Beach Bums - Part 19

Zipolite

Zipolite, on Mexico's Pacific coast in the southern state of Oaxaca, is Mexico's only legal public nude beach.

Originally, nudity was confined to this secluded eastern end of the beach.

It's called Playa del Amor, or the beach of love.

Then hotels and restaurants in the town of Playa Zipolite found that naturists were bringing in business, and they suddenly became more tolerant of nudity.

In 2016, the municipality declared nudity legal for the entire two-kilometer long beach.  Since 2016, the town has hosted the annual Festival Nudista Zipolite.

The main beach is bordered by hotels, shops, and restaurants that welcome nudity.  Here, Mexican artist Felix d'Eon (left) is getting sunblock applied by a friend.

A group of naturists and a woman who apparently didn't get the memo.

Amigos on the Playa del Amor.

The view on the main beach, by day ...

and at sunset.

And at dusk, a naked fire-eater.

Who wouldn't like the beach of love?  Certainly not artist Felix d'Eon (right), who says Zipolite is his favorite beach.

We close with a 2015 painting by Felix d'Eon called In the Hot Sun, portraying a friend at Zipolite.  We might see more of his art in the future.