Puerto Escondido – A beginners guide to “The Mexican Pipeline”

Heading to Puerto Escondido, I didn’t really know what to expect.. Thankfully I bumped into a professional big wave surfer before paddling out.

Here are some passed on words of wisdom I want to pass on to anyone willing to try their hand at the infamous “Mex Pipe”

Every surfer should visit this place at least once in their lifetime… You’re gonna get your a$$ kicked, but you’ll be humbled by the experience”

Said Ken “skin dog” Collins – one of the best big wave surfers in the world just moments before I paddled out.

There’s a small town in Oaxaca (South Mexico) called Puerto Escondido.  What was once just a small fishing village that took coffee to market is now a surfing mecca, and it’s all because of one beach…

Playa Zicatela a.k.a the Mexican Pipeline, is one of the scariest, heaviest, and most dangerous waves in the world.

Yes, it competes with the most famous “Pipeline” in Hawaii and “Teahupoo” in Tahiti when it comes to heaving barrels.. Although “Puerto” is not as well known.

Why Go?…  Because there is absolutely nothing like it!

First of all, let me explain the set up. The entire town is built around the ocean.. With Playa Zicatela feeling like the Gladiator Pit for anyones who dares enter the water.

It’s a spectacle! The wave known as the Mexican Pipeline is no joke..

The Pacific Ocean drops off 100’s of mitres very close to shore, leaving raw open ocean swells to hit the beach from very deep water. This makes the wave pack one hell of a punch!

The wave is a perfect, warm, hollow, heaving barrel that can have you locked in and spat out of the most mental green room of your life! Though there are some dangers you should be aware of before trying your hand at Puerto.

A beginners guide passed down..

The Backwash

There’s so much moving water dumping onto the shallow sand (which is so solid it feels like rock) it must return back to the ocean.

Doing so brings a tonne of undercurrent sucking back out to sea.

Heres why this SUCKS.. If you bail when its solid (double overhead+) in stead of getting washed into shore, the under tow will drag you back on your way out.

I saw it time and time again, where someone would eat shit.. Then rise only to be right on the impact zone for another smack bang on the head… Then another… Then another… Then another… Then another… You get the point.

Pro Tip: I talked to pro big wave surfer Ken “Skin Dog” Collins about this, and he said.. “When its big, if you get stuck in the washing machine do your best to climb the white water.. Let it smash you and roll you in vs dive under like you normally would.. Otherwise you will end up stuck.

The shore is so close, But if you can get in.. Things can get hairy pretty damn quick.

The Peaks

It’s a beach break, although it’s heavier and just as perfect as many open ocean reef breaks, it still a beach… The banks change consistently.

Before you paddle out, watch closely. You will most certainly see around 20% of all people who pull in, actually make it out. There can be a lot of close-outs. But if you watch for long enough, you will see the locals pull in and out of many stand up pits without wetting a hair on their head.

There is a right hand break to the right of the beach, and a left hand break to the left.. Where you sit is everything.

Getting Out 

Most of the time you will be fine paddling straight out the front.. Once you hit the impact zone paddle your ass off and you shouldn’t have a problem getting out. But when it’s big, you wont stand a chance.. On the north west end of the beach you will se a bunch of rocks. Paddle out on the far side of those rocks and around to Zicatela.

Lastly, once you’re out there.. RESPECT THE LOCALS

It’s their wave, you are in their country, and they have the right of way…

Follow these basic guidelines and you shouldn’t have any troubles… Just be sure to pack more than one board!