Spot of the Week – Puerto Escondido
August 5th, 2010
Puerto Escondido is one of Mexcio’s most famous waves. You’ll find the main spot at Playa Zicatela, which runs from the port. A bend in the beach hosts the best peak(s).
Puerto Escondido
A hollow, perfect, powerful beach-break that holds waves from 2-20 feet. Waves come out of nowhere thanks to a deepwater trench, and they jack up for some of the most hair raising take-offs anywhere. When it’s offshore (every morning of the year, till 11am), virtually every wave is a barrell opportunity. Some sets line up for several bottom turns, others are sharp shocks, all can drill a surfer hard into the sandbank.
The peaks further down the beach are rarely much good. A few kilometres down the beach is La Punta – a lefthand pointbreak that is much more approachable, even though it holds anything from 3-15 feet. Take off is close to the rocks, and the wave peels fast down the line over a sand bottom, forming beautifully without truly barrelling.
Biggest waves are from May to August, but Puerto takes swell from any direction, and can be surfed all year round.
There are many places to stay, catering for all levels. Great food is available both on Zicatela itself, and in the port (where lobster lovers will feel they’ve died and gone to heaven). There are a few surf shops in the port, as well as Zicatela.
This is mainland Mexico’s most crowded surf spot, with up to 100 surfers in the water in season. Hassle is not uncommon. Don’t wander drunk on to the beach at night with a wallet full of dollars. Despite all this, Escondido has a great vibe and is a great place to spend a week. It’s a shame there aren’t a lot of great surfspots nearby to absorb the numbers.
Surfer's Eye map for Puerto Escondido
Here’s more info on surf spots in Mexico.
Tags: Mexico, Puerto Escondido, spot of the week, surf guide, surf spot, surfing, Wavefinder
