Surf: Peerless beachbreak where spectacular, cavernous barrels unload close to shore. Swells hit the Puerto Escondido sandbars at Zicatela Beach in such a way that the waves jack-up in size, which is often emphasised by a backwash. Magazine photos of this place are misleading; guillotine lips make the paddle-outs punishing and there’s always plenty of board-snapping close-outs, so wave choice is critical. Requires high skill level when it gets overhead, which is when the thick crowds start to thin out. Locals, pros and travellers fight for the 1 in 3 that hopefully won’t shut down, but don’t speculate in the lip. Committed surfers only need apply. Usually the rights break best on a due SW swell and will often be blown out by 11am when the ENE offshores stop. There’s large numbers of skilled surfers in the water hoping for the bomb that stays open long enough to escape. Despite all this, it’s still a year-round Mecca for big barrel hunters! Environment: Avoid eye contact with the local chargers - the line-up is a lottery so sit tight and one will come to you eventually. The rips are like tractor beams, holding you in the impact zone until you get blasted back to shore, where the lifeguards do their best to keep the death toll down. It's highly consistent and always crowded - dawn is best. Surf: General: Commonly known as the "Mexican Pipeline," it's not a random coincidence that this heavily photographed spot is compared to another gigantic, awe-inspiring, fearsome Pacific wave. A deep off-shore trench helps focus and amplify southerly swells, which explains why Puerto's two main waves (a left called Far Bar and a right called Carmelita's) seldom dip under head high all summer and occasionally max out at 40- to 60-foot faces. Despite breaking over a sandy bottom fairly close to shore, when it's big, you better know what you're doing out there. Hazards include, but aren't limited to: strong currents, inescapable rips, and board-snapping duck dives. It's a minefield out there, but if you connect with the right wave, you'll know the true meaning of the word "cavern." Tides: All Size: Head high to six times overhead Wind: East-Northeast, East, East-Southeast Swell: Southwest, South-southwest Bottom: Sand. Paddling: Heavy paddle to get out and tough to stay in position. Spot Rating: World Class, but only for the advanced to pro surfer. Access: Easy. Hotel and restaurant parking galore. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Heavy most days. Local Vibe: Intense, highly skilled. Environment: Fairly clean. Hazards: Theft, strong currents, heavy waves. Season: Spring-Autumn