Is Playa Ligui safe?

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Leave the highway at either of two turnoffs for the town, and drive about a mile east to the beach. There’s a small grocery store on the highway between the two entrances to town.  There’s gas, a hotel, and internet access at Puerto Escondido, about 15 miles north.

This beach is very crowded with Mexicans during the height of the Mexican vacations, near easter.  Otherwise, you will find only a few other campers.

The municipal police, in a 4X pickup truck, patrol the beach once each evening, early.  Rito occasionally checks up, and local fishermen launch at dawn, often returning well after dark.  People watch out for people who don’t seem to have normal business on the beach—the drop-in and look around type.  I believe all the people of Ligui are honest and safe.  I had nothing stolen in over a week, even when I left folding chairs, kayak gear, and a solar panel out at night.

Rito agrees it’s a safe beach.  But he says there’s theft at the beach north of here.  He says that my solar panel is safe if it’s out at night while I’m in the trailer, but that I should put it inside if I leave the beach for paddling.

There are no appreciable currents along the beach.  The water is shallow, there are few mosquitoes, and there’s seldom any surf.  Watch for sand burs away from the water’s edge.  Apparently, there are no sting rays in the shallow water.

Kayakers should be prepared for sudden strong winds—inflatable craft might not be safe here.  It’s easy to get stuck in the sand if you don’t have 4X drive.