
Surf Forecasts:
Zicatela surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 2,406 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 2.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 9AM. 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+) | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zicatela over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a solid run of swell lining up at Zicatela, starting this Sunday morning and rolling through the first week. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 87°, which is a nice bonus.
Kicking off Sunday the 26th, we’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a super long 18-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1687, and with glassy conditions, the morning session is looking excellent for experienced surfers. That long period means the waves will have real power and shape, though it’s one for the intermediate crew given the size. The afternoon sees the wind swing onshore, so the morning is definitely the call.
Monday the 27th builds on that. The swell pushes to 6ft from the SW, still with that 18-second pulse, and the energy climbs to 2203. The wind is dead calm again in the morning – glassy perfection. This is a standout morning. The size is getting up there, so it’s still for the experienced, but the conditions are world-class.
Tuesday the 28th is the pick of the bunch. The swell direction shifts slightly to the SSW, holding at 7ft with a 17-second period, and the combined energy hits 2519. With a light easterly glass-off in the morning, it’s going to be as clean as it gets. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the run, and the wind is ideal. If you can only paddle out once, this is it.
Wednesday the 29th keeps the quality high. A 6ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind is glassy again from the SSE. The energy is still strong at 1690. Another morning of excellent, clean waves.
The swell slowly eases from Thursday the 30th onward, dropping from 5ft to 4ft through the end of the week, with the period shortening. The mornings remain glassy, so the surf stays clean and fun, but the power fades. By Friday the 31st, it’s a 4ft SSW swell, still clean, but smaller.
We hit a quiet patch from Saturday the 1st of August through to Thursday the 7th. The swell drops below 3ft, and though there are a few glassy mornings (like Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th), the energy is low, with the combined energy falling to between 163 and 375. It’s surfable but very ordinary.
Things come back to life on Friday the 7th of August. A new SSW groundswell pushes in at 3ft but with an 18-second period, giving it a surprising amount of energy (531). The wind is calm and glassy in the morning, and the waves look very good for the size.
Saturday the 8th of August is the real standout in the second week. The swell builds to 4ft from the SSW, period a solid 16 seconds, and the energy is 884. With a glassy offshore wind from the east in the morning, this is a promising return to form. The direction is a perfect match for the optimum SSW swell direction, so the banks should be working well.
Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th taper off, with the swell dropping back to 4ft and then 3ft, but the mornings are still glassy, so you can get a clean, fun wave.
Overall, the best on offer is Tuesday morning the 28th – that’s the peak of the first swell with perfect conditions. For the second week, Saturday morning the 8th of August is the one to circle, though it’s a bit further out so keep an eye on it.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1445 | 1518 | 1777 | 2150 | 1869 | 1907 | 2406 | 2086 | 1787 | 1591 | 1460 | 987 | 785 | 763 | 692 | 514 | 421 | 341 | 257 | 253 | 203 | |
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-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 12:05PM0.97m | 00:07AM0.63m | 12:56PM0.97m | 1:06AM0.63m | 1:47PM0.97m | 2:05AM0.66m | 2:35PM0.98m | 3:00AM0.71m | 3:21PM0.98m | 3:52AM0.77m | 4:04PM0.97m | 4:38AM0.83m | 4:44PM0.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:51PM0.31m | 5:55AM0.21m | 7:45PM0.30m | 6:51AM0.22m | 8:33PM0.27m | 7:48AM0.23m | 9:16PM0.25m | 8:45AM0.24m | 9:55PM0.22m | 9:38AM0.24m | 10:31PM0.19m | 10:29AM0.24m | 11:04PM0.17m | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | 8 | — | 2 | 8 | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
1445 | 1518 | 1777 | 2150 | 1869 | 1907 | 2406 | 2086 | 1787 | 1591 | 1460 | 987 | 785 | 763 | 692 | 514 | 421 | 341 | 257 | 253 | 203 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | S 10 | SW 13 | SSE 9 | S 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 15 |
237 | 169 | 91 | 38 | 69 | 205 | 56 | 42 | 85 | 73 | 70 | 67 | 84 | 89 | 118 | 85 | 81 | 88 | 85 | 82 | 134 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 21 | S 10 | SW 10 | S 13 | S 10 | SW 7 | WSW 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SW 17 | S 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 11 |
5 | 117 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 47 | 16 | 29 | 40 | 26 | 40 | 38 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 30 | 47 | 10 | 89 | 113 | 57 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | — | — | 171 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1023 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 392 | 0 | 0 | 1041 | 0 | 0 | 1045 | 0 | 0 | 1023 | 0 | 0 | 1045 | 2 |
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.










