Puerto Escondido also known as the "Mexican Pipeline", is one of the top ten surfing meccas in the world. Home to an international surf contest in mid November and the Mexpipe Challenge in February, the Puerto Escondido coastline offers surf breaks for beginners and professionals alike.

There are many safe swimming beaches in the Puerto area but extreme caution is advised for surfing and swimming on Playa Zicatela - the main surfing beach. There are strong rip tides and the waves are among the most powerful in the world - riveling the famed Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii.