For more than 10 years, I’ve been dying to explore Oaxaca and the waves of Salina Cruz. Though my visits to Mexico over the decades have been frequent, the many rave reviews of Punta Conejo and it’s surrounding breaks have been elusive.
This is the first surf trip I’ve personally created for my buddies. Those invited are only the best of the best. Not the best surfers, though some rip harder than I could ever dream. The best HUMANS. Every surf trip I’ve ever been on, there’s always been at least 1 guy that got in a bar fight with locals, shit in the pool, or threw up in my shoes.
NOT THIS TIME!
If anyone’s gonna puke in my shoes, it’s gonna be me.
So, before we venture towards high season, surf season, in one of the most magical areas of Mexico, I’ve put together a list of things that need to happen, places to explore, and things to pack.
What to Bring
- Boards, wax, extra leash, beach towel – There aren’t any surf shops, so I’m bringing 3 shortboards, plenty of wax, duct tape, and a few extra leashes. Having an extra board is a good idea (especially when you snap them on the regular like me…) They give us pool towels, but we need our own for the beach.
- Sunblock, surf shirts, extra boardies, a surf hat, and aloe vera. The sun is going to be brutal on some of these long sessions.
- $500-1000 USD converted into Mexican Pesos – For street merchants, extras and tipping. Credit cards will be taken a plenty, but whatever I don’t spend on those that don’t take CCs will be used to tip out the staff at the Punta Conejo Resort. Generally the surf guide’s get most of the tip, a good medium is $100 per person for the trip, Chef around $30-75, Housekeeper’s/security $20-50. The guides handle the photo/video package, generally they charge around $100+/person extra for the trip for photos and videos, you will negotiate with them upon arrival. Also, bring a credit card or 2. Other extra costs are for booze, massage ($50/30min, $80/hour), laundry services (50 pesos/5items), extra trips like fishing boats ($200-300/5people), etc… Exchange your money beforehand! Airport exchange is insane! The last one I went to took over 30%! Also, there’s nothing at HUX for exchange. Find one in a city near you with good rates, or order some from your bank. American Savings Bank says it’ll get it for me within 3 business days.
- First Aid – The resort might have it, but doesn’t hurt to bring some extra stuff. We have a doctor coming that will bring suture supplies to sew us up.
- Passport – Make sure it’s up to date! Must have 6 months of validity remaining and another photo ID (flying out of TJ may not require passport, not sure though.)
OPTIONAL
- Travel Insurance – I usually skip it, but I might consider it this time since we’re far out. Not sure yet.
- Phone Plan – Check to see if your carrier includes Mex. If not, there’s WIFI at the resort.
- Ear Plugs – If you snore or are a light sleeper, let me know. It’ll be 3 people to a room. We should plan according to volume. Duffy gets his own room, since he’s a crazy light sleeper from being on-call.
- Booze – Might be worth grabbing a plastic bottle for the suitcase beforehand, or try to grab some at the airport. I don’t know what they’re going to charge at the resort.
- Bug Protection – If you’re prone to mosquitos, bring something. Try to get non-toxic.
- DVDs – There’s no cable, and they have some DVDs, but if you have a favorite, grab it. They have Apple TV too.
- Electrolytes – and any other supplements that might help our old bodies recover long sessions and a potential long night or 7.
Best Routes
Southern California to Mexico
LAX-MEX-HUX – Volaris has a relatively inexpensive flight right now.
TIJ-MEX-HUX – Requires walking across the bridge (Cross Border Xpress.)
LAX-DFW-HUX – Definitely easier stopping in Dallas than in Mexico City.
For Mexico City layovers, make sure you have enough time between flights to recheck your boardbags upstairs. Customs, etc…
Maui to Mexico
OGG-DFW-HUX – There are other flights, but the timing, pricing, and layovers suck. I also really like the idea of flying with a single airline and not having to recheck bags. We’ll see if that remains true once we’ve done it, since one layover is overnight in Dallas.
Punta Conejo Resort Honest Review
Coming soon! I’ll be reviewing the booking process, our guides, the photos they get, the food and service at the resort. So far, I only hear good things.
Southern Oaxaca Surf Spot Map
I created this map from many different sources online, so I can’t be certain yet of the exact locations. That said, as we travel up and down this coastline to surf, I’ll be taking notes and updating the map.
Río Tapextla
Near the Guerrero/Oaxaca border, Río Tapextla is an exposed rivermouth break with a remote feel and relatively light crowds. It breaks both left and right, works best on South-Southwest groundswell, and favors offshore winds from the Northeast. Summer is generally the most consistent season, though winter can bring cleaner conditions.
Chacahua
Set inside Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, this laid-back surf village has a mellow, jetty-influenced right that is popular with longboarders, intermediates, and travelers looking for a slower scene. The wave can be fun year-round, with cleaner conditions often found in the dry-season months and larger Southern Hemisphere swells arriving in spring and summer.
Punta Encomienda
Punta Encomienda is a consistent sandbar break that works through much of the year. It offers lefts and rights over sand, handles South swell well, and is best with North offshore winds. It can be powerful and punchy, so it is better suited to confident surfers than total beginners.
Puerto Escondido / Zicatela
Zicatela is the famous “Mexican Pipeline,” one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world. It is a professional-level wave with fast, hollow barrels over a shifting sand bottom. Peak season usually runs from late spring through summer, when large South and Southwest swells can make it massive, dangerous, and spectacular.
La Punta / Puerto Escondido Left
At the southern end of Zicatela, La Punta is the more approachable alternative to the main beach break. It is a left-hand point-style wave with a sand-and-rock bottom, offering long walls, occasional barrels, and fun sections for intermediate and advanced surfers. It is also one of the busiest and most social surf zones in Puerto Escondido.
Colotepec
Near the mouth of the Río Colotepec, this wild, undeveloped stretch of coast can produce shifting sandbar peaks with plenty of power. It is less polished than the better-known Puerto Escondido breaks and should be treated with caution because of currents, river conditions, and occasional crocodile concerns around nearby lagoon and rivermouth areas.
Zepotonengo
Zepotonengo is an exposed beach break between Puerto Escondido and the Puerto Ángel/Pochutla coast. It picks up South-Southwest groundswell and offers both lefts and rights, with North winds generally best. It is raw, less developed, and can be powerful, so conditions should be checked carefully before paddling out.
Topleca
Topleca is better described as an exposed reef break than a simple beach break. It works best on South-Southwest groundswell with North winds and can produce left and right reef waves. It is lesser-known, but not necessarily mellow; expect sharper, heavier conditions than the more forgiving sand-bottom spots.
Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel is primarily a fishing village and sheltered bay rather than a major surf destination. The main bay is usually more protected, so surf is generally smaller and less consistent than the open coast. Nearby beaches are usually better bets, but Puerto Ángel can still be a scenic place for a casual check when the exposed breaks are too much.
Río Coyula
Río Coyula is an exposed rivermouth/point setup near the Huatulco area. It is fairly consistent, works best on South swell, and favors North winds. The area can produce both beach-break and rivermouth waves, with a much thinner lineup than the better-known surf towns.
Coyula
Coyula is the exposed beach-break zone next to Río Coyula. It offers lefts and rights over sand, works best with South-Southwest swell, and cleans up with offshore North winds. It is usually less crowded than Oaxaca’s better-known surf hubs but can still be powerful and raw.
San Agustín
San Agustín is a beautiful bay near Huatulco National Park and is more known for scenery, snorkeling, and beach time than consistent surf. When enough South swell wraps in, the bay can offer playful peaks, but it is not as reliable as the more exposed beaches and points nearby.
Bahía Santa Cruz
Bahía Santa Cruz is one of Huatulco’s main bays and has an exposed beach break that can be fairly consistent, especially with summer South-Southwest swell. It offers lefts and rights, works best with North winds, and can get busy because it sits close to town and the cruise ship area.
Bahía Grande
Bahía Grande is a remote Oaxaca beach break with a long sandy coast and multiple peaks. It favors South-Southwest groundswell and North offshore winds, and the waves tend to peel right when conditions line up. Access can be more involved, so a 4×4 and local knowledge are often helpful.
Punta Chipehua
Punta Chipehua is one of the standout breaks in the Salina Cruz zone. It sits near dramatic dunes and offers a mix of beach, reef, and point-break setups, with the area best known for long, clean right-handers when South-Southwest swell and North winds align.
Playa Escondida
Playa Escondida is a lesser-documented “hidden beach” option in the broader Salina Cruz zone. It is best treated as a local-knowledge spot rather than a guaranteed marquee wave. When conditions are right, it can offer powerful, hollow surf, but it is more of a secondary/guide-dependent option than a main public surf destination.
Playa Azul
Playa Azul is part of the Salina Cruz surf landscape, with fast walls, heavy sections, and strong currents when the swell is up. It is best for intermediate to advanced surfers who are comfortable with more exposed beach-break conditions and longer paddles.
Punta Conejo
Punta Conejo is one of the legendary right-hand points of Salina Cruz. On the right South-Southwest swell with offshore North winds, it can produce long, fast, world-class rides with open walls and barrel sections. It is one of the region’s signature waves and also an important conservation area.
La Ventosa
Just east of Salina Cruz, La Ventosa is a windy, exposed beach-break zone with multiple peaks. It can be consistent, but the wind can also be extreme and sometimes too strong. It is generally more open and less technical than the nearby points, but conditions can change quickly.
Puerto Arista
In Chiapas, Puerto Arista is a long, exposed beach break with lefts and rights over sand. It picks up South-Southwest groundswell and works best with North wind. The scene is much quieter than Oaxaca’s main surf hubs, but the coastline is open and currents can be serious.
Puerto Madero
Near the Guatemala border, Puerto Madero is a beach-and-jetty setup with powerful, often uncrowded surf. The jetties help shape the sandbars, and the north jetty can produce a hollow left on the right swell. It is best for experienced surfers because of the power, speed, man-made hazards, and variable water quality.
Things to do:
Of course, this section will get bigger once we’ve actually gone. PUMPED!
- Surfy Surf
- Massage
- Pool time
- Visit local towns
- Fishing Trip
- Game Tournament
- Stupid Movie Night (Waiting)
- Dark Story Night
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