Posted by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita | Adventurez in Mexico Blog
For years, Zipolite was a place where time slowed down, where hammocks swayed in the breeze and $50 pesos could get you a simple room on the beach. I still remember when meals were basic, fresh, and affordable—and what drew people here was the magic of simplicity, the wild beauty, and the kindness of the community.
Today, everything feels different.
Condos rise where palm trees once stood. Prices have skyrocketed—some meals now cost more than in Canada. Tourists come expecting hot water, air conditioning, fast Wi-Fi, swimming pools... and when the power goes out or things don’t go as planned, it’s locals who get blamed. And yet, they are not the cause—they’re surviving, adapting, and working harder than ever in an increasingly difficult system.
Even worse, in recent years, we’ve seen a strange mix of spiritual tourism and exploitation—people selling “healing” experiences and yoga retreats with little understanding of the land’s energy or the culture’s depth. What began as a sacred space has, in some corners, become a commodity.
And then, the trash. The disrespect. Sex on the beach in broad daylight, tourists walking into restaurants completely nude, condoms left behind in the sand. This is not freedom. This is not respectful nudism. This is not Zipolite.
I’ve stayed quiet for a while. I’ve watched. I’ve prayed. And I’ve hesitated—because I don’t want to stir more conflict or speak over those whose roots here go back generations. But I also don’t want to let the silence become consent.
So I write this not to criticize, but to remember.
Zipolite is special. It’s sacred. It was never meant to be a resort, and it was never meant to be sold.
If you come here—whether for a week or to stay forever—come with humility. Come with gratitude. Come with a willingness to give, not just to take.
This land belongs to nature. It belongs to the people who have loved it long before it became popular on social media. Let’s honor that spirit—before it slips away.
With love and memory,
Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
