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Surfing in Puerto Escondido

For surfers worldwide, the beaches of Puerto Escondido are one of the top ten surfing destinations in the world, thanks to the strong Pacific waves crashing unimpeded on its eastern shore.

Originally a coffee-shipping port and tiny fishing village, Puerto Escondido was popular with surfers before it became a tourist resort. Known as the "Mexican Pipeline", the eastern beach of Zicatela is for serious surfing, with international championships held here each year. The waves are a hollow tube, running about 6 to 15 feet (1.8 to 4.6 meters), or higher. It appeals to a younger crowd, reflected in the cluster of lazy beach bars serving drinks long after the sunset.

But because swimming can be challenging here, the eastern beach is usually quite empty, in spite of its refreshing breeze. For many middle-class Mexicans, the favorite spot is the northern beach, with its sandy cove sheltered by picture-perfect palm trees, and dotted by straw-roofed gazebo-topped cafes and seafood restaurants. Families flock from all over the state to spend their Sunday afternoon pick-nicking and sun-bathing here.

For swimmers, the place to be is the northern beach

For snorkeling, the beach of Puerto Angelito and Carrizalillo are a short walk south from Zicatela. Its water is much quieter, very transparent with pleasant green tones.

The main marketplace, Mercado Benito Juarez, sprawls along the beach twice a week, offering clothing and local handicrafts including silver, pottery, and leather goods. Many merchants actually crisscross the beaches to offer their art to the tourists.

Worth visiting around Puerto Escondido, especially if you are part of the growing trend for ecotourism, are the two freshwater lagoons of Manialtepec and of Chacahua National Park, where visitors can observe close to 200 species of exotic and colorful birds in their natural habitat, plus some unique species of mangroves.

Continued...	Tropical Landscapes > >
Based on video "Journey to the Heart of Mexico"	Practical Information of Oaxaca > >
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