Zicatela Beach has the Mexican Pipeline — one of the most powerful beach breaks in the world — and a beach party circuit directly behind the break: beach bars, bonfires, and mezcal-funded evenings that run until the fishermen come back out.
Year-round. Dry season (November to April) is the most comfortable for beach evenings. The Mexican Pipeline surf season (May to September) draws the largest surfing crowd. The Puerto Escondido Open (professional surfing competition) runs in June or July.
Puerto Escondido is a surf and fishing town on the Oaxacan Pacific coast, 250km south of Oaxaca city. Zicatela Beach, running south from the main town, is where the Mexican Pipeline breaks: a world-class hollow beach break that draws professional surfers from May to September when the southwest swells peak. The beach behind the break has a continuous strip of palapa bars, surf hostels, and restaurants running the 2km length.
The nightlife on Zicatela is built around beach bonfires, mezcal (Oaxaca is mezcal's home state), and the informal social energy of a surf town. El Adoquín, the pedestrianised strip in the upper town, has restaurants and bars from 6pm to midnight. The beach bars on Zicatela run later: midnight to 2am on most nights, occasionally later during high season. A shot of local mezcal at a beach bar costs 50–80 MXN; beer (Pacífico, the local brand) is 45–65 MXN. The Puerto Escondido Open in June or July is a professional surf competition on the Pipeline with free spectator access from the beach.
Party hostels within reach of Puerto Escondido's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
El Adoquín (the pedestrian strip in Puerto Escondido's upper town) has the main restaurant concentration: fresh fish tacos, tostadas de mariscos, and mezcal bars. Dinner for two with drinks: 400–800 MXN. The stretch from the main square to the sea has the best concentration. Sunset is best viewed from the El Adoquín end of the beach or from any bar with a west-facing terrace. Mezcal shots at El Adoquín bars: 60–100 MXN. Beer: 45–70 MXN.
The beach bars on Zicatela — including El Tubo and the cluster around the main pipeline area — are the late scene. Plastic chairs in the sand, a sound system, mezcal, and the ocean noise from the break behind you. The bars run until midnight–2am most nights. Bonfires form independently at various points on the beach from 9pm onwards. The crowd is a mix of surfers, backpackers, and locals. Mezcal: 50–80 MXN per shot. Pacífico beer: 45–60 MXN.
Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.
