Surf Forecasts:
Zicatela surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,367 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Zicatela this week:
The surf forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Zicatela in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here stepping into the old measurements.
We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Zicatela. The opening day, Thursday the 27th of August, starts off with a tiny morning pulse of 2ft SW swell, but the period is a whopping 18 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. Combined swell energy is limited though, at 441 (weak). Water temp is 88°F, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The morning is glassy, making it clean for the small stuff, but the energy just isn’t there. By afternoon, the onshore wind kicks in and the session gets messy.
Friday the 28th is a step up. Morning brings a 3ft SSW swell, 16 second period, and a light easterly breeze keeping it glassy. Energy climbs to 785 (moderate). This is a clean, fun little window. The afternoon again gets chopped by the onshore.
Now, the standout session is Saturday the 29th of August morning. Swell hits 5ft from the SW, 16 second period, with combined energy roaring up to 1443 (strong). The wind is completely glassy. This is excellent for experienced surfers – at that size, it’s pushing into expert territory for the less confident. The long period means it will be lining up beautifully on this exposed point. Expect some proper walls.
Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st back off a bit in size and quality, with messy winds and some cross-onshore chop. Not a write-off, but not the pick.
Another top morning: Friday the 4th of September. This is the one to circle. The swell hits 6ft from the SW, 17 second period, with combined energy at a powerful 1781 (very strong). Glassy, clean conditions. This is big, powerful, and perfect for the experienced crew. Zicatela will be showing its teeth. The morning of the 5th of September also offers 6ft SSW, clean with a light offshore, but you’ll need to be sharp as it remains in expert territory.
Beyond that, there’s a steady run of smaller, cleaner mornings around the 6th to 11th, but nothing that matches the punch of that first weekend or the 4th. A few afternoons in the second week have risk of thunderstorms and choppy onshore wind.
Best on offer: Saturday morning the 29th of August for the first standout, and especially Friday morning the 4th of September for the biggest, cleanest swell of the whole period. That’s the one for anyone with the skills to handle it.
Keep in mind, Zicatela can get crowded at times, so get in early. Stay safe.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 249 | 316 | 268 | 447 | 1111 | 1201 | 1333 | 1193 | 953 | 846 | 752 | 564 | 525 | 406 | 400 | 376 | 346 | 317 | 390 | 386 | 432 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:02PM0.91m | 2:30AM0.78m | 2:50PM0.91m | 3:20AM0.86m | 3:35PM0.90m | 4:06AM0.94m | 4:17PM0.89m | 4:48AM1.02m | 4:58PM0.88m | 5:30AM1.08m | 5:37PM0.86m | 6:13AM1.13m | 6:16PM0.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.27m | 8:28AM0.26m | 9:10PM0.24m | 9:25AM0.24m | 9:47PM0.19m | 10:16AM0.21m | 10:23PM0.15m | 11:04AM0.19m | 11:00PM0.10m | 11:49AM0.17m | 11:38PM0.06m | 12:34PM0.16m | 00:18AM0.03m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 5 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 249 | 206 | 268 | 447 | 1111 | 1201 | 1333 | 1193 | 953 | 846 | 752 | 564 | 525 | 406 | 400 | 376 | 346 | 317 | 257 | 286 | 432 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 13 | S 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | SW 18 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 169 | 316 | 118 | 293 | 168 | 43 | 81 | 97 | 56 | 61 | 54 | 121 | 77 | 69 | 40 | 155 | 33 | 246 | 390 | 386 | 187 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | W 8 | SW 18 | WSW 8 | W 7 | S 7 | S 8 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 32 | 45 | 44 | 7 | 29 | 62 | 22 | 18 | 8 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 33 | 154 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | SSW 8 | W 4 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 10 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 58 | 14 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 326 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 2 | 10 | 192 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oaxaca | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Zicatela Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Zicatela provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Zicatela can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Zicatela surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Zicatela) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Zicatela may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Oaxaca? If you are looking for accommodation near Zicatela, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Oaxaca, consider staying in Puerto Escondido which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Oaxaca where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Nopala which is 31 km (19 miles) away and Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, 73 km (45 miles) away.
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