Zicatela.

Puerto Escondido is the surf town on the Oaxaca coast of southern Mexico, 15° north of the equator. Zicatela is the headline beach, the Mexican Pipeline: a sand-bottom barrel that produces some of the largest, hollowest waves on earth. Far Bar is the left, Carmelita’s the right. La Punta is the longboard wave at the south end of the bay. Carrizalillo, a cove west of town, is the protected pocket.

Zicatela works on south to south-south-west swell from South Pacific storms and East Pacific tropical systems, April through October, with July and August the peak. A deep offshore trench focuses the energy; the swell can double or triple as it shoals onto the bank. Long-period pulses (20 s+) lift Zicatela to 2 to 6 m, with 12 to 18 m faces on the biggest days. North-north-east is offshore at dawn; the south-south-west sea breeze fills by mid-morning. Surf at first light.

Water sits at 26 to 30 °C year-round, so boardies and a rashie. Hurricane season runs June through November and adds size. Zicatela on a clean 3 m+ is pros and committed locals only; the takeoff is heavy and the rip drags you in front of the next set if you fall on the inside. If Zicatela is too big, La Punta holds; for beginners, Carrizalillo is the call.