The Best Time to Visit Puerto Escondido, Month by Month

What is the best month to visit Puerto Escondido?

If we had to choose a single month, it would be November. The rains have just moved on, the hills are still deep green, the water is warm, and the December crowds have not yet arrived. The town feels as though it is exhaling.

February is a very close second: no rain to speak of, long blue afternoons, and a calmer pace once the holidays have passed. January and March are lovely too, only busier.

For surfers the answer shifts entirely. Between May and August the long southern swells arrive, and Zicatela becomes the wave that made Puerto Escondido known around the world.

There is no truly bad month here. It is warm all year and the ocean never drops much below 81°F (27°C). What changes is the rain, the size of the surf, and how many people share the sand with you.

Puerto Escondido weather by month

Average air temperatures from recent years (WeatherAPI, 2009–2026) and sea temperatures from Weather Spark. These are averages; any given year may run a little wetter or drier.

When is the rainy season in Puerto Escondido?

The rains run from May through October. June starts in earnest, July and August are humid and green, and September is the wettest month of the year; every source we checked agrees on that.

Rain rarely settles in for the whole day. A typical pattern is a bright morning, clouds gathering after lunch, and a short, heavy downpour in the late afternoon or evening. By morning the sun is back.

November through April is the dry season. In December, January and February it rains, on average, a single day a month or less.

Does Puerto Escondido get hurricanes?

The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. On the Oaxacan coast the higher-risk months are August through October.

Storms do reach this shore. Hurricane Agatha made landfall near Puerto Ángel in May 2022, and Hurricane Erick came ashore on the Oaxacan coast in June 2025.

If you are traveling during those months, check the forecast from Mexico's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional or the NHC a few days before you fly, and consider a rate that lets you move your dates.

When are the biggest waves at Zicatela?

May through September. Storms deep in the Southern Hemisphere send long-period swells north, and they unload onto Zicatela's shallow sandbars: the Mexican Pipeline. On the biggest days the faces reach two and three times overhead.

The beach has hosted big-wave contests such as the World Surf League's Puerto Escondido Challenge and the Mexpipe Challenge, each called on short notice when the right swell appears.

You do not need to paddle out to feel it. Early-morning sessions are best watched from the sand, coffee in hand.

When is the best time to learn to surf in Puerto Escondido?

November through March, when the swell softens, the wind is cleaner and the small bays turn gentle.

Zicatela is not a place to learn. It is fast, heavy and shallow, a wave for experienced surfers. For a first lesson, go to Playa Carrizalillo, a sheltered cove with a sandy bottom, or to La Punta at the southern end of Zicatela, where a softer left peels along the point.

Our front desk at Casa Leah is happy to point you toward a surf school or a board rental.

When can you see sea turtles?

For much of the year, in seasons. Olive ridley turtles nest along the Oaxacan coast from May to March, with most nesting between August and October. In 2026 the first mass arrival at the Playa Escobilla sanctuary came in mid-May.

In town, conservation camps such as Vivemar at Playa Bacocho and Campamento Palmarito release hatchlings at sunset. Releases depend on what hatched that day, so it is worth asking before you go.

When is whale season in Puerto Escondido?

Humpback whales pass along the Oaxacan coast from December to March, with December, January and February the strongest months.

Boat trips leave early in the morning, while the sea is still glassy. Dolphins and turtles often keep you company along the way.

When is Puerto Escondido busiest?

The fullest weeks are Christmas to New Year and Semana Santa, the Easter week. In 2027, Easter falls at the end of March.

July and August also draw families during Mexico's summer school holidays, as do long national weekends.

September and October are the quietest months of all. If your dates fall in the busiest weeks, book well ahead: small hotels fill first.

Puerto Escondido in January

The heart of the dry season. Days around 84°F (29°C), nights near 72°F (22°C), and almost no rain. The first two weeks still carry some holiday energy; after that the town settles.

Zicatela runs medium and clean. A good month for whale watching, boat trips and long walks along the shore at dusk.

Puerto Escondido in February

For many, the finest month of the year. Blue skies, water around 82°F (28°C), and less humidity than in summer. The holidays are behind you and the beaches have room to breathe.

Whales are offshore, Puerto Angelito and Manzanillo are clear for snorkeling, and the smaller bays have waves for every level.

Puerto Escondido in March and April

Still dry, with the heat climbing slowly; April is among the warmest months, with highs near 90°F (32°C). The first southern swells begin to wake Zicatela.

Easter week is the exception: one of the busiest of the year, with families arriving from across Mexico. Outside it, both months are gentle and bright.

Puerto Escondido in May and June

May is a month of transition. The heat builds, the air grows heavier, and the first afternoon storms roll in. By June the rainy season has begun.

In return, the surf grows serious and the crowds fall away. If you enjoy warmth and a powerful ocean, these are months with real character.

Puerto Escondido in July

Everything turns green. Sunny mornings, afternoon showers, and a sea that touches 86°F (30°C). Zicatela delivers big, consistent surf.

Mexican families arrive for the summer holidays, along with traveling surfers. At night, the Manialtepec lagoon glows with bioluminescence.

Puerto Escondido in August

It rains on about 20 days of the month, mostly late in the day. The air is warm and heavy, and the hills are as green as they will ever be.

This is prime surf season and the start of the busiest turtle-nesting months along the coast. Manialtepec's bioluminescence is at its brightest, especially on moonless nights.

Puerto Escondido in September

The wettest month and the quietest. Rain falls on about 21 days, sometimes hard, and this is one of the higher-risk months for tropical storms.

The reward is empty beaches, unhurried dinners and a town that feels entirely local. For remote work and long, focused weeks, it suits very well, provided your stay has internet with a real backup.

Puerto Escondido in October

The rain is still here, but it softens week by week. Full days of sun begin to return, and the landscape is at its most lush.

Big swells linger early in the month and ease toward the end. Visitors are few. Keep an eye on the forecast; hurricane season is not yet over.

Puerto Escondido in November

Our favorite. The rains leave, the humidity lifts and the air turns light, while everything stays green.

Zicatela calms, and November has traditionally brought surf contests to the beach. Travelers return gradually, without the intensity of December.

Puerto Escondido in December

Classic dry season: sun, almost no rain and cool evenings around 72°F (22°C). The whales begin to arrive.

The first half of the month is unhurried. From Christmas to New Year, Puerto fills and quickens. If those are your dates, reserve early.

The best season for your kind of trip

• Big-wave surf: May to September, for experienced surfers only.
• Learning to surf: November to March, at Carrizalillo or La Punta.
• Couples and honeymoons: November, February or early December.
• Families: March and April outside Easter week, or early December.
• Remote work and long stays: September to November, quiet and green.
• Whales: December to February. Turtles: August to October. Bioluminescence: July to September.

What to pack for Puerto Escondido

At Casa Leah, every suite has pool and beach towels, so you can leave yours at home.

• Light cotton and linen; you will not need a sweater.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen.
• Sandals, plus closed shoes for walking or a day at Chacahua.
• A light rain shell from May to October.
• Insect repellent for rainy-season evenings.
• A reusable water bottle.
• For surfers: a rash guard and your board, or rent one in town.

A word about the ocean

Zicatela is a beach for watching and for experienced surfers, not for swimming: its currents are strong. For a swim, head to Carrizalillo, Puerto Angelito or Manzanillo, sheltered bays where the water is calm.