Surf Forecasts:
Zicatela surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 475 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s brewing for our stretch of coast.
The first week or so is a bit of a mixed bag, with some small, clean windows but nothing to get too fired up about. The real juice starts to show late in the second week, with a solid pulse of SSW groundswell that’s got some serious potential.
We kick things off around Thursday the 20th with small, weak 3ft SSW swell. The wind is messy, keeping things pretty poor. Friday morning the 21st offers a slight improvement – a tiny 3ft SSE swell goes glassy, but it’s not much to write home about. The real standout early on is Saturday morning the 22nd. We’ve got a clean 4ft S swell with glassy conditions and the energy is starting to build, hitting 482 (moderate). It’s a good sign of things to come.
Then we get into a few days of small, clean, glassy mornings from Sunday the 23rd through Tuesday the 25th. Swell drops to 2ft-2ft, but it’s a long-period SW groundswell (15-18 seconds). The energy is moderate (569-387) and the conditions are perfect. These are the mornings for the longboard or a log, with the lightest of breezes. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
Now, hold onto your leash. The real standout window appears to be the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August. Friday morning the 28th shows a building 4ft SW swell, with glassy conditions and energy jumping to 991 (strong). But it’s the morning of Saturday the 29th that really gets the heart pumping. We’re looking at a solid 6ft SSW groundswell, with a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is massive at 1465 (very strong). This is prime Zicatela territory. The afternoon of the 29th goes glassy with the same 6ft energy. This is power surfer territory, too big for beginners. The morning of the 30th of August keeps the 5ft SSW swell going with glassy conditions and energy at 1071 (strong). This is the standout session: a classic, powerful Zicatela groundswell with perfect wind.
The good vibes keep rolling into September. The morning of the 4th of September brings another excellent pulse of 5ft SSW swell with glassy conditions, and energy sitting at 1086 (strong). That’s a solid, long-range promise.
Stay safe out there, and don’t sleep on that last weekend of August.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSW 17 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 347 | 232 | 219 | 175 | 154 | 187 | 364 | 233 | 321 | 299 | 338 | 323 | 465 | 316 | 475 | 475 | 214 | 258 | 299 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:16AM1.06m | 8:16PM0.77m | 8:59AM1.02m | 8:57PM0.72m | 9:44AM0.98m | 9:41PM0.68m | 10:32AM0.95m | 10:31PM0.65m | 11:23AM0.93m | 11:28PM0.64m | 12:17PM0.92m | 00:31AM0.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:37AM0.08m | 2:37PM0.23m | 2:14AM0.11m | 3:23PM0.27m | 2:53AM0.15m | 4:12PM0.30m | 3:35AM0.18m | 5:05PM0.32m | 4:22AM0.21m | 6:01PM0.33m | 5:18AM0.25m | 6:57PM0.33m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — |
mm | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 14 | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 29 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 347 | 106 | 116 | 118 | 154 | 187 | 234 | 233 | 244 | 299 | 131 | 282 | 465 | 316 | 475 | 475 | 214 | 258 | 299 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 74 | 232 | 219 | 175 | 131 | 140 | 364 | 120 | 321 | 167 | 282 | 123 | 212 | 186 | 80 | 127 | 127 | 61 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SW 19 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | ESE 8 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 43 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 69 | 31 | 6 | 129 | 97 | 186 | 338 | 323 | 90 | 67 | 133 | 42 | 46 | 79 | 48 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 2 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oaxaca | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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