Isla Chacahua is by far one of Mexico’s best kept secrets and you don’t need to go far to discover paradise. Other travelers would avidly tell that I needed to stop into this National Park. However, I couldn’t find a lot of information in English about the little village. There were around seven different travelers that informed me about the sparkling emerald waters of the Lagoon, or the pristine white sandy beaches with legendary surf. Isla Chicahua is located north of Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
I hope that anyone reading this can keep a secret, as this place was absolute paradise for an extremely reasonable price. It is off the beaten path with breathtaking views of the National Park. The sunsets here highlight the Oaxacan mountains that loom over a National Park that encompasses roughly 132,000 square kilometers (or 80,778 miles).
Roughly 30 of the 132,000 kilometers (or 18.64 miles) is taken up by various lagoons, such as Laguna Chacahua. Needless to say, this Park is vast. It includes three species of turtles that visit to lay their eggs with more than 10 types of vegetation, 246 species of flowers, and 189 species of animals that make this preserve their home.
The village of Chacahua is quite small, in fact, the estimated population is around 2,000 inhabitants. You’d be surprised by the number of places that I saw labelled as restaurants. Unfortunately, many were closed due to Covid. My options were significantly limited, however, every place I ate at was fantastic.
All restaurants are not created equal, as some were definitely better than others. In my 6 days here, I tried as many as I could. I’d say my favorite was El Puente with thanks to their reliable Wi-Fi and scope of their delicious breakfasts.
Chacahua’s Legendary Surf:
My daily routine was centered around taking a swim in the ocean, then hanging out while reading in a nearby hammock. Every day, I’d see surfers line the horizon as they caught the largest waves the surf has to offer. These waves can reach as high as 20 to 25 feet during the high tide.
After watching and being asked around 10 times in two days if I was going to try to surf, I finally gave in. I rented a surfboard for only 100 pesos (or $5) for one hour. It was time to give those legendary waves a try. My buddy from Uruguay helped me pick out a board. He also showed me the right stretches to get started.
My friend was kind enough to teach me how to paddle out. He was even able to give me a crash course on how to navigate the board through the waves. However, I didn’t have the stamina to stand after I’d paddled out. Every muscle in my upper body cried for relief and moaned in agony as I tried to catch several waves.
Unfortunately, all I could do was hold onto my board for dear life while being thrown around by the crashing waves. After five or six blows I knew I’d had enough. I’ll enjoy watching those that can surf, but it’s just not for me. I need snow if I’m going to function on a board!
Located on a nearby hilltop, is a picturesque red and white lighthouse. To get there, we needed to hire a local boat. The cost of which was only 20 MXN (or $1) one way per person. The hike itself is easy to find, although the signage is daunting and can be extremely deterring.
Everything at the base of the hike says “Secrataria de Marina: Prohibido El Paso” and “Please Do Not Trespass.” However, after a quick reference with the locals, it is the only way to the lighthouse and is relatively safe. The locals we spoke with proclaimed that “no person will come to ticket or bother anyone up there.” In fact, each person we spoke with highly recommended that we catch the sunset from there and boy did it not disappoint. It was easily another top 10 sunset that I’ve been lucky to see.
I don’t even know where to begin with the description. The colors were vibrant and spectacular with multiple shades of purples, reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks with the sky painted different shades of blues in the background. The Sunset reflected off the waters from both the ocean and the lagoons.
As the sun tucked behind the horizon the oranges and reds burned ever brighter while shades of purple stretched into the distance reflecting off the lagoons below. Mountains on one side and ocean on the other. A view that I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen before.
I had originally planned to be here for four nights but that quickly extended to six. The mornings are relaxing and quiet. These tranquil mornings feature an ocean front sunrise off of Mexico’s west coast. It’s one of the few places in the world one is able to see a sunrise on the western pacific coast as the sun rises over the ocean.
It is also one of the many reasons that the Oaxaca state is so special. After spending a week relaxing in paradise, I was ready to get moving south. I felt nothing but excitement for the journey ahead. I had found a new sense of serenity and recouped my energy for my journey ahead. I will definitely be back, but for now it’s time to go. My next stop will be the small towns of Mazunte and Zipolite. Both are just south of Puerto Escondido, also on the southern Oaxacan coast!
