Costs & Budget

How much to bring and what things cost

No ATM in Chacahua. Main tienda accepts cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) with 5% fee. Cash withdrawal also possible at main store for 5% fee. Nearest ATM: Río Grande (~1hr) or Puerto Escondido (~2hr).

Daily Budget Estimates

All prices in Mexican Pesos (MXN). ~17 MXN = $1 USD (check current rate)

Backpacker

400-600 MXN

$24-35 USD

Hammock/tent, street food, shared transport, self-catering

Mid-range

800-1,200 MXN

$47-70 USD

Basic cabaña, restaurant meals, activities

Comfortable

1,500-2,500 MXN

$88-147 USD

Nice cabaña with A/C, all meals out, multiple activities

Transportation Costs

Puerto Escondido → Zapotalito (colectivo)

Shared van, ~1-1.5hr

80-100 MXN

Puerto Escondido → Zapotalito (taxi)

Private, negotiate

300-500 MXN

Zapotalito → Chacahua (lancha colectiva)

Shared boat, 30-45min

50-80 MXN

Zapotalito → Chacahua (lancha privada)

Private boat

300-500 MXN

Zapotalito → Chacahua (scenic mangrove route)

Longer, more scenic

200-450 MXN

Budget route (boat + truck combo)

10min boat + 40min truck

~100 MXN

Local boat to lighthouse island

Quick crossing

10-20 MXN

Accommodation

Hammock space

Bring your own or rent

50-100 MXN

Camping/tent space

Some places offer free if you eat there

100-150 MXN

Hostel dorm

Shared room, basic

150-250 MXN

Basic cabaña (shared bath)

Simple, fan

200-400 MXN

Cabaña (private bath)

Mosquito net, fan

400-600 MXN

Nice cabaña (A/C, amenities)

Rare, book ahead

800-1,500 MXN

Hotel with pool (Sanmara)

Most upscale option

1,500-2,500 MXN

Food & Drinks

Breakfast (eggs, beans, coffee)

Local spot

40-80 MXN

Lunch/dinner (fish, rice, salad)

Fresh catch

80-150 MXN

Ceviche tostada

Snack

30-50 MXN

Pescado a la talla (whole grilled fish)

Signature dish

120-200 MXN

Shrimp dishes

Garlic, coconut, etc.

100-180 MXN

Tlayuda

Oaxacan specialty

60-100 MXN

Beer

Corona, Pacifico, etc.

25-40 MXN

Fresh coconut water

Straight from coconut

20-30 MXN

Mezcal shot

Local

30-60 MXN

Bottled water (1L)

Essential

15-25 MXN

Activities

Bioluminescence tour

Night tour, ~2hr

100-200 MXN

Lagoon/mangrove boat tour

Bird watching, crocodiles

150-300 MXN

Surfboard rental (per hour)

Short/longboard

100-150 MXN

Surfboard rental (per day)

Negotiate for multi-day

250-350 MXN

Surf lesson (2 hours)

Including board

500-700 MXN

Crocodile sanctuary visit

Local conservation

50-100 MXN

Turtle release participation

Jul-Dec, check locally

Free-50 MXN

Massage

Beach massage, negotiate

200-400 MXN

Lighthouse hike

Self-guided

Free

Other Costs

Starlink WiFi access (per hour)

Where available

20-50 MXN

Phone charging

If not staying there

10-20 MXN

Laundry

Per kg

50-100 MXN

Basic supplies (tienda)

Limited selection, higher prices

Varies

Money & Connectivity Tips

  • •Main store (lado principal) accepts debit/credit cards — 5% fee
  • •Cash withdrawal available at main store — 5% fee
  • •There are two main stores: one each side of the island
  • •Still bring cash — most small vendors and restaurants are cash only
  • •Bring small bills (20s, 50s, 100s) — hard to break large bills
  • •WiFi is sporadic — area is mostly a dead zone
  • •Data packages (daily/weekly) available at both main stores — Telcel works best
  • •Download offline maps and content before arriving

Sample 5-Day Budget

BackpackerMid-rangeComfortable
Transport (round trip)300 MXN500 MXN1,000 MXN
Accommodation (5 nights)500 MXN2,000 MXN5,000 MXN
Food (5 days)1,000 MXN2,500 MXN4,000 MXN
Activities300 MXN800 MXN1,500 MXN
Buffer/extras400 MXN700 MXN1,000 MXN
TOTAL2,500 MXN (~$147)6,500 MXN (~$382)12,500 MXN (~$735)