
Surf Forecasts:
Zicatela surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 15s period, SSW swell with 730 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Zicatela in the next 16 days are 1.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a solid run of surf at Zicatela. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 88°, which is a nice little bonus. The pattern is mostly clean mornings with a classic glass-off, giving us some real quality windows.
The first standout is coming up on Friday, August 7th. That morning we’ve got a clean 3 ft swell from the SSW with a very long 18-second period, and the wind is glassy from the WNW. The combined energy is strong (679), so you’ll feel that push. This is a proper groundswell running straight into the exposed point, so expect some nice, lined-up walls. That long period means the sets will be a bit more spaced out, making the paddle out easier, and the waves will have that extra punch. For an intermediate, this is prime time.
Then, the real gem of the whole outlook might be Saturday, August 15th. The morning session is looking excellent for experienced surfers. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the ESE, keeping the face clean. The combined energy is very strong at 1022. This is a punchy, solid swell – definitely expert territory at that size, but the conditions are lined up. This is the kind of day you set the alarm for.
The rest of the period follows a similar theme: glassy mornings with waist-to-chest high swell from the SSW or SW, and the afternoons get a bit choppy with onshore winds. The swell energy stays in the moderate to strong range throughout, mostly in the 400s and 700s, so there’s always something to ride. The crowds are sometimes an issue here, but that’s the price of admission for a wave this good.
So to wrap it up: the mornings are your best bet, especially Friday the 7th for a clean, long-period standout, and Saturday the 15th for the bigger, more powerful stuff. Get after it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 15 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
164 | 98 | 111 | 73 | 78 | 104 | 103 | 164 | 111 | 212 | 214 | 395 | 481 | 532 | 612 | 584 | 515 | 545 | 460 | 265 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:59PM0.89m | 6:40AM1.02m | 6:36PM0.85m | 7:21AM1.07m | 7:15PM0.82m | 8:06AM1.11m | 7:58PM0.79m | 8:54AM1.13m | 8:45PM0.76m | 9:48AM1.14m | 9:40PM0.75m | 10:45AM1.13m | 10:42PM0.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:09AM0.11m | 12:51PM0.23m | 00:43AM0.08m | 1:38PM0.23m | 1:21AM0.05m | 2:27PM0.23m | 2:04AM0.03m | 3:19PM0.24m | 2:52AM0.01m | 4:16PM0.25m | 3:47AM0.02m | 5:17PM0.25m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 7 | — | 11 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 6 |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 8 | SSW 13 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
164 | 40 | 111 | 46 | 78 | 76 | 69 | 68 | 50 | 212 | 205 | 238 | 481 | 532 | 612 | 584 | 515 | 545 | 460 | 265 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 13 | S 8 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 12 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 |
33 | 98 | 44 | 73 | 58 | 104 | 103 | 164 | 111 | 47 | 214 | 395 | 181 | 65 | 58 | 55 | 44 | 32 | 45 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 18 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 23 | SW 11 | SSW 18 | SW 22 | SW 16 |
67 | 53 | 50 | 60 | 76 | 36 | 34 | 97 | 61 | 159 | 50 | 46 | 68 | 114 | 114 | 21 | 58 | 31 | 73 | 127 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 721 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 143 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oaxaca | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











