Handicrafts

For fine custom-made hammocks, visit local craftsman Gabino Silva (www.johntarleton.net/hammocks.html [1]) at his country shop, off a jungly stretch of the road between Zipolite [2] and San Agustinillo [3]. He also rents two very rough cabañas. (However, he does have a solid seaview palapa, apparently orginally intended to be a restaurant, that would be fine for camping if you have mosquito repellent.) Watch for his sign labeled Hamacas and Cabaña on the beach side of the road, 4.2 miles (6.7 km) from the Puerto Ángel [4] village center.

A handful of handicrafts have arrived in Puerto Ángel [4], at La Primavera beachware, (on Vasconcelos, directly uphill from the pier, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. daily, tel. 958/584-3251), and at Villa Florencia (on Uribe, a block west of the pier, tel./fax 958/584-3044, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. daily).

In Mazunte [3], stop by Artesanias Carol’s (9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily) across from the turtle museum, for a carefully selected assortment of mostly women’s wear, including huipiles, resort wear, straw hats, shells, bathing suits, black Oaxaca pottery, interesting bamboo drinking cups, and palos de lluvia (“rain sticks”) to restore your jangled nerves.