Lagunas de Chacahua National Park

Lagunas de Chacahua is a national park on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, featuring several interconnected lagoons surrounded by mangrove forests, tropical vegetation, and coastal dunes. The park presents a varied landscape of water and land surfaces that form connected habitats for wildlife and plants.

The Mexican government protected the area in 1937 to conserve its wetlands and lagoon systems. This early designation established its role as a protected ecosystem on the Pacific coast.

Local fishermen use traditional methods passed down through generations, and their presence shapes how the waterways are experienced by visitors. This way of life remains central to the community's identity and daily rhythm around the lagoons.

The park is most easily accessed from Puerto Escondido, with transport to Zapotalito followed by a boat ride through the lagoons. The drier months offer easier navigation through the waterways and better viewing conditions.

The park contains multiple nesting sites for sea turtles and a breeding facility for Pacific coast crocodiles. These conservation programs help protect species that depend on this ecosystem for their survival.