Why Surfers NEED To Add This Mexico Beach Town to Their Bucket List
HAVE YOU HEARD OF PUERTO ESCONDIDO?
If you’re looking for the perfect place to learn how to surf, or take your skills up a notch, then the Puerto Escondido surf is perfect 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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Playa Zicatela Beach

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 every year.
Playa La Punta Beach

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

Playa Carrizalillo is the best beach in Puerto Escondido for beginners learning to surf.
The waves are calm and not too large at Playa Carrizalilo, making it perfect for learning and experimenting on your board for the first time.
There are many surfboard rental shops and classes available nearby so you won’t have to worry about lugging your belongings to the beach.
For the best surfing Puerto Escondido Mexico for beginners, you don’t want to miss out on Playa Carrizalillo.
In fact, most instructors include Playa Carrizalillo surf lessons when taking out beginner surfers.
Playa La Barra Colotepec

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.
Playa Punta Colorada (Body Surfing)

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 Sayulita, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape, Todos Santos, Mazatlan and Troncones.
Looking to Discover More Unique Places in Mexico?

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.
- The 30 Most Beautiful Cities in Mexico (#7 Will Shock You)
- Mexico Off the Beaten Path Places for Your Bucket List
- 20 Hot Springs in Mexico That are Calling Your Name
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- The Coolest Mayan Ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
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