Puerto Escondido tide chart: high tide, low tide and the best time to go in
Here is the Puerto Escondido tide chart for today (high tide and low tide times) and, more useful, what it means for your day: when to swim, surf, snorkel or fish at each beach. Times come from the official predictions of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) for its Puerto Escondido station.
Waves, wind and tides in Puerto Escondido
- Swell
- 1.4 m (4.4 ft) · 15 s · SSW
- Wind
- 7 km/h (4 mph) NNE calm
- Next tide
- ▼ low 23:25 · 0.04 m (0.1 ft)
- Sunset
- 18:08
Forecast for 21:00 (local time, Puerto Escondido). Updated every hour.
Today, Wednesday, October 14
- ▲ high 05:01 1.00 m (3.3 ft)
- ▼ low 11:32 0.02 m (0.1 ft)
- ▲ high 17:22 0.74 m (2.4 ft)
- ▼ low 23:25 0.04 m (0.1 ft)
| Time | Swell · period | Dir. | Wind km/h (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | 1.4 m (4.6 ft) 15 s | SSW | 5 (3) calm |
Sunrise 06:20 · Sunset 18:08
Thursday, October 15
- ▲ high 05:38 0.98 m (3.2 ft)
- ▼ low 12:14 0.02 m (0.1 ft)
- ▲ high 17:59 0.72 m (2.4 ft)
| Time | Swell · period | Dir. | Wind km/h (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 1.3 m (4.4 ft) 15 s | SSW | 6 (4) calm |
| 09:00 | 1.5 m (5.0 ft) 15 s | SSW | 4 (2) calm |
| 12:00 | 1.3 m (4.2 ft) 15 s | SSW | 4 (2) calm |
| 15:00 | 1.2 m (4.0 ft) 15 s | SSW | 2 (1) calm |
| 18:00 | 1.3 m (4.1 ft) 14 s | SSW | 4 (2) calm |
Sunrise 06:20 · Sunset 18:07
Friday, October 16
- ▼ low 00:03 0.04 m (0.1 ft)
- ▲ high 06:15 0.95 m (3.1 ft)
- ▼ low 12:53 0.05 m (0.2 ft)
- ▲ high 18:38 0.70 m (2.3 ft)
| Time | Swell · period | Dir. | Wind km/h (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 1.6 m (5.4 ft) 10 s | SSW | 8 (5) offshore |
| 09:00 | 2.0 m (6.4 ft) 10 s | SSW | 8 (5) offshore |
| 12:00 | 2.2 m (7.1 ft) 11 s | SW | 5 (3) calm |
| 15:00 | 2.4 m (8.0 ft) 12 s | SW | 7 (4) calm |
| 18:00 | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) 12 s | SW | 9 (6) offshore |
Sunrise 06:20 · Sunset 18:06
Saturday, October 17
- ▼ low 00:37 0.05 m (0.2 ft)
- ▲ high 06:54 0.91 m (3.0 ft)
- ▼ low 13:29 0.08 m (0.3 ft)
- ▲ high 19:18 0.68 m (2.2 ft)
| Time | Swell · period | Dir. | Wind km/h (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 2.6 m (8.5 ft) 12 s | WSW | 10 (6) offshore |
| 09:00 | 2.6 m (8.5 ft) 12 s | WSW | 5 (3) calm |
| 12:00 | 2.5 m (8.3 ft) 12 s | W | 7 (4) calm |
| 15:00 | 2.3 m (7.6 ft) 11 s | W | 6 (4) calm |
| 18:00 | 2.0 m (6.7 ft) 11 s | W | 4 (2) calm |
Sunrise 06:20 · Sunset 18:06
Sunday, October 18
- ▼ low 01:10 0.08 m (0.3 ft)
- ▲ high 07:33 0.87 m (2.9 ft)
- ▼ low 14:02 0.12 m (0.4 ft)
- ▲ high 20:00 0.66 m (2.2 ft)
| Time | Swell · period | Dir. | Wind km/h (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 2.0 m (6.5 ft) 16 s | SSW | 7 (4) calm |
| 09:00 | 2.0 m (6.5 ft) 16 s | SSW | 3 (2) calm |
| 12:00 | 2.0 m (6.4 ft) 16 s | SSW | 11 (7) onshore |
| 15:00 | 1.9 m (6.3 ft) 16 s | SSW | 9 (6) onshore |
| 18:00 | 1.8 m (6.0 ft) 16 s | SSW | 3 (2) calm |
Sunrise 06:21 · Sunset 18:05
Swell: groundswell height in meters (feet in brackets); the bar fills up at 2.5 m (8 ft). Period: seconds between waves; above 12 s waves break much harder.
Dir.: where it comes from (the arrow points where it is heading). Wind: offshore blows from land to sea (grooms the wave) · onshore messes it up · cross (cross-shore) · calm under 8 km/h (5 mph). Calculated for Zicatela.
Waves: NOAA WaveWatch III model. Wind: NOAA GFS model. Both via PacIOOS. Tides: Puerto Escondido station predictions by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR).
Offshore numerical model forecast; it can differ from what you see at the beach. Not for navigation.
What it means at each beach (local reading)
| Beach | Reading | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Zicatela | The "Mexican Pipeline": it breaks hard at almost any tide and rip currents are constant. The tide only changes the shape of the wave; it does not make it safe. | Advanced surfing and wave watching. NOT a swimming beach. |
| La Punta (Punta Zicatela) | More manageable than Zicatela; at low tide the sandbar is more exposed and the entry is gentler. | Learning to surf, and swimming with care close to shore. |
| Carrizalillo | Horseshoe-shaped sheltered cove; waves come in softened. At low tide there is more sand and a calm pool. | Family swimming, snorkeling and beginner surf lessons. |
| Puerto Angelito | Small, protected bay with calm water. Low tide widens the shallow area, good for seeing fish. | Snorkeling and swimming with kids, especially at low tide. |
| Manzanillo | Next to Puerto Angelito, just as protected and with a reef nearby. Small waves most of the year. | Snorkeling and calm family swimming. |
| Bacocho | Long open beach with waves and rip currents; high tide shortens the strip of dry sand. | Walks, sunsets and turtle releases. Swim only with caution. |
| Playa Principal | The town bay, more protected than the open beaches; waves are usually moderate. Low tide leaves more sand in front of the Adoquín (the main pedestrian street). | Boat trips, strolls and calm swimming close to shore. |
Today's tides and the week ahead
The table above shows today's high and low tides and the next few days, with the local time and the height in meters (feet in brackets). Each day also carries the swell and wind forecast every 3 hours, so you can cross the three at a glance.
How to read a tide chart
Four terms are enough:
- High tide: the highest water level of the cycle.
- Low tide: the lowest level.
- Height (m): how high or low the water gets compared with the reference level; it can be negative on the lowest low tides.
- Spring and neap tides: around full and new moon the gap between high and low is larger (spring tide); around the quarter moons it is smaller (neap tide). This matters mostly for fishing.
Puerto Escondido normally has two high tides and two low tides every day.
When is the best time to swim, surf or fish?
A practical rule for Puerto Escondido:
- Swimming / snorkeling: best at low or rising tide in the sheltered coves (Carrizalillo, Puerto Angelito, Manzanillo), when the water is calmer and shallower.
- Surfing: depends on the spot; at La Punta many surfers prefer low tide. Zicatela breaks at almost any tide, but only for experienced surfers.
- Fishing: tide changes (incoming or outgoing) and the spring tides of full and new moon usually bring more activity.
Tide, swell and groundswell are not the same thing
The tide is the rise and fall of sea level caused by the Moon and the Sun: it is predictable and it is what this chart shows. Swell (and groundswell) is wave energy arriving from distant Pacific storms; it can be dangerous even on a sunny day at low tide. Low tide does NOT mean a calm ocean: always check the surf report and the flags before going in.
Safety: rip currents and flags
Puerto Escondido has rip currents on the beaches open to the Pacific, such as Zicatela and Bacocho, and low tide does not remove them. Always follow the flags and the lifeguards: green = normal caution, yellow = caution, red = do not go in. If a current catches you, do not swim against it: swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the pull. If in doubt, stay out.
Frequently asked questions
What time is high tide today in Puerto Escondido?
It is in the table at the top of this page: each day shows its two high tides (▲ high) with local time and height, based on the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) predictions.
What time is low tide today?
In the same table, marked ▼ low, with time and height, plus the next few days.
What is the best tide for swimming?
In the sheltered coves (Carrizalillo, Puerto Angelito, Manzanillo), low or rising tide is the most comfortable, when the water is calmer. Still, check the swell and the flags before going in.
Does the tide affect the waves at Zicatela?
The tide changes the way the wave breaks a little, but Zicatela breaks hard at almost any tide because of Pacific groundswell. It is still not a swimming beach.
Is it safe to swim at high tide in Puerto Escondido?
It depends on the beach, not only the tide. Open beaches like Zicatela and Bacocho have rip currents at any tide. Swim only at protected beaches, follow the flags and listen to the lifeguards.