Puerto Escondido - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - September)

The southern hemisphere winter kicks into high gear, sending long-period SSW and SW groundswells marching northward toward the Mexican coast. During these months, average swell heights hover between 1.5m and 1.7m with periods routinely exceeding 13 seconds. The dominant wind regime shifts to a favorable mix of offshore NNW, NW, WNW, and W breezes, providing clean, groomed surfaces on the famous beachbreaks. While the occasional Tehuano wind event can disrupt, the overall consistency of solid, powerful southwest swell makes this the prime window for reeling lefts and heavy barrels at the pipeline.

Fair Surf Season (October - April)

As the northern hemisphere autumn and winter progress, the swell source transitions to a blend of distant North Pacific storms and lingering southern hemi pulses. October through April sees average wave heights ranging from 1.1m to 1.5m, with periods still solid (13-14s) but less frequent XXL days. Wind quality becomes more variable: the offshore North Pacific high-pressure system often delivers light NW to WNW winds in the mornings, but afternoons can deteriorate into onshore SW or S breezes. This season offers excellent sessions, especially when a strong cold front aligns with a passing southern swell, but expect more patience required between clean sets.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

During the core northern hemisphere winter, the dominant swell direction becomes more varied, with a notable increase in east and southeast swell components that are less favorable for the west-southwest-facing coast. Wave heights average between 1.1m and 1.3m, and while periods remain long (13-14s), the energy often arrives from directions that fail to properly wrap into the bay. Offshore wind windows become narrower, especially in December and January when the North Pacific high strengthens and pushes stronger NW winds, causing bumpy conditions. November and February offer slightly better odds as transitional months, but overall, this is the period of smallest and least consistent surf.

December: Smallest Swells of the Year – Wind Dependency

December brings the lowest average wave heights at 1.1m, with a 13.0s period, and ideal wind at 36%. The swell rose shows a broader spread: SSW (42.9%), S (20.9%), SW (9.6%), with notable contributions from E (4.2%) and ESE (5.0%). These easterly swells are largely unfavourable for the west-southwest-facing shoreline. Wind conditions are dominated by NW (17.3%), NNW (14.3%), and WNW (10.5%), which often produce clean conditions when they are strong enough. However, the lack of consistent long-period southwest swell means many days are small and groveling. The best bets are when a strong southern hemi pulse manages to reach the coast, coinciding with a morning NW offshore flow. December is for the patient surfer who knows the local sandbars and can make the most of knee-high waves.