Surf Forecasts:
Zicatela surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,290 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. 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 1.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me break down the Zicatela surf for you. It starts a bit slow, but there’s some fire in the middle.
The beginning is flat. Wednesday the 12th is a bust – the water’s a touch warmer than normal at 88°, but the swell is barely 2ft and the conditions are poor. Save the energy. The first real hint of action comes Thursday the 13th with a glassy morning, 3ft of SW swell and a 16-second period. That’s long-period groundswell with moderate energy (490 total). It’s clean and shows promise.
The absolute highlight is Saturday the 15th morning. Zero wind, glassy water, and a solid 5ft SW swell with a 16-second period. The combined energy hits a strong 1170—that’s proper power. This is for experienced surfers; it’s too big for beginners. Zicatela is wide open to that SSW direction, so it’ll be handling that swell beautifully. You’ll have some company, but the wave quality will make it worthwhile.
Sunday the 16th morning is still clean with 4ft swell, but it’s a notch down from Saturday. The rest of the week settles into the 3ft to 4ft range, with plenty of glassy mornings – Monday the 17th, Tuesday the 18th, and Wednesday the 19th all offer clean, high-quality surf, just with less push (energy around the 500 mark). The second week is smaller, with swell bouncing between 2ft and 4ft. Thursday the 27th shows a 3ft SW pulse in the morning with very good potential and a strong energy reading of 709. That could be a sleeper, but it’s still a good ways out.
Your golden window is Saturday the 15th before the wind picks up. Make the most of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 208 | 284 | 331 | 489 | 421 | 719 | 1213 | 1158 | 1115 | 1101 | 903 | 685 | 685 | 529 | 521 | 631 | 414 | 476 | 503 | 657 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:14AM0.88m | 2:48PM1.08m | 3:19AM0.96m | 3:43PM1.06m | 4:18AM1.04m | 4:35PM1.03m | 5:12AM1.09m | 5:23PM0.99m | 6:01AM1.12m | 6:09PM0.94m | 6:48AM1.12m | 6:53PM0.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:20PM0.15m | 8:22AM0.10m | 9:14PM0.10m | 9:29AM0.11m | 10:04PM0.06m | 10:29AM0.11m | 10:51PM0.03m | 11:25AM0.12m | 11:35PM0.02m | 12:17PM0.14m | 00:17AM0.03m | 1:05PM0.16m | 00:58AM0.05m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 32 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 35 | 32 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 208 | 284 | 331 | 489 | 421 | 719 | 1213 | 1158 | 1115 | 1101 | 903 | 685 | 685 | 529 | 521 | 631 | 414 | 476 | 503 | 657 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 15 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 13 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
| kJ | 109 | 96 | 42 | 190 | 306 | 355 | 71 | 33 | 49 | 45 | 31 | 48 | 45 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 205 | 41 | 50 | 52 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSE 9 | SW 21 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | ESE 7 | SSE 12 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 |
| kJ | 55 | 15 | 117 | 25 | 35 | 49 | 35 | 23 | 6 | 12 | 41 | 40 | 10 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 83 | 31 | 2 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | — | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 14 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 178 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 0 | 2 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 772 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 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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