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Pacific Coast of Oaxaca

Nicknamed "the little coast" (la Costa Chica), Oaxaca's littoral boasts the most paradisiac beaches on the pacific, with its characteristic white sand and blue lagoons. For most visitors, the Huatulco Bays stay as the most vivid memory, with its endless line of virgin beaches sheltered by dense forests, dotting its 9 bays.

Lush tropical vegetation sprawls along the coast

But even the vegetation along the shoreline is breathtaking: roads going to the small town of Miahuatlan for example cross dense tropical forests for kilometers, then gently slope around a shallow canyon, before zigzagging uphill through a pine forest overlooking the ocean. Roughly parallel to the coastline, the southern Sierra Madre is a high and rugged mountain chain whose lavish vegetation and unique eco-equilibrium makes for some breathtaking experiences.

Only 20 years ago, most of the littoral was inaccessible, and its villages were mostly inhabited by fishermen. But with tourism came fancy hotels, modern watersport infrastructure and asphalted roads. The most striking example of this economic revolution is the city of Puerto Escondido (above): once a sleepy pueblo exclusively dependent on its coffee plantations, it is now a vibrant resort and a well-known paradise for surfers.

The recent developments of the region partly explains its reputation for ecotourism. The lagoons of Manialtepec and Chacahua breed many unique species of birds. Out of the eleven species of sea turtle that still exist today, nine come to the Mexican coasts, and the destination of four of those is the Oaxaca littoral where they nest and reproduce. Sea turtles definitely have good taste. The only research and preservation centre for sea turtles, el Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, is located close to Puerto Angel, and includes a small museum that displays numerous varieties of live turtles and fish, photos and other exhibits.

Another hotspot of Ecotourism are the 3,000 acres of jungle surrounding the Espino and De Los Machos hills, close to Huatulco. This protected area harbors 23 species of mammals and 55 species of birds, several of them in danger of extinction.

Continued...	Huatulco Bays > >
	Ecotourism > >
Based on video "Journey to the Heart of Mexico"	Practical Information of Oaxaca > >
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