Coast of Oaxaca - Non-profit Organisation

Our Location

The Centro Nijo is located on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Situated in the community ‘El Zapotal', close to the beach of Ventanilla. The arid foothills of the Sierra Madre spill down into the flatter, tropical land. This area of Mexico has two faces; the dry season (November to May), and the rainy season (June to October). It is hot all year round, and even in the rainy season blue skies can be seen most of the time. Centro Nijo, founded on acres of rich, ecologically diverse land, is home to a wide variety of tropical birds, butterflies, lizards, native plants, and of course, we humans and our friends – which include dogs, cats, turkeys, chickens, iguanas, tortoises, fish and a horse.

In accordance with our principle of ecology, the buildings at Centro Nijo are built with local materials, including palm, bamboo and wood, also our water comes from our own well. Since we have no mains electricity, we make the most of natural sunlight, living in the daylight hours and using solar panels to store and provide us with energy during the night. In the evenings, we read inside our mosquito netting by candlelight, or by the glow of small, energy-efficient light bulbs.

At night, Nature's orquestra begins, and the booming of the waves from nearby Ventanilla sounds like recurrent thunder, as the sky reflects a dazzling array of stars. Far from the stresses and worries of everyday life, Centro Nijo offers a simpler way of life, a way of deep peace, connection with the earth and elements, a way balanced with pure food, and a lifestyle in harmony with all the living organisms that surround you. Whether you visit for a single afternoon, or come to volunteer for months, the land itself will have a profound effect on your healing.

Centro Nijo is surrounded by small towns and communities along the coast that provide swimming and surfing beaches, shopping and a host of other activities.

	Ventanilla In Ventanilla, only a 20 minute walk away, one can find a beautiful lagoon, which is part of a nature reserve. Here, a local co-operative operates boat tours of the lagoon to see crocodiles, horseback rides along the beach, and birdwatching at sunrise.
	Mazunte Two miles beyond Ventanilla is the nearby village of Mazunte, which is home to the Mexican Turtle Centre, working for the protection and the conservation of these incredible animals. Mazunte has a safe beach for swimming and a number of restaurants offering Italian and vegetarian food. There is also a co-operative cosmetics shop, where the women of the community produce natural beauty products and crafts. In Mazunte, you can also reach one of the most ancient, but unmarked ceremonial sites of Mexico: Punta Cometa. Considered ‘The Door of the South', this high, rocky outcrop faces directly towards the south, one of the few places on the Pacific Ocean where sunset and sunrise can be seen over the Ocean. A place of great energetic strength, it is visited frequently by people from all around the world in search of ancient sacred wisdom.
	San Agustinillo Just beyond Mazunte to the east is San Agustinillo, a picturesque fishing village built on the edge of 2 bays. The smallest and most ‘tranquilo' of towns, San Agustinillo is known for its great boogie-boarding and surfing waves.
	Zipolite Continuing along, you arrive at Zipolite. Famous for its clothing-optional beach, travelers culture, and nightlife, Zipolite offers a wide variety of cuisine: Mexican, Oaxacan, Italian, Argentinean and French. Also located in Zipolite is another charity organisation ‘Pina Palmera', which works with people with different disabilities through community based work, focusing on human rights.
	Puerto Angel Further along the coast is the oldest of the towns, Puerto Angel, a fishing village and a small ‘no-waves' bay. Puerto Escondido Among the different activities that the coast of Oaxaca offers, the principle one is surfing, thanks to the variety of beaches offering accessibility to surfers of all levels. Zicatela, in Puerto Escondido, is known as one of the top surfing beaches in the world, and can be found at a 45 minute drive from Centro Nijo.

Other activities on the south coast of Oaxaca include snorkeling and boat tours to see turtles, dolphins and occasionally the humpback and killer whales... or if you wish, all you have to do is take a seat and contemplate the great explosion of colours that is a Oaxaca sunset.

Interesting Links	Links of Accomodation in the Area
Piña Palmera Mermejita Circus Solar Panels Oceano Huatulco	House Rentals	San Agustinillo	Zipolite
	La onda de la Costa	Casa Azul La Termita Un Sueño	Las Casitas El Alquimista

Our Location

Centro Nijo is surrounded by small towns and communities along the coast that provide swimming and surfing beaches, shopping and a host of other activities.

Ventanilla

Mazunte

San Agustinillo

Zipolite

Puerto Angel

Puerto Escondido

Interesting Links

Links of Accomodation in the Area

House Rentals

San Agustinillo

Zipolite