Located in Western Oaxaca, Mexico, Puerto Escondido is widely considered one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world. There is no continental shelf to speak of, so swells are undiminished when they slam into the sandbars, holding size up to triple overhead. The nickname for this spot is “The Mexican Pipeline” which speaks to the massive barrels that can be found up and down the beach on days with swell. However, the waves are not as perfect and often close out. Puerto Escondido is a bit of a party town, enjoy the culture and nightlife, but make sure to get up early. Winds usually ruin the surf by around 11 a.m. Broken boards are common as are encounters with the shallow bottom. Take care and know your limits.
What are the best surf conditions for Puerto Escondido?
Gets good between waist-high and triple overhead, but be careful, even the smaller days hold some punch. A shortboard, step-up, and then a gun are all appropriate here. The surf here is pretty consistent (8/10) and will always have a crew, more crowded when smaller (7/10). The best winds are from the Northeast. The best swells are from the South, Southwest, and West. Works on all tides.
We recommend wearing board shorts or a bikini in the summer when water temperatures rise to 31 degrees. In the winter a 4/3 might be necessary when water temperatures plunge to 16 degrees. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
