The Mazunte surf scene hasn’t really taken of a la Puerto Escondido. There are some fun beach breaks in this part of the Oaxaca coast that are drawing a growing crowd. They aren’t spectacular in quality but the town behind is chilled AF and we love it. We reckon most beach bums and casual surfers will too.
An introduction to surfing in Mazunte
Mazunte isn’t really a surf town. And, we’ll be honest, the beaches here aren’t the same quality on the wave front as elsewhere in Oaxaca – Puerto Escondido especially. But if it’s uber-chilled vibes and yoga-surf camps you’re after, then this could be the Mexicana beach getaway for you.
The waves are largely frothy and messy shore and beach breaks that cater well to the rising array of schools in the area, especially down San Agustinillo. Come big summer swells directly from the south, they are capable of showing their teeth. Then, the result is one or two hollowish right-hand points that can be good rides.
Still, come here for the beach vibes first and the surf second. You can also track north to the Zicatela and the pipes there if you want serious waves. It’s only an hour in the bus!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Mexico
Mazunte surf at a glance
Wave type: Beach break/point break // Level: Beginner and up // Season: All year for beginners, summer for above
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing Mazunte?
Where is Mazunte?
Tiny, pint-sized Mazunte is shrouded by jungle where the Oaxaca coast sort of bends around to start going east instead of south. That has knock-on implications on the swell (which we’ll get to later) but also means that it’s roughly 270km by winding road through the mountains to the regional capital of Oaxaca City.
Most people come here from Puerto Escondido via the main coast highway, though. Doing that will take about 1.5.2 hours and cost just under 200 MXN. The Bahías de Huatulco International Airport (HUX) and Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) are the two closest arrival points from the air.
Mazunte surf spots
Mazunte has a couple of upcoming surf spots right on the doorstep. Most of them stretch out east from the town, on a shoreline that’s well-situated to hoover up S swells in the winter. Here’s a look at the whole lot and some options you can get to in the surrounding region…
Puerto Escondido
The home of the infamous Mexican Pipeline is just over an hour’s drive to the north of Mazunte. Some surf camps will offer trips up there, or you could plan a day’s trip there yourself on the bus (tickets are usually around 150-200 MXN, but be sure to check return times). Truth be told, this one’s for the chargers out there. It’s highlight is a mega shorebreak barrel that’s a joy to watch.
Check out our complete guide to the Puerto Escondido surf right now
San Agustinillo
San Agustinillo has now established itself as very much the epicenter of the surf scene in Mazunte. A short collectivo ride to the east of the town center, it’s the base point for the surf camps and the surf schools that ply their trade in these parts.
The waves are pretty mushy stuff. They can get big when the S swell channels pump hard in the summer months but really don’t hold all that well. Winter sees them mellow down in size, which can help bring sets of half-decent, sometimes-glassy lefts into the center of the bay.
There’s usually a pretty welcoming crew of locals ripping it at sunset here. You’ll also likely be sharing with small learner groups, who will often begin on the north side of the bay where the waves are a bit smaller and better protected.
Zipolite
One headland over to the east of Mazunte, the beachfront of Playa Zipolite is another hippy beach town with loads of character. We have a bit of a soft spot for this one – and not because it’s the sole nudist beach in Mexico, promise! The waves can be nice right handers on thier day. We’ve done a full guide for good measure.
Check out our complete guide to Zipolite surf right now
San Agustin
Is it just us or does the Mexican coast start to look like Cabo all over again when you come this far down the side of Oaxaca. Either way, the geology changes into a series of rounded bays that are divided by rugged rock headlands at the Bahia San Agustin (and yes, it’s spelled without the extra ‘u’). Within is a shorebreak that’s pretty dumpy and one decent right that works when the summer S swells are strong enough to refract onto the inside section of the bay. Gorgeous setting. And it’s close to HUX airport.
Where to stay when surfing in Mazunte?
What do we love about Mazunte? We love the whole vibe of the place. Okay, okay so you might not come here to score spinning barrels and points to change your life. But you will get some great hotels, hammocks strewn on balconies, and mezcal by the pool. Here’s where to stay:
Zoa Hotel
Not only do you get to stay just a few steps around the headland from San Agustinillo, the main learner beach in Mazunte, but you’ll also have front-row seats over the Pacific. Seriously, people do whale watching from the balconies of this hotel! Highly rated and downright fantastic, the Zoa, it’s yoga pads and swimming pools would be our first choice in town.
Un Sueño Cabañas del Pacífico
A couple of cool cottages that are large enough for duos or whole families are on offer at Un Sueño Cabañas del Pacífico. They’ve got a rustic Mexicana feel to them but put you literally steps off the main surf beach.
Casa Bagus
Casa Bagus is the closest of all our hotel picks to the waves of San Agustinillo. Just look out the window from your suite and you’ll see the beach cruisers rolling in. It’s a bloody lovely hotel, too – think hammocks strewn between adobe walls and the sounds of the waves as you sleep.
Step-by-step guide to planning your mazunte surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the mazunte surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Mazunte?
The summer is the time to surf in Mazunte. From April to August, the NW Pacific swells turn to SW swells that originate way down in the Southern Hemisphere. They are the same ones that power up the breaks of SoCal and whatnot, only here they remain rash-vest and board-shorts warm all year round. You should know that some days in the summer will simply be too big to surf in Mazunte. The main worry in these parts is rips and they can get wild. The winter months also have some good swell, especially for the learner crowd, though there might be some days where it stays flat.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
