San Agustinillo
Encyclopedia
San Agustinillo consists of a small fishing village and a stretch of beach at a place with the Sierra Madre del Sur
meets the Pacific Ocean
in the state of Oaxaca
, Mexico. It is located in the municipality of Santa María Tonameca just east of the coastal communities of Mazunte
and La Ventanilla
, connected by a road that runs from these towns to Zipolite
and Puerto Ángel
to the west. These coastal communities together are known as the "Riviera Oaxaqueña or "La Costa Chica Oaxaqueña. The community was established about the same time as Mazunte. Fishermen in San Augustinillo made a living by hunting sea turtles until this was banned in 1990. (secturoax) Major economic activities here for most residents are still agriculture and small scale fishing, with some tourism, based on the beach.
The beach of San Agustinillo is about 1300 meters long facing open ocean and divided into three sections by rocky outcroppings the jut out from the reach into the ocean. The sands of the beach are medium grain, of gold color and spread as wide as fifty meters. The waters just offshore are warm with green and blue tones. The far west end is called Playa Rinconcillo, which is relatively well-sheltered and considered safest for swimming. The easternmost section is called Playa Aragon and has both strong waves and strong undertow. As these beaches face open ocean caution is advised, especially when tropical waves and other weather phenomena cause abnormally high waves, which can cause beach restrictions and closures. In 2009, at least three drownings were reported off this beach, including a six-year-old girl who was caught while on the shoreline by an unusually high wave. A nineteen-year-old was dragged out to sea when he was surprised by an undercurrent and his body was not found until five days later.
The fishing village is located at the far west end at Playa Rinconcillo. The fishermen offer boat tours of area as well as rental for sportsfishing. Just immediately to the east of the village are palapas
but almost nothing has been built at the far eastern end. From June to December it is possible to see Olive Ridley turtles
laying their eggs on this beach.
The beach is encroached by hills and steep cliffs that make the building of large hotels and other resort features impossible. However, the shoreline and some of the hills surrounding it are dotted with small rustic establishments which show ecological and European influence. The European influence is because a number of establishments here are owned by Italians and some French. Restaurants include La Termita, owned by an Italian-Argentinian, and Tio Nerone, owned by an Italian-German. The Mexico Lindo hotel on the beach is owned by a Mexican from Tabasco by the name of Fausto and also serves Italian food along with Regional favorites. Another Italian-owned lodging is the Posada La Termita, also on the waterfront. Casa Pan de Miel has a French owner. It is not on the beach but on a hilltop overlooking the area. Since the area emphasizes eco tourism, many of the lodging here were built as “low-impact” that blend in with the topography. One of this is La Posada del Arquitecto which is carved into the rocks of Playa Rinconcito. The rooms have hanging beds and a shower built into a tree trunk. Everything is constructed with wooden pegs instead of nails. Many of the lodgings here do not have web sites or even phones but are popular with backpackers nonetheless. None have running hot water. Most hotels do not have televisions, phone or wireless connections or air conditioning.
The library of San Agustinillo is called “Las cuatro amigas” referring to the four women who opened it in the Casa Municipal (municipal office building) on Highway 200. The library is free to residents and tourists may borrow books for a nominal fee. About half the collection is in Spanish, about half in English and the rest in other languages such as French and German. The library also offers English classes for children of the town. The organization that runs the library has a website at La Biblioteca de San Agustinillo.
Sierra Madre del Sur
The Sierra Madre del Sur is a mountain range in southern Mexico, extending from southern Michoacán east through Guerrero, to the Istmo de Tehuantepec in eastern Oaxaca.-Geography:...
meets the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in the state of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Mexico. It is located in the municipality of Santa María Tonameca just east of the coastal communities of Mazunte
Mazunte
Mazunte is a small beach town on the Pacific coast in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mazunte is located 22 km southeast of San Pedro Pochutla on coastal Highway 200. Mazunte is located some 10 km to the west of Puerto Angel and just about 1 km from San Agustinillo and 264 km south of the...
and La Ventanilla
La Ventanilla, Oaxaca
La Ventanilla is a small village on a beach and lagoon in the municipality of Santa María Tonameca, Oaxaca, Mexico. It is best known as an ecotourism center based on its natural resources. It is located on the Costa Chica section of Oaxaca, just west of Mazunte...
, connected by a road that runs from these towns to Zipolite
Zipolite
Playa Zipolite is a beach community located in San Pedro Pochutla municipality on the southern coast of Oaxaca state in Mexico. It is located between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido and is part of the “Riviera Oaxaqueña” area. Zipolite is best known as being one of Mexico’s very few nude beaches and...
and Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel is a small coastal town in the Mexican state of Oaxaca located in the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla. It, along with San Agustinillo and Playa Zipolite are known as the "Riviera Oaxaqueña. It is located 9 km south of city of Pochutla fifty km west of Huatulco and eighty km...
to the west. These coastal communities together are known as the "Riviera Oaxaqueña or "La Costa Chica Oaxaqueña. The community was established about the same time as Mazunte. Fishermen in San Augustinillo made a living by hunting sea turtles until this was banned in 1990. (secturoax) Major economic activities here for most residents are still agriculture and small scale fishing, with some tourism, based on the beach.
The beach of San Agustinillo is about 1300 meters long facing open ocean and divided into three sections by rocky outcroppings the jut out from the reach into the ocean. The sands of the beach are medium grain, of gold color and spread as wide as fifty meters. The waters just offshore are warm with green and blue tones. The far west end is called Playa Rinconcillo, which is relatively well-sheltered and considered safest for swimming. The easternmost section is called Playa Aragon and has both strong waves and strong undertow. As these beaches face open ocean caution is advised, especially when tropical waves and other weather phenomena cause abnormally high waves, which can cause beach restrictions and closures. In 2009, at least three drownings were reported off this beach, including a six-year-old girl who was caught while on the shoreline by an unusually high wave. A nineteen-year-old was dragged out to sea when he was surprised by an undercurrent and his body was not found until five days later.
The fishing village is located at the far west end at Playa Rinconcillo. The fishermen offer boat tours of area as well as rental for sportsfishing. Just immediately to the east of the village are palapas
Palapa (Spanish)
A palapa is an open-sided dwelling with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves. It is very useful in hot weather and, therefore, very common in Mexican beaches, such as in Acapulco...
but almost nothing has been built at the far eastern end. From June to December it is possible to see Olive Ridley turtles
Olive Ridley
The olive ridley sea turtle , also known as the Pacific ridley, is a species of sea turtle.- Description :The olive ridley is a small extant sea turtle, with an adult carapace length averaging 60 to 70 cm 1...
laying their eggs on this beach.
The beach is encroached by hills and steep cliffs that make the building of large hotels and other resort features impossible. However, the shoreline and some of the hills surrounding it are dotted with small rustic establishments which show ecological and European influence. The European influence is because a number of establishments here are owned by Italians and some French. Restaurants include La Termita, owned by an Italian-Argentinian, and Tio Nerone, owned by an Italian-German. The Mexico Lindo hotel on the beach is owned by a Mexican from Tabasco by the name of Fausto and also serves Italian food along with Regional favorites. Another Italian-owned lodging is the Posada La Termita, also on the waterfront. Casa Pan de Miel has a French owner. It is not on the beach but on a hilltop overlooking the area. Since the area emphasizes eco tourism, many of the lodging here were built as “low-impact” that blend in with the topography. One of this is La Posada del Arquitecto which is carved into the rocks of Playa Rinconcito. The rooms have hanging beds and a shower built into a tree trunk. Everything is constructed with wooden pegs instead of nails. Many of the lodgings here do not have web sites or even phones but are popular with backpackers nonetheless. None have running hot water. Most hotels do not have televisions, phone or wireless connections or air conditioning.
The library of San Agustinillo is called “Las cuatro amigas” referring to the four women who opened it in the Casa Municipal (municipal office building) on Highway 200. The library is free to residents and tourists may borrow books for a nominal fee. About half the collection is in Spanish, about half in English and the rest in other languages such as French and German. The library also offers English classes for children of the town. The organization that runs the library has a website at La Biblioteca de San Agustinillo.