Price Band: $$$
Tags: Beach, economical, bohemian, town
Un Sueno
San Agustinillo
Un Sueno
San Agustinillo
Un Sueno
San Agustinillo
Rates, availability and more…
In a nutshell:
Ideal place to escape and unwind in a simple beach front setting. The cabanas are stylish but rustic; shower water is unheated but the climate is sultry, even in winter. Basic facilities are available within walking distance in this sleepy town, but the area is much less commercialized than many beach resorts.
Un Sueno is a great choice for a simple beach vacation. If you dream of waking up and stepping straight out onto the beach, listening to the ocean as you fall asleep, and if you don’t need the facilities or the prices of big high rise hotels, this could be the perfect choice for you.
The accommodations are simple but stylish, with some artistic touches. Our favorites are the four independent, thatched roof cabanas that are perched right on the beach. The other cabanas here may have more privacy and are larger, but if a prime view is important to you then it’s a good idea to book well in advance as cabanas are allocated in the order that the bookings are received.
There are no phones, no air-conditioning, and the water in the showers isn’t heated; but after a day on this heavenly beach in the sultry climate of this region, a refreshing cool shower suits many people just fine. If you are not sure that you can last a week without hot water, consider combining a stay here with another slightly more sophisticated (but probably less idyllic) location. But what better weekend escape than this feet-in-the-sand bolthole with room rates lower than you’d pay for dinner in a resort town?
San Agustinillo is a fantastic choice for a laid-back beach vacation. Chilling out on the sands with a cold beer is the order of the day, but there’s plenty to see nearby too. It would be a shame to miss out on a visit to the next town, Mazunte, where you can visit the National Turtle Center and see almost all of the species of sea turtle in existance. Near to Mazunte is the eco-park la Ventanilla, where you can take a boat trip through the mangroves and watch for crocodiles.
The nearest airports are at Huatulco and Puerto Escondido (both around an hour away, Huatulco is the closest). You can reach San Augustinillo on public transport by taking a bus to Pochutla and then a taxi or collectivo to the hotel. Taxis can also be picked up at the airports if you prefer.
Un Sueno isn’t for everyone, but it’s the kind of chilled out place that you return to in your dreams after a few weeks back in the city. It will satisfy the cravings of vacationers who want to stay right on the beach, whiling away their daytimes listening to the ocean, and spending relaxed evenings in a beachfront bar. The perfect antidote to city life!
The guest rooms at Un Sueno are directly on the sands, and just a few paces from the ocean. Four of the rooms are individual beach front cabanas, with direct vistas of the shoreline. They have thatched roofs and fulfil everyone’s dream of a tropical beach hut.
The remaining rooms are in two story buildings, with one room above and one below. They can be booked as a two bedroom unit (a Duplex) if you want to ensure that you have two rooms together. However, each room is completely independent and there are no connecting doors between them, just the external staircase.
The upper and lower cabanas are larger than the beachfront units, and they are also more private. We particularly like the top levels rooms, with their large balconies and views of the ocean through the palm trees. The extra space in the bedrooms and the palapa roofs makes these quarters feel very airy.
One of the upper floor cabanas has a very different style. This cabana is called “San Jose” and it has a large bedroom area that is partly open to the breezes. It has a private bathroom just like the other rooms. If you like a very tropical ambiance, you can request this room by name.
All the cabanas have one double bed except for the Family cabana. This room is bigger than the others and has two double beds. The hotel has cribs for babies, but doesn’t have any extra beds.
Each room has electricity throughout the day and night, and there are fans positioned over the bed. There are no telephones, minibars or air-conditioning, but there are electrical sockets in the rooms so that you can recharge laptops and cameras. We didn’t find any cell phone signal at Un Sueno, but all the rooms now have wireless internet access, and there’s also an internet cafe adjacent to the hotel.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Electricity 24-7, wireless internet access, fans
Beachfront
One double bed, independent building
Lower floor
One double bed, terrace
Upper floor
One double bed, balcony
San Jose
One double bed, upper level, open design
Family Cabana
Two double beds
Duplex Cabana
Two independent rooms (upper and lower floor) in the same building
The four beachfront cabanas are much sought after, and early reservations are recommended to secure one of these rooms. They each have one double bed in the style of a simple four poster bed that is draped in mosquito netting.
There are windows to two sides of the bedroom, and shuttered doors that can open almost completely to the ocean. Open the doors and you can see the sea from your bed!
These rooms have a fan fixed to the bed post that can be used to adjust the breeze without disturbing the netting (so you can sleep with the doors and windows open if you wish).
The bathrooms at Un Sueno are large and can double as a dressing area. They feature a double vanity unit and there is space for storage (there are no closets in the room).
To one side of the room is a toilet (with a half door), and to the other side a shower. The water in the shower is not heated, but the tepid water is generally pleasant enough for this sultry climate.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t reserve in time to secure a beachfront cabana. The other rooms have the same amenities and are actually bigger.
First (ground) floor rooms have a terrace from which you can see glimpses of the beach through the palm trees and between the beachfront cabanas. They also have a hammock. The bathrooms are the same style as the beachfront cabanas, with a double vanity unit, shower and toilet.
The second floor rooms have soaring palapa ceilings that make the room seem very airy, and the interiors are more spacious than the beachfront cabanas.
These rooms are best suited to adults as they are accessed by an open stairway that might be difficult for young children. They have a private terrace from which you can glimpse the ocean through the palm trees and are the most private of the rooms at Un Sueno.
This second floor room is different in style to the other rooms at Un Sueno. It lies beneath a huge palapa roof that overhangs the half-walls. Sea breezes circulate through the room, and it has a very tropical ambiance.
This room has a bathroom that is similar to all the other rooms, and the amenities in the room are just the same.
Breakfast is available each morning in the beachfront palapa bar. Guests can enjoy coffee, fruit, juices, and cooked dishes too. For other meals, the owners have a restaurant just a few paces away, across the road, called “Un Secreto”.
Un Secreto offers Mexican and Mediterranean specialties, including pasta, salads and fresh fish. If you can’t tear yourself away from the beach, the menu from Un Secreto can generally be offered at the beach palapa during the daytime too.
The beach palapa serves cold beers and drinks throughout the daytime. Hammocks are strung under the palapa roof, and you can relax here in the shade with a cool drink for as long as you want.
The beach at San Agustinillo is popular with local families as well as tourists. The sand is soft and the ocean is usually good for swimming. Sometimes there is gentle surf, and other times the waves can be more powerful. You can walk along the beach to visit other bars and restaurants, or for a sunset stroll.
Guests at Un Sueno can relax in the shade in a hammock, either in front of their cabana or under the beachfront palapa. The sun is strong here, even in the winter. If you are looking for balmy temperatures for sun bathing and swimming during December to February, this coast is one of the best places to visit.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airports are at Huatulco (30 miles, 50 minutes by road) and Puerto Escondido (45 miles, 1 hour by road).
Driving directions
San Agustinillo is located on highway 175, as it loops south of the main highway #200.
From highway 200, follow signs for Puerto Angel. If you are driving from Puerto Escondido, you’ll first pass through Mazunte. The driving time is around one hour.
Coming from Huatulco, the driving time is around 40 minutes and you’ll pass through Puerto Angel and Zipolite before reaching San Agustinillo.
Un Sueno is located on the main road through the town and the hotel is well signed. Parking is available at the property.
We recommend car rental if you plan to do some sightseeing in the area, but if you just want to relax on a beach then you can take a taxi directly to the hotel from either Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airports.
Alternatively, take a bus to Pochutla, and pick up a local taxi for the 30 minute drive to San Agustinillo.
