanilla, operates the tours as well as participates in projects to protect the ecosystem and has done for over 15 years. The income from the tours supports these projects. They are based in the circular building to the left as you approach the beach. An alternative cooperative offers 30 minute tours that do not include the mangrove island (museum, rescued animals, tree nursery) or the conservation projects. (2/07)


Playa Ventanilla is 2 miles west of Mazunte.

There are tours of the Laguna Ventanilla 7 days a week for about US$4 per person. The tour lasts approximately an hour and a half and takes you to an island in the lagoon where cold drinks and food are served. You may see crocodillas, birds and other wildlife. Further down the beach is a much bigger lagoon. Locals are willing to guide you there for a small fee. There is also a horseback riding tour of the lagoons. The locals are helping preserve the turtles by collecting eggs and placing them in a protected area until they hatch. Then the hatchlings are released. The turtles were once plentiful before the turtles and their eggs were overharvested. Other wildlife in the area, many of which are protected species, include crocodiles (crocodylus acutus), many green iguanas, a few black iguanas, white tailed deer, pigmy skunk, coatimundi, tropical anteater (Tamandua), raccoon, fresh-water turtles, armadillo, the jaguarundi and the possum.

We decided to hire a taxi [from Zipolite], as the beach and reserve are a 1.5 km walk (or so) from the road [hwy 175] and we wanted to go at dusk, to see the birds coming back in to the mangrove. Colectivos stop at 6 pm and taxis may be hard to come by, so taking a taxi round trip is worth the extra pesos. The taxi was $120 pesos and he waited for us while we did the tour (1.5 hr), then we got to release some baby turtles, which was really cool. so we were there about 2 hrs. Turtles lay eggs in Aug-Oct or so, then 45 days to hatch, so we were able to see the turtles that hatched around 8-9 am, then we got to release them at 5:30 pm. You coax them in to the water and off they go with the surf. You can also arrange 6 am tours - great for bird watching in the AM, but you need to arrange the night before. It's a really low key operation, so no telephones - just go in person. This tour is well worth it and supports the locals, who used to rely on the sale of turtle eggs and meat for their income. Remember to give a big tip. The 40 pesos per person for the tour only pays for the food for the animals in the preserve. All the workers are volunteers, but rely on tips as their income. Oh...and bring a translator. Our guide spoke no English, which wasn't a problem for me, but find a gringo at the bar in Zipolite who speaks Spanish to bring with you.

Carolyn & Donovan
December 2008

Help keep this information current. Email tom@tomzap.com with updates.   Ayúdenme a mantener ésta información al día. Envía tus actualizaciones por e-mail a tom@tomzap.com.


Top of page | Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous |

Hotels • Hoteles


Top of page | Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous |

Restaurants • Restaurantes



Top of page | Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous |

Transportation • Transportación


Top of page | Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous |

Tour Operators, Outfitters • Operadores Turísticos, Proveedores


Top of page | Hotels | Restaurants | Transportation | Tours | Miscellaneous |

Miscellaneous • Misceláneo


| Top of page | Main index | Search | What's new |
The Pacific Coast of Mexico www.tomzap.com Tom Penick:  tom@tomzap.com