Known by many as a top place to surf in Mexico, Playa Zicatela hosts several annual surfing competitions.
Expert surfers should aim to visit Playa Zicatela in late spring or summer when the waves can swell up to 20 feet.
But remember, the beach’s dangerous undertow is not safe for beginners or casual swimmers.
However, other nearby shores, including La Punta and Playa Principal, offer calmer waves.
Once surfers need a break from hanging 10, they can take advantage of Playa Zicatela’s abundant bars, restaurants, and shops.
Legendary 3.5km-long Zicatela is the best-known surfing spot in Mexico courtesy of the tempestuous surfing waves of the Mexican Pipeline. The heart of the action, including the Pipeline, is at Zicatela’s northern end. Non surfers beware: the waters here have a lethal undertow and are not safe for the boardless, or beginner surfers either. Lifeguards rescue several careless people most months.
Surfing aside, the beach is a beauty: wide, golden, and gloriously laid-back…
The main beach area is backed by Calle del Morro, a kind of Gringo-Ville meets Mexican beach town where locals, along with visitors from colder climes, mix seamlessly.
The Punta Zicatela area at Zicatela’s far southern end has mellower surf and a mellower vibe to go with it. With its unpaved roads overlooked by vegan cafes and yoga retreats, it’s favored chiefly by backpackers and beginner surfers.
Source: OEM