Beaches · 20 min from centro
Playa Palmarito
Past Bacocho the coast empties out, and Palmarito is the reward for going the extra ten minutes: kilometers of untouched sand backed by palms and scrub, where your footprints may be the morning’s first. It is the antidote beach — no strip, no clubs, no sellers — and the classic way to take it in is from a horse’s back at golden hour.
The sunset horseback ride
Local outfits run beach rides here, typically timed to late afternoon so the return leg happens in full sunset color. Rides suit beginners — the horses know the route — and it is comfortably the most photogenic hour on this side of town. Book a day ahead in high season; bring cash and bug spray for the lagoon-side stretches.
The empty-beach day
This is the beach for long walks, shell lines, and having a Pacific horizon to yourself. Pack everything in (water especially — services are sparse to none) and treat the ocean as scenery: the surf here is unguarded open-coast water with the same currents that make Bacocho dangerous, minus even Bacocho’s occasional patrols. Between here and Manialtepec lagoon, this corner of the coast makes a natural half-day pairing.
Do it from here
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Questions people actually ask
How do you get to Playa Palmarito?
Taxi or scooter about 20 minutes west of Centro toward the Manialtepec side; confirm your return ride or keep the taxi, since passing traffic is sparse.
Is Playa Palmarito safe for swimming?
No — unguarded open-Pacific water with strong currents. Enjoy it from the sand or the saddle.