Zipolite, Mexico

Getting naked in the queer beach utopia of your dreams

Basking in the sun (Credit: Author)

Zipolite has long been a hidden queer alternative to the uber-gay and commercialized Puerto Vallarta. It has infamously terrible wifi/phone reception, no ride-share apps, and relies heavily on cash. Getting to this gay hippie mecca isn’t easy either, but trust me it’s worth the hassle. Most visitors fly into Huatulco or Puerto Escondido where you can hire a taxi or take a windy bus through the hills. The taxi ride from Huatulco takes an hour while the venture from Puerto Escondido takes around 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. (Pro tip: Before you leave either airport make sure to stock up on cash. Most places in Zipolite only take it and many of the ATMs run out quickly.)

Sunset sets at Delfina Beach (Credit: Delfina Beach Club) Colorful street art (Credit: Author)

Once you arrive in this paradise, you’ll find the country’s only legal nude beach that draws a gay and straight crowd baring it all under the blazing Oaxacan sun. There are numerous clothing-optional hotels and generally any bar on the beach is pretty loose about nudity, but make sure to throw on something when you saunter into town or you’ll get nasty looks from the locals. Just off the beach, you’ll find a promenade with a variety of street-side cafes, lush open-air restaurants, delicious Oaxacan street food, local produce markets, and even art galleries. The queer-owned Casa Mexoni design gallery specializes in beach wear, handmade towels, and hunky sales clerks. In typical beach town fashion, things open late so during the day the village can feel a bit sleepy. Everyone is either soaking up the sun on the beach, recovering from last night’s debauchery, or escaping the heat in the shade.

Neon-lit tree branches illuminate the sky. DJ-ing at Playa del Amor. (Credit: Author)

All of Zipolite Beach is full of naked queers, often embracing under the sun, but there are a few key places where the gays congregate. In front of the El Alquimista Hotel you can rent day beds and order libations. The vibe is relaxed, but with lots of peacocking. A stone’s throw away there is a more secluded gay beach on the other side of the rocks in front of the Shambala Hotel. There aren’t many amenities, but it’s often cruisey during dusk. In the other direction, is Zipolite’s infamous Playa Del Amor. At the far Southern end of the beach follow a narrow staircase that leads up and over to a small cove full of naked queers frolicking in the sun. There is a quaint palapa that serves delicious Mexcalritas while impromptu DJs spin throughout the day. The evening brings an epic sunset and the transition of the beach into a rabid cruising ground. After the sunset meat market, the beach dwindles and the fun moves to the main beach where the music begins to thump until sunrise.

A rainbow stairway mural and the view from the hammocks at Hotel Punta del Sol (Credit: Author)

Not far away, the sleepy village comes to life with a night market at center stage filled with locally made wares. Expect regional clothing, handmade jewelry, folk art, and delicious street food. Don’t forget to try Oaxaca’s most well-known snack, Tayluda. It’s essentially a Mexican pizza smothered in a black bean sauce, tons of veggies, and the logical end of any night out. On the beach, naked fire performers dance under the stars while beach clubs blast electronic music from some of the best DJs from around the world. If you’re imagining Berlin on the beach, you’re starting to get the right idea.

Sunset at Delfina Beach Club (Credit: Delfina Beach Club) Dancing to dawn at Domingo Disco (Credit: Domingo Disco)