March Swell

By: Eduardo Amaro Garcia
Translation: Heido Sundstrom

Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

This past March, a long-awaited swell (one of the best this year) crashed ashore along the beaches of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. Playa Zicatela, also known as the “Mexican Pipeline”, is a reserved and very privileged spot for experienced surfers and is known for its large waves of over 30 feet in height. For this reason, it’s considered to be one of the most exclusive surf spots in Mexico.

To get to Puerto Escondido (if traveling from abroad), you must fly to either Mexico City or Oaxaca City and from there, you can arrive by air or land to this paradisiacal place and explore the natural beauties that this tourist destination has to offer.

The perfect conditions that all surf lovers are looking for have finally arrived, bringing out surfers from all over the world, as well as local surfers like Oscar Moncada, Jose Ramirez, Raul Haro, Angelo Lozano and Coco Nogales, who have been busy giving us a spectacular show of throwing themselves into solid waves of 8 – 15 feet via a “tow-in” (for those that don’t know, “tow-in” is a method of surfing where the surfer gets “towed” out to a certain point at a precise moment with the help of a jet ski). This technique is used on extremely large waves, which aren’t easily accessible due to their height and speed.

As a sport, surfing has it all: excitement, adrenaline and glory. This spectacular practice lives on in the souls of the surfers that catch each wave with love, to achieve this indescribable feeling of freedom. Many surfers have discovered that Puerto Escondido is home to some of the best surf that anyone can experience. If you’re a dedicated surfer in search of an unforgettable trip, Puerto Escondido is waiting with open arms. Those who aren’t yet ready to face big waves can experiment at other beaches or simply be a spectator of this incredible sport.