Shocking Surf Spots Revealed in This Bohemian Beach Village

Sunset in Puerto Escondido Beach with Silhouette of People
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If you’re looking for the perfect place to learn how to surf or improve your skills, Puerto Escondido surf is the place 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.

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1. Playa Zicatela Beach

Hands Sculpture at Playa Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Playa Zicatela is one of the best beaches in Puerto Escondido, and the top surfing beach in town.

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 yearly.

2. Playa La Punta Beach

beach chairs and yellow unbrellas at La Punta Puerto Escondido beach in Oaxaca Mexico
If you also want a chill spot for relaxing and surfing, go to La Punta Puerto Escondido.

If you’re not advanced enough for Playa Zicatela, head south to La Punta. La Punta is a great intermediate spot for surfing in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.

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 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

man laying on a surfboard on Playa Carrizalillo Beach Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico
Pretty Playa Carrizalillo Beach in Puerto Escondido is one of the best beaches in Mexico that are good for beginners.

Playa Carrizalillo is the best beach in Puerto Escondido for beginners learning to surf.

At Playa Carrizalilo, the waves are calm and not too large, making it perfect for learning and experimenting on your board for the first time. 

Many surfboard rental shops and classes are available nearby, so you won’t have to worry about lugging your belongings to the beach.

For the best surfing in Puerto Escondido beginners don’t want to miss out on Playa Carrizalillo.

Most instructors include Playa Carrizalillo surf lessons when taking out beginner surfers.

4. Playa La Barra Colotepec

surfer getting out of the water in Puerto Escondido Mexico
Playa La Barra Colotepec is one of the best surfing spots near Puerto Escondido Mexico.

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)

body boarding surfers
The waves in Punta Colorada is perfect for body boarding.

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 SayulitaEnsenadaCabo San Lucas and the East Cape, Todos SantosMazatlan and Troncones.

Ready to Book Your Mexico Vacation? Here Are Some Resources To Look At:

woman standing in the circlular pad in cenote suytun
Cenote Suytun, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, is a visitor favorite.

Mexico is a large country — the 14th largest country on Earth by size — and it’s also the 6th most biodiverse diverse country in the world.

Though it’s mostly known for beaches, there’s a lot more to Mexico than that. Check out these Mexico articles to discover parts of the country you never knew existed.

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