Wildlife Tracking in Oaxaca Coast, Mexico
The beaches around Mazunte host one of the most remarkable wildlife events on the Pacific coast of Mexico — the mass nesting of olive ridley sea turtles, known as an arribada, when thousands of turtles come ashore in a single tide to lay their eggs. The season runs July through November, with the most intense nesting events occurring at Palmarito beach in August, September, and October. Walking the beach after dark during an arribada — turtles surfacing from the waves in every direction, digging nests, laying eggs, and returning to the sea — is one of those experiences that makes everything else in travel feel ordinary.
The Mazunte area has built its identity around turtle conservation since the 1990s, when the local community shifted from turtle hunting to protection, and the respect shown to the turtles and their nesting sites is genuine. Guided night tours run from the local cooperative; going independently and disturbing nesting turtles is prohibited and rightly so. November also brings the final hatchling releases at dusk — baby turtles scrambling toward the Pacific while the dry season light fades behind the hills.
Weather & Conditions
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 90° / 75°F | 19 | Peak |
| Aug | 90° / 75°F | 20 | Peak |
| Sep | 89° / 74°F | 21 | Peak |
| Oct | 90° / 74°F | 15 | Peak |
| Nov | 90° / 72°F | 4 | Peak |
| Dec | 88° / 70°F | 2 | Good |
Where to Go
Zicatela surf, restaurants, and the main airport.
Sea turtles, Punta Cometa, and the bohemian coast.
Nine reef bays, snorkeling, and the eastern end of the coast.
Brutalist solar villas, Punta Pájaros
Arched beachfront suites, La Barra de Colotepec
Know Before You Go
The Zicatela break in Puerto Escondido is nicknamed the Mexican Pipeline for a reason. It is a heavy, fast beach break that has broken bones and held down experienced surfers. If you are not an advanced surfer, watch from the sand or head to Carrizalillo or Playa Mermejita. The current does not negotiate.
From May through October, the humidity on the Oaxaca Coast is not a mild inconvenience — it is a physical presence. Temperatures regularly hit 33°C with 85%+ humidity. Plan outdoor activity before 9am or after 4pm. The hotels are designed for it; the jungle hikes are not.
There is no direct coastal road between Puerto Escondido and Mazunte. Every transfer goes inland on Highway 200, then back down. What looks like 45 minutes on a map is often 90 minutes in a colectivo. Arrange private transfers for anything time-sensitive, and confirm road conditions after heavy rain.
Hotels & Lodges for Wildlife Tracking
Hotel Terrestre
A Grupo Habita masterpiece by Alberto Kalach — 14 brutalist, solar-powered villas built from materials sourced within one kilometer of the site, set between the jungle and Punta Pájaros beach west of Puerto Escondido.
Casona Sforza
Eleven adults-only suites housed inside soaring brick vaults designed by Alberto Kalach, sitting directly on the beach at La Barra de Colotepec where the Colotepec river delta meets the Pacific — a Michelin Key property and one of the most architecturally distinctive small hotels in Mexico.