Beach Santa María Colotepec, Oaxaca Municipality of Santa María Colotepec Oaxaca Coast
The south end of Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido: a friendly left point break, sandy streets and a laid-back surf village.
From Oaxaca: 2 h 40 min by car (186 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Where to stay near La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in La Punta (Playa Zicatela).
Tours to La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Day trips and guided outings from Juquila often include La Punta (Playa Zicatela); with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Tours from Puerto Escondido
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How to get to La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
- From Oaxaca: about 2 h 40 min by road (~186 km)
- Nearest airport: Puerto Escondido (PXM), 1 h 22 min by car to Juquila
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Tours from Puerto Escondido, near La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
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About La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
La Punta is the southern tip of Playa Zicatela, about 3 km from the main stretch of Puerto Escondido's famous surf beach, where the sand runs out against a rocky point. The neighbourhood behind it, Brisas de Zicatela, lies on the Zicatela side of town, which belongs to the municipality of Santa María Colotepec rather than San Pedro Mixtepec. It grew up as the quieter, cheaper end of the beach, with sand lanes, wooden cabins, hostels, small cafés and surf shops.
The wave is the reason most people come. Where Zicatela's beach break is known as the Mexican Pipeline and suits only expert barrel riders, La Punta is a left-hand point break that peels off the rocks over a bottom of sand and reef. Because the swell wraps around the point, it often has something rideable when the open beach is flat or closing out, and on good days rides can run a couple of hundred metres. It is the spot where beginners who have had a few lessons and intermediate surfers practise, which also means a crowded take-off zone, and rocks and sea urchins lie close to where the waves break.
Out of the water, La Punta has a relaxed evening scene of food stands, bars and restaurants. At the end of the beach a path leads around the cliff to a small rocky cove and a low hill with a view over both bays and the lighthouse, a favourite place to watch the sun go down; at low tide you can also scramble among the large rocks toward a natural stone arch at the point.
How to get to La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Drive from Oaxaca: 2 h 40 min, 186 km
La Punta is at the south end of Playa Zicatela, about 10 minutes by car or taxi from central Puerto Escondido along the coastal highway toward Pochutla and then down the streets of Brisas de Zicatela. Shared taxis (colectivos) run along the main road at a fixed in-town fare, and many people simply walk the 3 km of beach from central Zicatela. Puerto Escondido has an international airport a few kilometres away and frequent buses from Oaxaca City.
Directions to La Punta (Playa Zicatela) on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
- Oaxaca · 186 km by road, 2 h 40 min
- Salina Cruz · 248 km by road, 3 h 20 min
- Juchitán · 290 km by road, 4 h
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to La Punta (Playa Zicatela): hours, prices and tips
- Best time of day
- Go at sunset; at high tide the route around the cliff is cut off, but a small path runs above it. Wikivoyage · checked Oct 2026
- Best season
- Swell is most consistent from April to September, peaking June to August; water stays around 27–29 °C all year. Lush Palm (Dec 2023) · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Non-slip shoes for the rocks at the point, which you can reach at low tide. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- The wave breaks close to rocks and sea urchins; the take-off zone is small and often crowded. Waves'n'Backpack · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting La Punta (Playa Zicatela): what to see and do
Surf the left-hand point break, or take a lesson with a local school.
Watch the surfers from the sand at the end of Zicatela.
Walk around the cliff to the small hill above the rocky cove for the sunset.
Look for the stone arch among the rocks at low tide.
Eat at the street food stalls and cafés on the sandy lanes in the evening.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around La Punta (Playa Zicatela).
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Juquila often include La Punta (Playa Zicatela); with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at PXM (Puerto Escondido): about 1 h 22 min by road to Juquila, then 52 km more to La Punta (Playa Zicatela), on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Escondido (PXM), about 1 h 22 min by road from Juquila, the base for La Punta (Playa Zicatela).
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming or surfing at La Punta (Playa Zicatela), check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Juquila: download a map of the way to La Punta (Playa Zicatela) before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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Photos
When to go to La Punta (Playa Zicatela) mild
La Punta (Playa Zicatela) shares the climate of Juquila, 52 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
La Punta (Playa Zicatela) is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (March, April, and May); in the rainiest ones (June, August, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.
See the month-by-month climate of Juquila
Weather in La Punta (Playa Zicatela) now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Juquila
Juquila is the Pueblo Mágico closest to La Punta (Playa Zicatela), with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Mazunte · Oaxaca · 56 km away
Closest to La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
-
Playa Zicatela · Beach · 2 km away
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Playa Puerto Angelito · Beach · 4 km away
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Playa Carrizalillo · Beach · 5 km away
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Puerto Escondido · Town · 5 km away
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Playa Bacocho · Beach · 7 km away
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Ventanilla · Village · 8 km away
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Santa María Colotepec · Town · 14 km away
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Laguna de Manialtepec · Lagoon · 19 km away
Near La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with La Punta (Playa Zicatela)
Beaches in Oaxaca · 19 Beaches near Juquila · 6 Beaches near Mazunte · 16Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.