How trips from Zipolite differ
Most trips here are run by local cooperatives or small operators, and each sets its own rates and rules. A price from one group does not carry over to another. Turtles, whales and the glow of a lagoon depend on nature, so no offer can promise them for your date. Weather and safety can also cancel or move a trip.
The examples below are single published offers, not a market range. They show what one product costs, not what you will pay on your day. Prices are in Mexican pesos (MXN), as listed in October 2026. Cash is often the only payment method.
Tour examples compared
Adult prices as listed in 2026. Each row is one provider's product.
| Trip | Length or time | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove boat tour | 1 hour 20 minutes, 9:00 to 17:00 | Ventanilla | MXN 200 per person |
| Private mangrove boat | Same hours, up to 5 people | Ventanilla | MXN 2,500 per boat |
| Turtle offer | Starts at 18:00 | Ventanilla | MXN 200 per person |
| Bird watching | 2.5 hours, starts at 6:30 | Ventanilla | MXN 2,500 for up to 3 people, then MXN 700 each |
| Guided turtle activities (hatchlings, nesting, lagoon) | Up to 60 minutes on the beach, 45 on an arribada | Escobilla | MXN 200 per person |
| Night monitoring | – | Escobilla | MXN 250 per person |
| Bioluminescence trip | Evening | Manialtepec | – |
| Whale watching | Season only | Puerto Ángel to Mazunte | – |
| Boat trip and snorkeling | Park open 7:00 to 19:00 | Huatulco | Tour price plus MXN 125 park fee |
The Ventanilla rows come from a listing portal that marks them as 2026 rates for one group. The Escobilla prices come from the ecotourism center itself, with no tariff year given. Confirm each rate with the provider.
Our picks: tours compared
A coast day trip, a lagoon boat trip and a wildlife ecotour, all starting in Puerto Escondido.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mazunte, Zipolite and Punta Cometa day trip
Transport and a Spanish- and English-speaking guide, picked up at your hotel in Puerto Escondido. Reserve entry fees are extra, up to MXN 250 per person.
Check availability →
Wildlife ecotour on the Oaxaca coast
Hotel transfer, air-conditioned transport and a guide. Check with the operator which entry fees apply.
Check availability →Evening boat trip on the Manialtepec lagoon
Hotel transfer and a boat ride on the lagoon.
Check availability →Tours and day trips from Zipolite
Lagoon boats, turtle visits, whale season and Huatulco bays, with live prices and availability.
The trip types in detail
What each one involves.
Ventanilla mangroves
The community cooperative lists daily opening from 8:00 to 17:00 and recommends booking in high season. Boats show birds, iguanas and crocodiles. Do not swim in the lagoon. A reserved trip with this cooperative needs a 50 percent deposit.
Turtle visits at Escobilla
The rules ask for prior agreement with the administration and a guide. Groups have at most 10 visitors and start 10 minutes apart. Keep at least 10 m from a single nesting turtle until egg laying starts. On an arribada the guide sets the distance. Flash is not allowed, and light is used only with a red filter. Visitors do not touch animals, eggs or hatchlings. The center says hatching happens on almost all days of the year but asks you to check places first. On 17 September 2026 the press reported 6 arribadas so far in the 2026/27 season, but arribadas cannot be predicted.
Turtle center in Mazunte →Manialtepec at night
A provider sells bioluminescence trips on the lagoon in the evening, and a regional operator offers a private boat and guide. Glow strength cannot be promised. The product text does not settle the currency or the transfer from Zipolite, so ask for the full price and what it includes.
Puerto Escondido guide →Whale watching
The permitted season for the zone between Puerto Ángel and Mazunte ran from 15 December 2025 to 31 March 2026. Puerto Escondido and Huatulco ended on 21 March 2026. Check the dates for 2026/27. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Puerto Ángel guide →Huatulco boats
Boats leave from the Santa Cruz pier or with authorized operators. The area has 9 bays and 36 beaches along about 35 km of coast. The park fee is published at MXN 125 per person and day. Children under 12 are free, and discounts apply with valid proof.
Huatulco guide →Boats from Puerto Ángel
Boat rental and kayaks are listed at Playa del Muelle. Do not use the harbor channel for swimming.
What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Deposit and cancellation
The Ventanilla cooperative asks for 50 percent when you reserve and the rest 7 days before the visit. If you cancel more than 8 days ahead, 20 percent of the deposit is kept. At 8 days or less, the deposit is not refunded. A free change of date is possible at least 7 days ahead, subject to places and within the same calendar year. Other providers have other terms.
Nature and weather
Hatchling releases depend on available hatchlings, and weather or safety can cancel or move a trip. No provider promises a date for turtles or whales.
Meeting point and transfer
Ask where the trip starts, whether pickup from Zipolite is included and what a transfer costs. Do not assume a private transfer is part of a listed price.
Animals
Choose trips that keep their distance. Do not book anything that lets you touch or hold turtles, eggs or hatchlings.
Cash
Many small providers take cash only. Bring pesos in small notes, since cash machines in the area can fail.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Zipolite tours: frequently asked questions
What is the best tour from Zipolite?
That depends on the season and on what you want to see. Turtle visits depend on the nesting and hatching season, whale boats run only in winter, and lagoon boats at Ventanilla run daily. The table above compares single examples, not a ranking.
How much do tours from Zipolite cost?
The examples above range from MXN 200 per person for a mangrove tour to MXN 2,500 for a private boat or a bird-watching group of up to 3. These are single 2026 listings, and the Huatulco park fee of MXN 125 per person and day comes on top of a boat price.
Do I need to book in advance?
The Ventanilla cooperative recommends reserving in high season but does not require a booking for every spontaneous visit. The Escobilla reserve asks for prior agreement with the administration and a guide. For other trips, confirm availability for your date.
Can I hold a baby turtle?
No. Visitors do not touch animals, eggs or hatchlings. Releases from the nursery are done by trained staff without visitors taking part.
Can I see turtles every day?
No. Nesting, hatching and releases depend on the animals and the season. The Escobilla center says hatching occurs on almost all days of the year but asks you to check availability first.