Surfing Oaxaca

The Surf in Puerto Escondido

With miles of Pacific coastline, the state of Oaxaca offers surfers some excellent beach and point breaks. Without a doubt, Playa Zicatela at Puerto Escondido is the most frequented and carries a world-wide reputation, being known as the Mexico Pipeline.

The photos above were taken at Playa Zicatela during both morning and afternoon sessions in mid-august.

Puerto Escondido is on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico.  It is approximately 110 km. (a 2-hour drive) from the new beach resort area of Huatulco and 70 km. (a one-hour drive) from sleepy Puerto Angel and neighboring Zipolite, with it’s laid-back, beachfront scene.  It is just 5 hours by car from downtown Acapulco.

Established as a port town in 1928 for coffee exports, Puerto Escondido has become a popular tourist and surfing destination since the arrival of the Mexican coast highway 200 in the ’60s.

There are a number of surf shops in town, notably Mexpipe on Playa Zicatela and Central Surf, downtown, and many of the accommodations, especially along Playa Zicatela, cater particularly to surfers and campers.

Getting to Puerto Escondido is a breeze thanks to regular flights to the local airport from Mexico City and Oaxaca.  Thankfully the direct flights from the U.S. with their bellies full of discount all-inclusive tourists haven’t found the place yet.

Other breaks along the Oaxaca Coast

A few other breaks along the Oaxaca coast include Colotepec and Zepotonengo, south of Puerto Escondido, and Coyula, San Agustin and Santa Cruz, south of Puerto Angel.

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