Playa Zipolite

We stopped and got some groceries, and then some propane. We try and refill our propane tank when it gets down to about ¼ full. It’s a large tank and from full to ¼ full seems to last us about a month. That’s pretty good with the fridge running constantly on propane, and all the cooking we do.

Usually when we fill the propane, it costs anywhere between $32 and $50 depending on just how empty it is, and the price we’re paying for the gas. For some reason propane prices tend to fluctuate wildly depending on where you buy it. Here in Mexico, it’s pretty cheap, but this place was really cheap. It was only 5.16 pesos per litre ($0.43 per litre, or $1.63 per gallon) The last time we bought some in the U.S. it was $3.18 a gallon! And the cheapest we have ever paid in Canada was $0.83 per litre. So this was really cheap, our bill was 223 pesos ($18.58).

We will spend the next four or five weeks wandering our way back up the Pacific coast. Today, we headed for Playa Zipolite, about 50 kms (30 miles) back towards Puerto Escondido. There are two different ways to get to Zipolite, and neither of them are good for an RV. But we’ve been here before, and so we knew what we were in for. We decided on the longer way in, which does not have as many steep sections. But the downside is that there is one town that you have to go through on a very tight two lane road…with one lane mostly blocked by parked cars! So you have to weave your way through, constantly negotiating with drivers coming the opposite way to see who gets to pass and where. Not fun! We had to pass one truck where we came within an inch of scraping sides with him. When we leave here, we will leave at 5:30 in the morning!

Playa Zipolite is Mexico’s only “official” nude beach. It’s a very different place where pretty much anything goes…kind of stuck in the 60’s with lots of hippy type people, and hostels and little beach cabins for rent. Ruth describes it as very eclectic. Many people do keep a swimsuit on (so we are not out of place wearing ours!), but there is a lot more topless than you would see anywhere else, and certainly some who are naked. You get all types here.

And, the beach is beautiful with huge waves crashing in. So there are surfers to watch, and last time we were here we saw quite a few whales passing by.

We are parked at a little beachfront spot that has a small restaurant and tent camping area. We also have use of the showers and beachfront palapa’s for shade during the day. We take up most of their parking lot, but the owners don’t seem to mind and are happy to take our 100 pesos ($8.33) per day.

There are two actual “RV Parks” in Zipolite, despite the fact that they are not easy to get to. Maybe I’ll go for a bike ride tomorrow morning and see if there’s anybody in them.

You'll notice we have internet! Even Playa Zipolite, in the middle of nowhere, has a cell tower now. Plus, we're getting an unsecured wi-fi signal from somewhere, so we're happy to be online!