Surf spot

Puerto Escondido

Forecast conditions and map view for Puerto Escondido in Mexico, Oaxaca-Chiapas. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Mexico, Oaxaca-Chiapas
Coordinates: 15.8472, -97.0551

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8
Wave direction	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW
Wave period (s)	10.8	10.8	10.7	10.3	10.1	9.9	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.7	9.7	9.5	9.2	9.1	8.6	8.6	8.3	8.2	8.7	8.6	7.2	11.1	11.9	14.1	13.7	13.8	13.8	13.9	13.6	13.3	12.8	11.1	10.9	10.9	10.9	11.3	10.8	10.8	10.4	10.6	10.6	10.7	11.3	11.3	11.1	10.9	10.7	10.6	10.4	10.4	10.3	10.3	10.3	10.3	10.3	10.3
Wave energy (kJ)	300	300	295	278	247	222	210	192	190	181	172	159	137	128	94	85	72	66	40	46	37	94	123	195	228	254	280	288	313	324	344	352	345	342	342	335	333	333	347	310	302	287	312	287	277	267	248	234	210	201	181	172	164	157	143	143
Wind speed (km/h)	9.7	7.7	3.9	0.8	10.2	10.4	9.2	6.2	5.3	9.5	6.6	2.2	11.9	13.9	4.9	4	4	15.6	1.8	14.4	12.3	10.5	4.7	3.8	6.4	8.2	6.7	4.7	11	11.8	7.6	6.1	7.9	8.8	6.4	2.3	12.4	7.7	8.6	8.7	7.8	6.5	7.6	1.9	14.2	9.2	7.7	6.5	6.6	6.9	5.1	3.2	11.6	13.8	7.3	6.9
Wind direction	NNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NNEGlassy	WNWGlassy	SSWCross-on	SWOnshore	WOnshore	NNWCross	NNWCross-on	NCross-off	NCross-off	EGlassy	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWGlassy	NGlassy	ENEGlassy	ENEOffshore	WGlassy	WNWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWGlassy	NWGlassy	NWCross-on	NNWCross	NNWCross	WGlassy	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	NWCross-on	NNWCross	NCross	NNECross-off	ENEGlassy	SWCross-on	SWOnshore	WOnshore	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NCross	NCross-off	NNEGlassy	SSWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	NWCross-on	NNWCross	NCross	NCross-off	WGlassy	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WOnshore	NWCross-on

Puerto Escondido (Oaxaca, Mexico) is one of the world’s most famous surf destinations, best known for its powerful beach breaks and heavy, hollow waves. It sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Oaxaca state, not far from the border region with Chiapas.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly beach breaks, especially the iconic Zicatela Beach.
Wave quality: Fast, steep, and often very powerful; can produce thick barrels on the right swell.
Skill level: Best suited for advanced to expert surfers. It’s not a beginner-friendly lineup.
Best conditions: South and southwest swells, with offshore or light winds. Bigger swells can make it extremely heavy.

Main surf breaks

Zicatela: The legendary “Mexican Pipeline,” known for its heavy, barreling surf.
La Punta: A more manageable point-style break at the southern end of Zicatela, popular with intermediate surfers.
Carrizalillo / Bacocho area: Generally smaller and friendlier conditions, better for learners and longboarders.

Atmosphere

Puerto Escondido has a strong surf culture, lively nightlife, and a laid-back beach town feel. It attracts experienced surfers from around the world, especially during the main swell season.

Best time to surf

Spring to fall is usually prime, with the biggest and most consistent waves in summer.
Winter can still produce surf, but often less powerful.

Things to know

Waves can be dangerous, especially at Zicatela due to strong currents, shallow sandbars, and heavy shorebreak.
If you’re not experienced, surf with caution and choose smaller breaks like La Punta or nearby beginner-friendly beaches.