THE SURF

SOUTHERN OAXACA

Tehuantepec Beachbreak: Miles of good, A-frame beachbreak with prevailing offshores year round, though sometimes too strong Oct-Apr. Tubes. A swell magnet, best on small-medium S and SW swells. N-E winds. Low tide best. Boat access only from nearby fishing village. No other surfers.

Tuxtepec:Worldclass righthand jetty break. Comparable to Sandspit. Steep, often, dry takeoff. A mistake puts you into the rocks. The wave is a barrel with up to 5 second stand up tube rides when on. The prevailing N winds are offshore here but sometimes turn hard NE and give the wave a dangerous cross chop. Low tide only.

Punta Cuicatlan:Surreal location amidst massive primordial sand dunes in natural isolation hosting a world class right pointbreak with rides up to 500 meters that has been compared to Jeffrey's by Michael Tomson and others.
SW-W winds or no wind best. The dominant and often strong N-NE winds blow side onshore here and ruin the wave. Best during rainy season and boat access only for most of it. Low to mid tides best and needs a major S swell to turn on.

Punta Coyotepec: Another righthand pointbreak but this one is a mushier wave ideal for longboards and beginners. High tides best. NW-SW winds or light N winds okay.

Punta Coaixtlahuaca: Postcard whitesand beach tucked away inside a surreal rocky headland. The wave wedges up against a rocky headland and into a powerful thick bowl as it peels along the cliff. The wave starts to work at 5 feet and holds up to 12ft + and doesn‚t close out. Low to mid tide best. No public access. The break lies on private land and has a locked gate patrolled by local landowners with machetes. Access with Salina Cruz Surf tours only.

Punta Teotitlan: This is another right point requiring low tide and a strong southerly swell to work. The wave breaks in deep water and has a steep bowly takeoff, then sets up into a long peeling inside wall section with wide open faces ideal for longboarding or fun shortboarding. SW-W winds best.

Punta Ocotlan: A righthand pointbreak accessible only by boat and still largely unexplored.

Inside Ixtlan: A powerful, hollow righthander breaking on the inside of a short jetty. Similar to Santa Barbara Sandspit. The wave sucks out and peels for 50 meters or so before self combusting. Low tides mandatory due to high tide backwash. Better wind protection than some of the other points and more consistent. Works on N, W and SW winds. 4x4 access only during rainy season and by permission of local landowners only.

Outside Ixtlan: A longer, outside second jetty which yields an extremely powerful, thick and tubing righthander with consequences.

Punta Putla: A right point break with a large rock in the lineup from which you take off on the outside or inside and surf the wave along and into a shallow inside section that tubes at low tide.

Punta Temascal: This is the most famous wave in the area. A righthand sand pointbreak. The wave barrels from the top of the headland and peels for several hundred meters down the point. The takeoff is steep and hollow but innocuous. Super fun wave. 10-15 surfers common, but 8 or less possible at times. Crowd becomes a non-issue at size due to plentiful set waves, lengthy rides and heavy currents.