Puerto Escondido (Zicatela)
Oaxaca, Mexico
Sat, Oct 31 – Tue, Nov 3
- 9–10 ft · 14sSurf on your dates
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- BWI → PXMNearest airport
- 86°F waterBoardshorts
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Puerto Escondido (Zicatela) surf forecast
Better surfweekendMon 2 Nov – Thu 5 Nov
Updated
Trip dates
Friday, Oct 23
6-7ft8/10Best in the morning
- Swell
- 12s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:22am to 6:02pm
- Dawn6:22 to 8am6-7ft5kt offshore6/10
- Morning8 to 11am5-6ft2kt glassy8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5-6ft6kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm7ft5kt onshore3/10
- Dusk4 to 6:02pm7ft3kt glassy4/10
Saturday, Oct 24
7ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 10s SSW
- Wind
- 2kt glassy
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:22am to 6:01pm
- Dawn6:22 to 8am7ft3kt glassy6/10
- Morning8 to 11am7ft4kt cross-shore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7ft2kt glassy4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm7ft1kt glassy5/10
- Dusk4 to 6:01pm7ft1kt glassy5/10
Sunday, Oct 25
6ft5/10Best in the morning
- Swell
- 12s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:22am to 6:01pm
- Dawn6:22 to 8am5ft3kt glassy5/10
- Morning8 to 11am5-6ft3kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft3kt glassy4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm6ft5kt onshore3/10
- Dusk4 to 6:01pm6ft5kt cross-shore4/10
Monday, Oct 26
6ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 9s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:23am to 6pm
- Dawn6:23 to 8am6ft3kt glassy7/10
- Morning8 to 11am6ft3kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm5-6ft5kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6pm5ft4kt onshore3/10
Tuesday, Oct 27
5ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 8s SSW
- Wind
- 2kt glassy
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:23am to 6pm
- Dawn6:23 to 8am4ft2kt glassy6/10
- Morning8 to 11am4-5ft1kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm5ft2kt glassy3/10
- Dusk4 to 6pm5ft0kt glassy4/10
Wednesday, Oct 28
5ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:23am to 5:59pm
- Dawn6:23 to 8am5ft2kt glassy7/10
- Morning8 to 11am5ft1kt glassy6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft5kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm6ft6kt onshore3/10
- Dusk4 to 5:59pm4-5ft4kt cross-shore4/10
Thursday, Oct 29
6ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 2kt glassy
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:24am to 5:59pm
- Dawn6:24 to 8am6ft3kt glassy8/10
- Morning8 to 11am6ft2kt glassy7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm6ft3kt glassy3/10
- Dusk4 to 5:59pm6ft0kt glassy5/10
Friday, Oct 30
6-7ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 12s SW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:24am to 5:59pm
- Dawn6:24 to 8am6ft3kt glassy7/10
- Morning8 to 11am5-6ft1kt glassy7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm6-7ft4kt onshore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:59pm7ft3kt glassy4/10
Saturday, Oct 31
9ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:24am to 5:58pm
- Dawn6:24 to 8am8-9ft4kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am9ft1kt glassy8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm9ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm9ft3kt glassy3/10
- Dusk4 to 5:58pm9ft2kt glassy3/10
Sunday, Nov 1
9ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 4kt cross-shore
- Water
- 87°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 6:25am to 5:58pm
- Dawn6:25 to 8am9ft2kt glassy8/10
- Morning8 to 11am9ft1kt glassy8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm9ft4kt cross-shore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm9ft5kt cross-shore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:58pm9ft4kt cross-shore4/10
Monday, Nov 2 Long range
8ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 6:25am to 5:57pm
- Dawn6:25 to 8am8ft3kt glassy8/10
- Morning8 to 11am8ft1kt glassy8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm8ft3kt glassy3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm8ft4kt onshore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:57pm8ft3kt glassy4/10
Tuesday, Nov 3 Long range
7ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 6:25am to 5:57pm
- Dawn6:25 to 8am7ft3kt glassy8/10
- Morning8 to 11am6-7ft1kt glassy8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7ft4kt onshore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm7ft4kt onshore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:57pm7ft4kt onshore4/10
Wednesday, Nov 4 Long range
7-8ft9/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 6:26am to 5:57pm
- Dawn6:26 to 8am7ft1kt glassy9/10
- Morning8 to 11am7ft0kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7-8ft5kt onshore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm7-8ft4kt cross-shore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:57pm8-9ft3kt glassy5/10
Thursday, Nov 5 Long range
9ft9/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 16s SSW
- Wind
- 5kt cross-shore
- Light
- 6:26am to 5:56pm
- Dawn6:26 to 8am9ft1kt glassy9/10
- Morning8 to 11am9ft1kt glassy7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm9ft7kt cross-shore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm8ft8kt cross-shore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:56pm8ft6kt cross-shore5/10
Friday, Nov 6 Long range
6-7ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 6:27am to 5:56pm
- Dawn6:27 to 8am7-8ft1kt glassy7/10
- Morning8 to 11am7ft4kt onshore3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6-7ft5kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm6ft4kt onshore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:56pm6ft1kt glassy5/10
Saturday, Nov 7 Long range
5ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt cross-shore
- Light
- 6:27am to 5:56pm
- Dawn6:27 to 8am5ft3kt glassy7/10
- Morning8 to 11am4-5ft2kt glassy7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft4kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm5ft5kt cross-shore4/10
- Dusk4 to 5:56pm5ft5kt cross-shore5/10
Live cams
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Puerto Escondido (Zicatela) surf guide
The wave. Zicatela is a heavy beach break over a shallow sandbar, with lefts and rights that break as thick, fast barrels close to shore. A deep offshore trench focuses south groundswells onto the bar, which earned it the name the Mexican Pipeline. The World Surf League has run its Puerto Escondido Challenge big wave event here.
Who it suits. Zicatela is for advanced and expert surfers and bodyboarders only, and experienced bodyboarders often own the lineup. Intermediates and beginners do better at La Punta and Carrizalillo.
Read the full guide, with its sources (checked Oct 2026).
Where to stay
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Price per night$16 – $460+
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No places in this price range.
Checked Oct 2026
Season
PeakShoulderOff
Best months: Apr–Oct · typically 6–7 ft faces
Month by month
Best Apr–Oct. Good most of the year. Worth avoiding Jan.
| Month | Relative quality | Typical face | Surfable days | Water | Wear | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 ft | 90% | 28 C / 82 F | boardshorts | Worth avoiding | |
| Feb | 5 ft | 94% | 28 C / 83 F | boardshorts | Shoulder | |
| Mar | 5 ft | 98% | 27 C / 81 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Apr | 6 ft | 100% | 28 C / 83 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| May | 7 ft | 100% | 30 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Jun | 6 ft | 99% | 30 C / 87 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Jul | 6 ft | 100% | 31 C / 88 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Aug | 6 ft | 98% | 31 C / 88 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Sep | 7 ft | 96% | 31 C / 87 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Oct | 6 ft | 97% | 30 C / 86 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Nov | 6 ft | 100% | 29 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Dec | 4 ft | 94% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Shoulder |
Medians from years of hindcast, not a forecast (how we read the hindcast). Water temperatures come from an offshore model grid, which reads a little warm on an upwelling coast. More on the break in the Mexico guide. Head to head: Puerto Escondido vs Sayulita.