Coast guide
Nature and Wildlife
The Oaxaca coast has sea turtles year-round, humpback whales from December to March, dolphins at sea all year and bioluminescence in the lagoons. To enjoy it properly, book only authorized guides, never use flash or white light around turtles, and do not touch any animal.
Turtles in Mazunte: Hatchling releases happen year-round, in the afternoon before sunset.
Humpback whales: The 2025-26 season ran from December 15 to March 31 (Puerto Ángel and Mazunte) and to March 21 (Puerto Escondido and Huatulco); the best months are January and February.
Dolphins: They can be seen at sea all year, on boat rides and whale-watching tours.
Glowing water: Bioluminescence at Manialtepec is best on moonless nights; exact dates vary between sources.
Authorized guides only: For whales, turtles and crocodiles, choose operators or cooperatives with accredited guides.
Pacific hurricane season: May 15 to November 30. Tours are suspended during an alert; check the SMN (National Weather Service) bulletin before heading out.
There are strong rip currents on open beaches such as Zipolite, Playa Mermejita and Puerto Escondido. Use calm beaches for snorkeling and respect flags and lifeguards.
Crocodiles are wild. Never swim outside the spots your guide uses.
Standard whale tours do not admit pregnant women, people over 130 kg or those with neck or back problems (according to one operator).
All prices are operator references and change. Confirm before booking.
Sea turtles
Four species nest in Oaxaca, all of them endangered under Mexican law.
[Entire coast] · The four species · The olive ridley is the most abundant and the one you see at releases. The leatherback is the largest (up to 2.3 m and over 600 kg) and usually nests from October to March, though there are records outside that season. The black turtle nests around Huatulco. The hawksbill nests sporadically and there is no tourism around it. · There is no recent source with dates or viewing sites for the black turtle.
[Mazunte] · Hatchling release in Mazunte · Releases happen all year, in the afternoon before sunset, with talks and red-light flashlights; the busiest season is July to December. The Mexican Turtle Center is open Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:30 and Sunday 10:00 to 14:30; closed Monday and Tuesday. · Museum admission: 50 MXN; students 25 MXN; free for under-12s and over-60s; Phone: +52 958 100 2827 · Museum hours are not release times: ask by WhatsApp whether there is a release on the day you go.
[Mazunte] · Release at La Ventanilla · Hatchlings are "integrated into the sea" around 18:00, and there is night monitoring. · Sunset: from 210 MXN per person, around 18:00; Night monitoring: from 800 MXN per person
[Puerto Escondido] · Palmarito Camp · It's on Playa Delfines, near Puerto Escondido. The release runs 17:00 to 19:00 and includes a talk, the hatchery and the sunset. It also offers a night turtle-rescue walk (20:00 to 23:00, groups of 4 to 6), snorkeling and mangrove paddling. Guides accredited by the Tourism Ministry. · Release: 200 MXN per person (contribution to the camp); Night walk: 400 MXN; Phone: (+52 1) 958 104 4707
[Puerto Escondido] · Vive Mar Camp, Bacocho · It releases hatchlings daily around 17:00, about 4 km from the main bay. We could not find a published price. Puerto Escondido's seasons differ between sources: check with the camp.
[Mazunte] · Arribadas at La Escobilla · It is the world's largest olive ridley sanctuary, at km 181 of the Puerto Escondido–Pochutla highway. An arribada is the arrival of thousands of females over a few days. The 2026-27 season began with an arribada on May 13 to 17, 2026 (11,290 turtles); the last big one was September 12 to 18, 2025 (about 270,000). The largest are from September to November and are not announced: they depend on the moon and the sea. Visits only with authorized community guides, in groups of up to 10 and without flash. · Reservations: Centro Ecoturístico Escobilla, WhatsApp 55 1133 6942 (to be verified) · We found no published rate. Ask CONANP or the Center before offering this activity.
Morro Ayuta · A sanctuary decreed in January 2024, in the Isthmus, with arribadas from June to February. This is background information: we found no organized tourist visits.
[La Escobilla and Morro Ayuta] · How to see an arribada without harm · Dates change every year and are announced with little notice: ask an authorized guide. CONANP asks that they be seen only with authorized guides and providers, and Profepa patrols the beach day and night. · Never buy eggs or accept "releases" outside an authorized camp.
How to take part respectfully
A well-run release is a conservation action, not a show.
What to do · Book only camps or cooperatives with accredited guides. Listen to the briefing beforehand. Let the hatchling walk on its own across the wet sand to the sea. Bring biodegradable sunscreen, insect repellent and comfortable shoes. Report nests or stranded turtles to the authorities.
What not to do · Do not use flash or white light: at night only the guide uses red light. Do not touch adult turtles or pick up hatchlings unless instructed. Do not approach nesting females (one report mentions 10 m at Escobilla). Do not bring pets or leave trash. Do not buy eggs or hawksbill products. Be wary of anyone offering to "let you release your own hatchling" without a talk or guide.
Humpback whales
They migrate from Alaska to the warm waters of the Mexican Pacific to mate and raise their calves.
[Entire coast] · Official season · In 2025-26 SEMARNAT set the season from December 15 to March 31 in Puerto Ángel and Mazunte, and to March 21 in Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. January and February are best; December and March are less certain. The 2026-27 dates are published in the fall: until then, use December 15 as a reference and confirm with your operator.
Viewing rules · NOM-131-SEMARNAT requires authorized operators with a visible badge and a trained guide. The minimum distance is 60 m (boats under 10 m) or 80 m (larger); at most 4 boats per group and 30 minutes. Near whales, boats go under 9 km/h and approach diagonally from behind. Chasing them, separating mother and calf, swimming with or touching them, and using kayaks, jet skis or drones nearby are all prohibited. · A tour offering to "swim with whales" is outside the regulation.
[Mazunte] · From Mazunte and Puerto Ángel · The press reports 17 authorized boat operators. The Mazunte portal lists boat trips from December to March from Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Puerto Ángel, with local cooperatives and certified guides. · Ask for the current Semarnat authorization before booking.
[Huatulco] · From Huatulco · One operator offers 2.5-hour tours leaving between 8:00 and 9:00, with marine biologists and zero plastic. The official season in Huatulco starts December 15, though some operators advertise trips from December 1. Other operators charge 400 to 1,000 MXN. · Océanico: ask for the current price by WhatsApp; Park fee: 125 MXN; Mexican nationals with ID, about 65 MXN, in cash
[Puerto Escondido] · From Puerto Escondido · A 3-hour tour departing at 7:00, maximum 10 passengers. The peak is in January and February. Operators recommend taking a seasickness pill. · Price: from 895 MXN per person; pickup 7:00, departs 7:30 from Bahía Principal, 3 h, up to 10 people, transport included · The "over 90%" sighting success rate is the seller's own claim.
Dolphins, rays and other sea animals
[Entire coast] · Dolphins · They are seen at sea all year, on whale-watching tours and snorkeling trips. A Huatulco operator reports spotted, spinner and bottlenose dolphins on more than 95% of its trips (the operator's own figure). Do not chase or feed the animals.
Manta rays and sailfish · Boat trips from December to March out of Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Puerto Ángel mention manta rays. A Huatulco operator mentions mobula rays. We found no fixed season for mantas and no recent source for sailfish. · Present them as occasional sightings.
Bioluminescence
The blue light is produced by microorganisms that glow when the water is disturbed.
[Puerto Escondido] · Manialtepec Lagoon · It's about 16 km from Puerto Escondido. The season runs May to November, best from July to September, on new-moon or moonless nights. The tour includes about 1 hour in the water, with the option to watch from the boat. Bring a swimsuit, towel, water shoes, repellent and cash. · Price: from 950 MXN per person, 2 to 3 hours; Departure: around 18:30 · The lagoon has American crocodiles. Swim only at the spot your guide uses.
[Chacahua] · Chacahua · "Safari + Bioluminescence" is offered. Operators say the best time is November to February, at new moon. Prices vary by format. · Boat for 10: 4,500 MXN; 10-hour combo: 2,000 MXN per person, minimum 4 · This differs from Manialtepec and the reason was not verified. Confirm with the operator.
[Manialtepec and Chacahua] · How to see the glow best · Pick a new-moon or moonless night, ideally July to September. No flash or white flashlights. No night is guaranteed: it depends on the plankton.
Crocodiles, mangroves and birds
[Mazunte] · La Ventanilla · The community cooperative has worked since 1996 and protects more than 300 river crocodiles. The boat tour lasts about 2 hours and leaves every 20 minutes, 8:00 to 16:00; under-4s ride free and boats carry life jackets. Book 24 h ahead in December-January and July-August; in heavy rain it's rescheduled at no cost. There are about 170 bird species and a crocodile and white-tailed deer conservation unit. · Mangrove: from 210 MXN per person; private 2,500 MXN for up to 7; Birds at 6:00: from 1,000 MXN; Night tour: 3,000 MXN for 1 or 2 people; 4,500 MXN for 3 or 4; WhatsApp: +52 958 106 0891 · These are wild crocodiles: do not put your hands in the water or swim; follow your guide.
[Puerto Escondido] · Birds at Manialtepec and Chacahua · Manialtepec has more than 200 species, such as roseate spoonbill, tricolored heron, anhinga and kingfisher. The best time is October to March, between 6:00 and 8:30. At Chacahua there is a 3-hour birding tour with breakfast. · Chacahua: 900 MXN per person, minimum 2
[Chacahua] · Chacahua by dugout canoe · Crocodile monitoring by dugout canoe is offered by day (7:00 to 9:00) or at night (20:00 to 21:00). · By day: 800 MXN per person; At night: 500 MXN, minimum 2
[Huatulco] · Huatulco National Park · It protects tropical dry forest, coral reefs, mangroves and flooded forests across about 11,890 ha, 46% of which is marine. It has been managed by CONANP since 2000.
Snorkeling
Choose calm bays and go in the morning, when visibility is better.
[Puerto Ángel] · Estacahuite and La Boquilla · Estacahuite is a narrow bay with small reefs, sheltered from currents. You can see angelfish, parrotfish and sometimes turtles. Visibility is better in the morning. La Boquilla and Playa La Mina are warm-water coves. · Do not snorkel at Zipolite: the rip currents are very dangerous.
[Huatulco] · Huatulco · The park has 10 coral species and about 150 fish species. La Entrega is the most popular, with calm water: full gear (mask, snorkel and fins) 250 MXN in cash, a single piece 100 MXN, life jackets free. El Órgano has coral and over 15 m visibility in the dry season. Cacaluta has more swell and is best with a guide. Chachacual and La India are reachable only by water. · Keep 1 m away from corals, use biodegradable sunscreen and do not feed the fish.