PUERTO ESCONDIDO, OAXACA

Puerto Escondido (English: "Hidden Port") is a small port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Prior to the 1930s, there was no real town here. The bay had been used as a port to ship coffee intermittently, but there was no permanent settlement here due to the lack of potable water. The name Puerto Escondido has roots in a legend of a woman who escaped her captives and hid here. The Nahuatl word for this area was Zicatela, meaning “place of large thorns.[1] Today, it refers to the area’s most famous beach.[2]

Today Puerto Escondido is one of the most important tourist attractions on the Oaxaca coast. It caters to a more downscale and eclectic clientele than neighboring Huatulco, mostly surfers, backpackers and Mexican families.[3] The main attraction is the beaches, from Zicatela Beach, which hosts major surfing competitions to beaches with gentle waves.[4] Just south of the town is a large lagoon area popular for fishing and birdwatching.

ZICATELA BEACH

Puerto Escondido became famous due to surfing competitions held at Zicatela Beach every year in November. This beach is considered to be the second best place in the world to practice the sport due to its high waves. The competition brings competitors from various countries.[2] The languid pipeline that breaks on Zicatela Beach draws an international crowd of surfers, boarders and their entourages. Mid- to late summer is low season for tourists, but prime time for waves and international tournaments. A number of international competitions such as the ESPN X Games, the MexPipe Challege have taken place here.[13] This beach is separated from the other beaches by a rocky outcropping called "El Morro". The beach is forty to fifty meters wide and a couple of km long with large waves that reach up to six meters.[6] Lifeguards are stationed at this high-risk beach as well as Marinero and La Punta. About half of these are professional and the other half volunteers.[12] Zicatela is still a surfers beach, with the strong undertow making the area unsuitable for swimming.[4] The Zicatela Beach business district this mostly caters to a surfer clientele with specials on surfboard rentals and even Bible studies for surfers.[13] However, the area is slowly being developed. The beach now has a promenade of paving stones, landscaped with flowers and scrubs. Along here are restaurants and hotels, many recently established.[4]