Want to go surfing in Puerto Escondido?
If you’re looking for the perfect place to learn how to surf, or take your skills up a notch, then the Puerto Escondido surf is perfect for you.
While some beaches have large swells reaching 10- to 20-feet-high (3-6 m), other beaches offer calm waves, great for practicing.
This means that no matter your skill level, you won’t regret experiencing some Puerto Escondido surf trips on your vacation.
The warm water and consistent waves make this one of the best Mexico surf destinations, so let’s get to this list of the best Puerto Escondido surf spots.
The Top 5 Puerto Escondido Surf Spots
1. Playa Zicatela Beach
Playa Zicatela is for advanced surfers looking for an adrenaline rush.
The beach has some of the strongest undercurrents and largest waves for surfing in Puerto Escondido — including the giant Mexican Pipeline wave.
You’ll notice that most Puerto Escondido Mexico surf camps won’t take you to this beach either.
However, if you’re a confident surfer looking to catch heavy waves, Playa Zicatela is the Puerto Escondido beach for you.
⚠️ Note: The town strongly encourages people not to swim at Playa Zicatela Beach, as the water conditions cause people to drown every year.
2. Playa La Punta Beach
If you’re not advanced enough for Playa Zicatela, head south to La Punta. La Punta is a great intermediate spot for Puerto Escondido Mexico surfing.
The breaks here are softer and the waves are smaller. This makes it ideal for beginners, but there’s still some risk for a less confident surfer.
The waves tend to crash towards rockier areas, so falling or jumping into the water can be dangerous.
La Punta is perfect if you’re ready for a bit of a challenge but nothing too crazy.
3. Playa Carrizalillo Beach
Playa Carrizalillo is the best beach in Puerto Escondido for beginners learning to surf.
The waves are calm and not too large at Playa Carrizalilo, making it perfect for learning and experimenting on your board for the first time.
There are many surfboard rental shops and classes available nearby so you won’t have to worry about lugging your belongings to the beach.
For the best surfing Puerto Escondido Mexico for beginners, you don’t want to miss out on Playa Carrizalillo.
In fact, the majority of instructors include Playa Carrizalillo surf lessons when taking out beginner surfers.
4. Playa La Barra Colotepec
Playa La Barra Colotepec is a great spot for Puerto Escondido surfing.
With rideable waves coming from every direction, it’s great for intermediate surfers looking to perfect their skills before trying out Playa Zicatela.
There are rental shops nearby to rent surfboards and sign up for lessons.
The nice part about Playa La Barra Colotepec is that it’s less crowded than some of the more popular surf spots in the area.
5. Playa Punta Colorada (Body Surfing)
Puerto Colorada Beach is a beautiful, secluded beach located a short five minute drive from Puerto Escondido International Airport (code: PXM).
If you’re looking to enjoy some waves all your yourself, head to this lesser-visited spot.
This hidden gem is a favorite beach in Puerto Escondido for surfing and bodyboarding.
Its powerful waves and beach break attract bodyboarders from all over for an annual competition.
Punta Colorada is also well known for its diverse ecosystem. You’ll find a variety of wildlife, from birds to whales and sea turtles in the area.
🏄♀️ Curious about other surf towns in Mexico?
You’ll find some of the best surf spots in Mexico in Sayulita, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape, Todos Santos, Mazatlan and Troncones.
Puerto Escondido Surf Spots: FAQ
How big do the waves get in Puerto Escondido?
Depending on the beach, the waves in Puerto Escondido average 10-12 feet (4-5 m) — but waves at Playa Zicatela Beach have reached up to 40 feet (12 m).
In the summer months, surfers can find 20 foot waves (6 meters) on beaches for advanced surfers.
You can even check out the live Puerto Escondido surf cam to see for yourself!
While you can swim at most beaches in Puerto Escondido, you can’t at one in particular due to the huge waves.
This is Playa Zicatela Beach, home to the giant Mexican Pipeline wave.
For the best swimming beaches in Puerto Escondido, head to Playa Puerto Angelito Beach, Playa Carrizalillo Beach, Playa Manzanillo Beach, Playa Coral Beach and Playa Principal Beach near downtown.
Why are the waves so big in Puerto Escondido?
The waves in Puerto Escondido are so big because it has the optimal location for a unique combination of factors that create powerful swells.
Waves coming to Puerto Escondido are largely uninterrupted before reaching the perfect swell window near the shore.
Additionally, Puerto Escondido is surrounded by cliffs and rocks which cause these already large waves to break harder, resulting in the big waves that visitors and locals to love the ride.
Can beginners surf Puerto Escondido?
Yes — Beginners can surf in Puerto Escondido, and the two beaches best known for beginners are Playa Carrizalillo and La Punta.
The waves are smaller and calmer on these beaches, making it a great place to learn.
There is no shortage of Puerto Escondido surfing lessons to choose from, and they’re very affordable.
If you check out some Puerto Escondido beach cams, you’ll see plenty of beginners learning to surf.
Whether you need a little practice or have never been on a board, you can surf in Puerto Escondido.
Can you surf Puerto Escondido in January?
Yes — You can surf in Puerto Escondido in January, and all year-long.
However, January isn’t peak surf season, so the waves may be smaller than in Spring and Summer months.
If you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer, January is a great time to go surfing in Puerto Escondido before the larger swells make their way to shore.
However, for the big waves in Puerto Escondido Mexico, you have to wait until summer.
This is also when the surfing competitions come to town, so the water will also be more crowded.
Is the water warm in Puerto Escondido?
Yes — The water is very warm in Puerto Escondido with average temperatures of 80°F (26 degrees Celsius) for most of the year.
With Puerto Escondido’s warm water with warm temperatures, it’s comfortable to swim and surf year round, and wetsuits for warmth mostly unnecessary.
Are there surf schools in Puerto Escondido?
Yes — There are many Puerto Escondido surf schools to choose from! There are also board rentals in town.
If you want to start learning how to surf or improve your surfing skills, there are a variety of surf houses (schools) and instructors to choose from, including local companies like B Surfer Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondido also has a variety of beaches that accommodate different levels of surfing, making it the perfect place to learn.
One particular school I recommend is Oasis Surf School Puerto Escondido.
Most lessons accommodate small groups of six to ten. You can also choose to take private lessons.
However, if you’re on a budget, consider booking a surf package to save money on multiple lessons.
There are also a lot of Puerto Escondido co-living spots and accommodation options that offer surf lessons — Selina Surf Club Puerto Escondido is a great example.
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I can tell you firsthand that Puerto Escondido surfing is one of the best ways to enjoy Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico — so I’m glad you landed on this article to find all th best spots.
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