Holistic Mexico Travel Guide: Grass-Fed Meat, Organic Produce, Healing Therapies +
I first chose Mexico as a travel destination for the seemingly easy holistic lifestyle it offered. When I arrived I discovered finding grass-fed meat, organic produce, and natural skincare in Mexico is not as easy as it seems! To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled Mexico’s healthiest grocery options in this post and linked stores and restaurants – by destination – where you can find products like free-range eggs, natural skin and hair products, bone broth, supplements, grass-fed beef, and much much more.
I’ve personally shopped at and can recommend with confidence every organic produce shop, grass-fed meat supplier, restaurant, etc mentioned in this post.
If you’re reading this post and know of spots I’ve missed, please reach out with specifics and I’ll add it to this list!
Know what you’re looking for? Skip ahead to the locations covered in this post:
Downloadable Mexico Google Map
Get all my Mexico travel recommendations saved directly to your phone – a digital guide available at your fingertips!
My Mexico map has recommendations for:
- Places: beach towns, mountain villages, backpacker hotspots, and magic towns
- Outdoors: beaches, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanos
- Restaurants: street food, healthy options, local favourites, international eats
- Experiences: holy sites, excursions, holistic experiences/retreats, turtle releases, photo-ops
- Planning: bus stops, lodging, public washrooms, tedious details (like laundromats/grocery stores)
Is it Easy to Find Organic Produce & Grass-Fed Meat in Mexico?
Organic produce can be surprisingly difficult to find in Mexico. The first reason being demand, the second reason being the term “organic’ is not entirely understood by locals. I’ve often asked local vendors if their produce is organic, they reply “si,” and yet I can cleary see 4000 GMO coded stickers on the fruit and veggies they’re selling. The best approach is to buy from small roadside stands that sell fruit and veggies native to Mexico. OR try to stay along the main hippy tourist route (the Oaxaca Coast is great for this) as there are often local organic shops selling tasty (but pricey) organic produce.
Free-range eggs are easy to find in Mexico, however they’re typically still grain-fed. You can generally pick eggs up at farmers markets, but I’ve also seen them at regular grocery shops and small, local produce stands. In most small towns the locals have their chickens freely wandering around, so it’s no surprise free-range eggs are easy to find in Mexico.
Grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, and bone broth are a bit harder to find in Mexico. Health conscious beach towns and cities often have health food stores which carry these products, however outside of these areas you’ll be hard-pressed to find quality meats.
Wild fish is hard to buy in Mexico. I found this surprising as Mexico is lined by coast, however fresh, wild-caught fish is not readily available in Mexico. I got lucky at a farmers market here-and-there or by visiting random fishing areas on the beach, however you can generally count on needing to visit restaurants for fish or purchasing farmed fish from large grocery stores.
Ghee, local honey, supplements, organic cacao, and healthy snacks are harder to find in Mexico. Again, farmers markets, health food stores, or health-conscious beach towns are the best places to find these and similar items.
Speaking to locals is the best way to find where to buy free-range meat and organic products in Mexico, however I did find by not speaking Spanish it was sometimes hard to obtain this information.
Is it Expensive to Buy Organic Produce & Grass-Fed Meat in Mexico?
I found healthy eating in Mexico to be shockingly expensive. Considering Mexico is often thought of as a “cheap” destination, the opposite applies to purchasing and cooking nourishing meals. If you’re buying organic produce in Mexico and add grass-fed meats + health foods and supplements to this, your grocery bill will skyrocket.
In most places I actually found it cheaper to eat out than to shop and cook your own healthy food in Mexico.
If you’re shopping for organic produce in Mexico at farmers markets you can sometimes find good deals. Sometimes because if you’re a non-Mexican, English-speaking individual you’re bound to be charged more.
When it comes to buying grass-fed meat and things like bone broth in Mexico you’ll pay top dollar. For fresh bone broth I often paid 280 pesos for around 4-5 servings. For grass-fed beef and free-range chicken in Mexico I paid anywhere from 250-350 pesos for 3-5 servings.
Supplements and health foods in Mexico are also quite expensive. In small, health conscious towns there are often local shops selling supplements and health foods, however it’s usually cheaper to stock up in major cities and bring a stash to these smaller locations.
Beware of Added Sugar in Mexico
I want to make a special note regarding added sugar in Mexico for those who are trying to limit or avoid added sugar. Unfortunately Mexico as well as many Central and South American countries are addicted to two things – sugar and caffeine.
As such almost every drink and seemingly “healthy” fruit-based meal (like smoothies and smoothie bowls) will have loads of added sugar. The added sugar issue is relatively unavoidable unless you stick to drinking water only or eating whole fruits purchased at the markets.
Beware of the Grease in Mexico
If you’ve landed on this post hoping to plan a healthy, holistic trip to Mexico I want to enlighten you about the “grease” in Mexico too. Like the added sugar, grease is unavoidable in Mexico when eating out. By grease I’m referring to rancid oils and extra fats (+ who knows what else) you’ll find in all food when dining out.
You can expect grease to be an issue in all restaurants (maybe not health-conscious or super high end establishments) and ESPECIALLY street food. Want tacos for dinner? Know the taco meat has likely been cooked in grease from 3+ days ago.
Mexico’s spooky tap water and grease are the leading cause of traveller’s tummy – which you will get at some point during your trip. Everyone I know who’s spent any time in Mexico has had to endure this (including myself).
Does Mexico Offer a Holistic Lifestyle?
Mexico absolutely offers the chance to live a holistic lifestyle, depending on where you choose to go. “On-the-map” coastal and mountainous communities often offer the best chance at finding conscious people, health food stores, organic shopping options, and alternative healing resources.
Mexico also has all kinds of spiritual retreats that offer services like yoga, meditation, energy healing, spirituality in all forms, Temazcal (traditional sweat lodge ceremonies), cacao ceremonies, etc. Mexico itself even has “Pueblos Magicos” (magic towns) which are known for their A) culture, colour, and architecture – and B) healing and spiritual properties.
I personally found my time in Mexico to be one of healing, inward exploration, conscious living, spiritual practise, and nourishing food. I met all kinds of people who seemed to be “spiritually gifted” (as a roundup term) who were more than happy to extend their gifts to the local community and help other people find their way to healing.
If you’ve been wanting to explore yoga, meditation, any form of energy healing, ecstatic dance, trauma healing, or anything in this realm – Mexico is an excellent place to explore.
Specific Areas in Mexico Offering Holistic Living Opportunities
I’ll continue to add to this list as time goes on, but a few communities I’ve personally been to that you can easily find healing services, organic produce, plant medicine, grass-fed meats, and health foods in Mexico are:
- Sayulita and San Pancho
- Puerto Escondido (+ Mazunte and Zipolite which are right down the coast)
- Oaxaca City
Other places I know of that offer holistic lifestyle opportunities, but I’ve not personally visited are:
- Baja California area
- Tulum
- San Miguel de Allende
- Valle de Bravo
Does Mexico Have Vegan/Vegetarian Options?
Yes, Mexico has plenty of vegan and vegetarian food options.
Vegan/vegetarian grocery shopping and cooking at home is easy-peasy in Mexico. You can purchase whole grains, beans/legumes, and organic produce almost anywhere in Mexico. If you’re looking for protein add-ins like hemp, nutritional yeast, chia seeds, etc it’s best to stock up in Mexico’s larger cities or conscious communities as finding these supplies in remote communities is near impossible.
Mexico has plenty of vegan/vegetarian restaurants too. Most traditional Mexican restaurants and taco stands have bean or vegetable options in addition to their usual meat options. I also found that Mexico has a mad smoothie/smoothie bowl game with all kinds of delicious, high nutrient add-ins. Poke bowls are also quite common at many health-based restaurants.
In some health-conscious communities in Mexico (like Mazunte) as well as many yoga and wellness retreats you’ll find almost more vegan options than meat options.
Can you Find Natural Skincare & Hair Care Products in Mexico?
Yes and no. It’s both easy and hard to find natural skin and haircare products in Mexico – depending on where you are.
Again, health conscious communities and larger cities will have more options. Small villages and remote communities will have next-to-nothing. My recommendation would be if you see what you need, stock up while it’s in front of you prior to running out.
I’ve seen everything in Mexico from tallow and natural sunscreen to shampoo bars, natural toothpaste, and facial oil serums. Many of these products are made locally rather than mass-produced, so keep an eye out for natural hair and skincare products in Mexico’s backpacker towns or health conscious expat areas.
Sayulita & San Pancho
Sayulita is among one of the best places in Mexico when it comes to buying organic produce, grass-fed meats, bone broth, and supplements. Sayulita has a big focus on holistic, healthy living and it’s deemed to be one of the MOST magic towns in Mexico.
All Sayulita’s health services and shopping options are marked on my Mexico map
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken/Eggs, and Bone Broth in Sayulita
You can find grass-fed beef, free-range chicken/eggs, pork, and fresh bone broth at Terrenal Organics in Sayulita.
Where to Buy Organic Produce in Sayulita
You can find organic produce at the farmers market in Sayulita on Friday. It runs from November to April 10:00am-2:00pm. You can also find some organic produce and greens at Terrenal Organics, but I advise to get there early in the morning as they often sell out. There are men wandering the streets with carts selling berries (on no specific schedule). I was never able to find out of these berries were organic, but they did come from local-ish farms.
Where to Buy Fresh, Wild-Caught Fish in Sayulita
I was only able to find fresh, wild-caught fish at the farmers market in Sayulita. It was mahi-mahi fillets for an exuberant price.
Supplements and Health Food Stores in Sayulita
Terrenal Organics sells some supplements in Sayulita, however the best supplement store I found was La Cosecha in San Pancho – they had a little bit of everything. You can also pick up some locally made tinctures and various plant medicine products at the Sayulita farmers market.
Where to Buy Natural Skincare and Haircare Products in Sayulita
Terrenal Organics, La Cosecha, and the farmers market remain the best spots to purchase natural skin and haircare products in Sayulita. You can find shampoo bars, natural soaps and sunscreen, facial serums, and more at these establishments.
Holistic Health & Healing Services in Sayulita
There are various healing services between San Pancho and Sayulita. Some of the local favourites are:
- The Rose Room for yoga
- Alchemize House for sauna, cold plunge, and breath work
- Nayarit Wild for Temazcal
- Quilombo Sayulita for gym facilities, fitness classes, and martial arts training
You can also find various energy healing services around Sayulita. Keep an eye out and talk to locals if this is something you’re interested in.
Healthy Restaurants in Sayulita
There are tons of healthy restaurants to choose from in Sayulita. The following are my favourites:
- Smoothies/smoothie bowls: Orangy Smoothies & Cafeteria Northswell
- Vegan/vegetarian options: Anchor Cafe & ORGANI-K Sayulita
- Healthy dishes: Cafe Coyote & El Itacate (better sourced tacos)
- Seafood: Barracuda
- Sweet treats: Mexicolate serves various organic cacao treats
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has a few excellent shopping resources when it comes to buying organic produce, health foods, and grass-fed meats. I wouldn’t say the town itself is “health conscious,” however there’s definitely a holistic group of people living here.
All Puerto Escondido’s health services and shopping options are marked on my Mexico map
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken/Eggs, and Bone Broth in Puerto Escondido
You can buy bone broth, organic grass-fed beef and free-range chicken in Puerto Escondido from both Puerto Verde and Moringa Fresh & Wild. Puerto Verde has locations in both La Punta and Rinconada whereas Moringa Fresh & Wild has two locations in La Punta.
Where to Buy Organic Produce in Puerto Escondido
You can buy organic produce in Puerto Escondido from both Moringa Fresh & Wild and Puerto Verde however selection is limited and on the pricer side. There’s also the Zicatela Market which is in Centro. They have a more holistic vibe and nicer produce than the other shops and markets in the area, although I didn’t see any certified organic produce there. Lots of local stuff though!
Where to Buy Fresh, Wild-Caught Fish in Puerto Escondido
I heard stirrings of being able to buy fresh fish on the north end of the beach in Puerto Escondido, however I was never able to find it myself. Otherwise Mercado Benito Juárez has about a million fresh caught fish stands on the street and in the market itself, however I can’t vouch for the quality. Lots of flies swarming around and questionable cooling practises.
Supplements and Health Food Stores in Puerto Escondido
Moringa Fresh & Wild has a decent selection of supplements, but not the most expansive. I’d recommend stocking up on supplements in larger cities prior to visiting Puerto Escondido or taking a trip to Mazunte which has more options.
Where to Buy Natural Skincare and Haircare Products in Puerto Escondido
Moringa Fresh & Wild has a beautiful selection of natural skin and hair products in Puerto Escondido. They carry everything from facial serums and natural deodorant to shampoo bars and balms.
Holistic Health & Healing Services in Puerto Escondido
These services are limited in Puerto Escondido. You’re best heading down to Mazunte.
Healthy Restaurants in Puerto Escondido
There’s no shortage of healthy restaurants in Puerto Escondido. Some of my favourites are:
- Papi Bowls (Rinconada): smoothie bowls and poke bowls
- Moringa Fresh & Wild (La Punta): vegan, naturally sweetened treats and grab-n-go containers of hummus and poke bowls
- Nativo (La Punta): fairly priced fish fillets served with veggies and rice
- The Açai Bar (La Punta): smoothies & juices
- Gustav Grün La Punta P.E: make your own burrito/burrito bowls with lots of healthy add-ins
Mazunte
Mazunte is a laid back beach town with a mega-hippie vibe. You can find all kinds of spiritual people and practises here as well as organic food, grass-fed beef, bone broth, vegan specialty stores, supplements, and natural skincare. Mazunte is one of the best towns in Mexico for living holistically and it’s also one of Mexico’s most magical towns.
All Mazunte’s health services and shopping options are marked on my Mexico map
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken/Eggs, and Bone Broth in Mazunte
In Mazunte you can buy grass-fed beef, pork, and bone broth at Doba. Look for the fridge/freezer in the back.
Where to Buy Organic Produce in Mazunte
I was unable to find much organic produce in Mazunte, only bits and pieces like leafy greens from Yu’gupa.
Where to Buy Fresh, Wild-Caught Fish in Mazunte
The closest spot to buy fresh fish in Mazunte would be down the road in Puerto Angel. Pescaderia El Dorado and Pescaderia Cecy have a wide selection, but it’s best to get there in the morning after the fishermen bring in their catch.
Supplements and Health Food Stores in Mazunte
There are a handful of places you can purchase supplements and health foods in Mazunte, but the one with the most selection is easily Yu’gupa Orgánica. Other options with limited selection include Anáhuac and Tienda De Cosmeticos Mazunte which carries all kinds of tinctures and plant medicines.
Where to Buy Natural Skincare and Haircare Products in Mazunte
There are multiple shops in Mazunte that sell natural hair and skincare products. Anáhuac and Yu’gupa Orgánica have beautiful products that are clean and high quality (shampoo bars, facial serums, natural deodorant, etc). I also saw a natural toothpaste at Palmira in Mazunte that looked fantastic. Tienda De Cosmeticos Mazunte has all kinds of “natural” products, but they didn’t seem to be of the highest quality – they gave off more “mass produced” vibes rather than locally made.
Holistic Health & Healing Services in Mazunte
Mazunte likely has Mexico’s highest concentration of health and healing services within a small area. Every few steps you’ll stumble across yoga centres, Reiki healers, and all kinds of alternative therapies you’ve probably never heard of. The best way to find the centre offering what you’re looking for is to take note of the flyers hanging on the street poles and to talk to local members of the community.
- Meditation Station – offers drop in classes for everything from yoga and meditation to ice baths and shamanic shaking
- Hyridaya Yoga – intensive yoga retreat also offering meditation seminars, drop-in classes, and various workshops
Healthy Restaurants in Mazunte
- Yeshúa’s menu consists of dishes made with solely organic ingredients. The guy who runs it cooks random things each day, usually only for dinner – the vibe is super local
- Yu’gupa Orgánica has the most delicious gran-n-go vegan treats in Mazunte (like energy balls and “cheese” cake) that are naturally sweetened and gluten-free
- El Armadillo has vegan Moroccan food that is SO tasty
- Umami and Luz del Sol are two cafes right next to one another with highly nutritional menus in Mazunte and they have vegan options
- Fresh juices, smoothies, and fresh coconuts are readily available pretty much everywhere in Mazunte
More healthy restaurants in Mazunte can be found in my Mexico map
Zipolite
Zipolite has its own healthy restaurants and local shops selling grass-fed meats, supplements, and natural skincare. However what’s great about this location is that Mazunte, which has a massive concentration of these products and services, is just 20 minutes up the road via dirt-cheap colectivo.
All Zipolite’s health services and shopping options are marked on my Mexico map
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken/Eggs, and Bone Broth in Zipolite
Like the Yu’gupa in Mazunte, there’s also one in Zipolite that sells grass-fed beef burgers. When I was in Zipolite they also had wild Norwegian salmon that was SO overpriced, but cool to see.
Where to Buy Organic Produce in Zipolite
I found organic leafy greens at Zipolite’s Tlalli, but other than that certified organic produce was near impossible to find in Zipolite.
Where to Buy Fresh, Wild-Caught Fish in Zipolite
The closest spot to buy fresh fish in Zipolite would be down the road in Puerto Angel. Pescaderia El Dorado and Pescaderia Cecy have a wide selection, but it’s best to get there in the morning after the fishermen bring in their catch.
Supplements and Health Food Stores in Zipolite
Yu’gupa sells all kinds of supplements and health food in Zipolite. They have a well stocked bulk section full of teas, nutritional add-ins (like hemp, cacao, and açai), spices, etc. If you’re looking for a little “fun” while you’re in Zipolite, Magic Women sells marijuana edibles and other similar products.
Where to Buy Natural Skincare and Haircare Products in Zipolite
Considering Zipolite is such a small town there are actually a handful of options for purchasing natural skin and haircare products (+ Mazunte just up the road). Yu’gupa of course has a good selection, but there’s also Tienda Piña Palmera which is a local coconut operation that hires only people with physical disabilities to work for them. This is so out of character for Mexico and I thought it was so wonderful.
Holistic Health & Healing Services in Zipolite
These are limited in Zipolite, so if you’re searching for healing services you’re best travelling 20 minutes up the road to Mazunte where you’ll be inundated with them.
Healthy Restaurants in Zipolite
- El Alquimista offer a romantic beach setting in the evening with candles. The menu consists of all kinds of dishes spanning healthy salads to ceviche, Mexican specialities, burgers, and more.
- Yu’gupa has naturally sweetened, gluten-free, vegan sweets in addition to ready-to-go meals like smoothie bowls, hummus, and bean salads.
- Espiritu Verde de Zipolite was my favourite healthy restaurant in Zipolite. They serve seafood, meat, and vegan dishes. They also have a breakfast/lunch menu with things like smoothie bowls.
- Palma Negra Ice Cream Shop has a vegan, naturally sweetened ice cream.
- Falafel shalom has tasty middle eastern food.
More healthy restaurants in Zipolite can be found in my Mexico map
Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is a hub for travellers, but there are also some holistic hidden gems and large chain-type stores here which are great for restocking supplements and health supplies.
All Oaxaca’s health services and shopping options are marked on my Mexico map
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken/Eggs, and Bone Broth in Oaxaca City
Xiguela Tienda, Suculenta Productos Caseros, Las Chiquihuitas Productos Orgánicos all have a selection of organic meats in Oaxaca, however Suculenta Productos Caseros seems to have the widest variety.
Where to Buy Organic Produce in Oaxaca City
There are a few options for buying organic produce in Oaxaca: Xiguela Tienda, Suculenta Productos Caseros (biggest selection), and Las Chiquihuitas Productos Orgánicos.
Where to Buy Fresh, Wild-Caught Fish in Oaxaca City
I was unable to find fresh fish in Oaxaca – if you know of a place comment below and I’ll add it here!
Supplements and Health Food Stores in Oaxaca City
I saw a handful of small supplement shops near the downtown area however Súper Naturista (which is a supplement chain store in Mexico) has the widest selection and best prices. It’s located right in the downtown core.
Where to Buy Natural Skincare and Haircare Products in Oaxaca City
I’m going to repeat myself here and say that Xiguela Tienda, Suculenta Productos Caseros, and Las Chiquihuitas Productos Orgánicos offer the best natural skin and haircare products in Oaxaca. I especially liked Las Chiquihuitas Productos Orgánicos for these products though.
Holistic Health & Healing Services in Oaxaca City
Matamoros 404 is a cultural centre offering yoga sessions, workshops, and various events.
Healthy Restaurants in Oaxaca City
- Herbívora serves vegan tacos and generally some of the healthier Mexican food I’ve seen
- Cafeto Cacao is my favourite spot in Oaxaca for local cacao beverages. They have water and milk options as well as add-ins like vanilla, cinnamon, etc. They come with and without sugar. They also have some healthier menu options as well as a gluten-free avocado toast option – gluten free options are SO hard to come by
- Boulenc is one of the best bakeries in Oaxaca. I feel their prices are quite reasonable and they’ve got some healthier options on their cafe menu. You can also pick up moles, nut butters, kefir, sauerkraut, hongos, mezcal, and various condiments here. They have a shop – Suculenta – next door with healthy grocery items
More healthy restaurants in Oaxaca City can be found in my Mexico map
Downloadable Mexico Google Map
Get all my Mexico travel recommendations saved directly to your phone – a digital guide available at your fingertips!
My Mexico map has recommendations for:
- Places: beach towns, mountain villages, backpacker hotspots, and magic towns
- Outdoors: beaches, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanos
- Restaurants: street food, healthy options, local favourites, international eats
- Experiences: holy sites, excursions, holistic experiences/retreats, turtle releases, photo-ops
- Planning: bus stops, lodging, public washrooms, tedious details (like laundromats/grocery stores)
Quick Mexico Travel Guide
Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.
Best time to visit: December to April has cooler temps and sunny skies. Hurricane season is from June to November.
Currency: Mexican peso, displayed as “$.” Cash is king in Mexico so it’s best to always have some on-hand. Small bills and change are always helpful for transportation and tipping. Most ATMs have service fees so try to withdraw larger amounts at once.
Local transportation: varies from trams and buses in bigger cities to colectivos in smaller beach towns. Local transportation is cheap, but if you’re looking to travel long distances you’ll need to utilize pricier night buses or fly.
Phone: SIM cards can be purchased at Oxxo. Data plans are generally cheap.
Language: Spanish. In popular backpacking spots you can often get by with English, however having basic Spanish or Google Translate is necessary elsewhere.
Safety: Mexico’s safety varies greatly from place-to-place.
Purchase my Mexico map: which is downloadable to Google Maps on your phone and has all my Mexico recommendations & travel tips constantly available at your fingertips.
Packing Guide: here’s my ultimate packing guide/travel essentials.
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
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About the Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
