Giant surf
Pro surfers at work.
Gzzz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · https://www.flickr.com/photos/elfidomx/ — CC BY 2.0 · Ix kimiaranda — CC BY-SA 4.0
A long golden-sand Pacific beach, world-famous for its huge tubing waves, nicknamed the «Mexican Pipeline»; professional surfers come from all over the world and international contests are held here. Watching riders in the giant surf from the sand is a show in itself. But Zicatela is very dangerous for swimming: the waves are powerful and the rip currents strong, and only experts go in. For swimming, the town has calmer beaches: Carrizalillo, in a small cove reached by a stairway, and Puerto Angelito, with calm water and colourful boats. Puerto Escondido is a small, easy-going town, with the La Punta district at Zicatela's southern end full of cafés, and fish restaurants on the sand. In some seasons baby sea turtles are released into the sea at sunset as part of conservation programmes. The best times on the beach are morning and sunset, as the midday sun is fierce. Respect the warning flags, and do not go in at Zicatela unless you are an experienced surfer.
Pro surfers at work.
A calm cove to swim.
Cafés on the sand.
South of Puerto Escondido town, on Oaxaca's Pacific coast
At calm Carrizalillo and Puerto Angelito. Zicatela's waves and currents are dangerous, so it is for watching and for experienced surfers only.