Puerto Escondido, Pacific beach destination in Oaxaca, Mexico
Puerto Escondido is a coastal town along the Pacific with several beaches, from Zicatela with its powerful waves to Carrizalillo with its sheltered coves and calmer waters. The town spreads across hilly terrain with restaurants, shops, and lodging scattered between the shoreline and residential areas above.
The area began as a small fishing village that transformed in the mid-20th century when surfers discovered the exceptional wave conditions there. This discovery brought growing numbers of visitors and gradually shifted the local economy away from fishing alone.
The fishing community at Bahia Principal maintains customs passed down through generations, with boats departing before dawn and returning with the day's catch for local markets. This rhythm gives the town much of its character and shows how deeply life here revolves around the ocean.
Getting around between beaches is easy with local taxis and colectivos that run regularly throughout the day. The hilly terrain means some walkways can be steep, so wearing comfortable shoes is helpful when exploring the town.
The waves at Zicatela Beach form due to specific underwater conditions that create consistently powerful breaks prized by professional surfers worldwide. Few other spots in the region produce waves with such predictable and intense characteristics.
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