Zicatela.
Now
· updated 15 hours agoSouth-southwest swell at 15 seconds peaks Wednesday dawn under light west-northwest wind, dropping to 1-2m Thursday with glassy to light southwest wind. The swell holds through the weekend under light west wind before building to 2-3m Monday with glassy to moderate southwest wind. Tuesday sees a fresh pulse from south-southeast and east-southeast at 10-19 seconds with heavy wind sea and moderate to blown-out west-northwest to northeast wind, peaking Wednesday at 3-7m from west and south-southwest with heavy wind sea and blown-out south to northwest wind before easing to 2m Thursday under moderate west-northwest to west wind. Looks like Thursday dawn under glassy light west will be the cleanest window.
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About Zicatela
Puerto Escondido is the surf town on the Oaxaca coast of southern Mexico, 15° north of the equator. Zicatela is the headline beach, the Mexican Pipeline: a sand-bottom barrel that produces some of the largest, hollowest waves on earth. Far Bar is the left, Carmelita’s the right. La Punta is the longboard wave at the south end of the bay. Carrizalillo, a cove west of town, is the protected pocket.
Zicatela works on south to south-south-west swell from South Pacific storms and East Pacific tropical systems, April through October, with July and August the peak. A deep offshore trench focuses the energy; the swell can double or triple as it shoals onto the bank. Long-period pulses (20 s+) lift Zicatela to 2 to 6 m, with 12 to 18 m faces on the biggest days. North-north-east is offshore at dawn; the south-south-west sea breeze fills by mid-morning. Surf at first light.
Water sits at 26 to 30 °C year-round, so boardies and a rashie. Hurricane season runs June through November and adds size. Zicatela on a clean 3 m+ is pros and committed locals only; the takeoff is heavy and the rip drags you in front of the next set if you fall on the inside. If Zicatela is too big, La Punta holds; for beginners, Carrizalillo is the call.