Oscar Moncada is always having fun at MexPipe. It doesn’t matter if its a huge scary swell or some fun smaller waves.
Photo: Maria Fernanda
1. Respect the Locals (Including Photographers)
Mexicans are known for being nice people and very welcoming to the tourists, but they are also very protective of their waves.
We all have heard the phrase “Give respect, get respect.” Puerto is no different as most surfers (anywhere in the world) can be territorial and can have aggressive tendencies. Whatever you do, never disrespect the locals. Trust me, you don’t want to have the entire town against you. But most of all, it’s a matter of safety as the waves here are no joke.
The same principle applies to all the photographers, in or out of the water. It’s always important to have a cordial relationship with the local photographers and be respectful of their work.
2. Never Ever Underestimate the “Mexican Pipeline”
Photo: Maria Fernanda
We all see plenty of photos of Zicatela and admire those perfect, big, open barrels. The reality is once you are in the line up it’s hard to differentiate the closeouts from the open barrels. There’s a reason it is known to be one of the most dangerous beach breaks in the world. This wave breaks year-round. The bigger months are May through July with September and October still seeing some more user friendly waves.
Safety is crucial and Zicatela has some of the best lifeguards out there, but it still has claimed almost as many lives as the North Shore’s Pipeline.
3. How the Wave Works
Coco Nogales, always supporting the locals and pushing them to surf better. Photo: Maria Fernanda
I asked the two locals that know better than anyone else, Coco Nogales and Oscar Moncada, to help me describe this wave a little bit. A big submarine canyon is what causes the wave to violently jack up in size, breaking into the hard packed sand when a south swell hits this stretch of beach. It breaks better early mornings, with conditions typically blowing out a little bit before noon. Some evenings the wind will work in our favor and Zicatela will turn on till it gets dark.
Coco explained the best swells, come from the South between 190° to 200°, with offshore winds and the best size at head high and up.
Meanwhile, growing up with Zicatela as his backyard, has been a blessing to Oscar. He is used to strong currents and no channel, which could be a challenge for other surfers. There are many different peaks but normally the rights work better and are longer too.
4. Don’t Believe Everything You Hear (About Mexico)
Puerto Escondido is such a charming, colorful town. Photo: Maria Fernanda
We have all heard bad news about traveling to Mexico. The truth is if you are just going to Puerto to enjoy your summer and surf the fun big barrels, you should be fine. The locals did have their struggles getting gasoline, milk, eggs and some other basic products this summer thanks to different strikes in Oaxaca. But at the same time they work very hard to provide the best services they can to tourists and have everything available to the surfers visiting.
5. The Tricks to Getting Around Town
The ¨Mercado¨ and its colors, flavors and people. Photo: Maria Fernanda
Puerto Escondido has grown a lot since being known simply as a quiet fishing town. Today there are a lot of lodging options, restaurants and other activities if the surf isn’t good. I always stay at the hotel Bungalows Zicatela because it’s situated directly in front of the wave, but there are a lot of options with a variety of prices and delicious local food.
You cannot leave without going to the mercado in the center of Puerto Escondido. There you will find all kinds of souvenirs, produce, local food and the list goes on. You’ll need to try the famous “Tlayudas.” And of course what is a summer in Mexico without some partying? Whether you like to dance salsa or house music you will find the perfect bar to dance the night away.
Now you know where to go next summer for big massive barrels, great food and fun nights.
