Puerto Escondido Surfing History by Mike Levy The first surfers came to Puerto Escondido in the late 1960s in the form of hippies during the Vietnam war. In the United States they were called draft dodgers. Some went to Canada and the more adventurous went south. Hippies from all over the world came to Oaxaca to rest, relax, explore, experiment, trip and visit the world famous Maria Sabina in Hualtla de Jiminez.
Maria Sabina showed people the mystic ways of the magic mushroom. After tripping in the rain forest of Hualtla these hippies made there may to the coast. There were stories of a very tiny fishing village called Puerto Escondido with its wild white sand beaches and beautiful tranquil bays. Now the adventure really starts, to get there was a 24 hour bus ride over some of the most treacherous dirt roads and that was in the dry season. The tropical raining season was something else— impassable in most parts. The first view one had of Puerto Escondido was paradise found. The beautiful bay of marinero with the rocks of el morro, the wild beach of playa zicatela and la punta in the far distance. Back then playa zicatela was wild scrub jungle. In the years to come rumors started floating around the world that there was a roaring beach break in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico with giant waves that spit spray out of both ends. Back in the 1970s it was not easy to get to Puerto Escondido with surf boards but the more adventurous managed having to deal with banditos, road obstacles, mechanical problems, scorpions, malaria and a number of other things. The rest is history. IN 2008 IT IS JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PUERTO. As you will witness in the new movie by Mike Levy. Just Another Day In Puerto. A hard core surfing video available spring of 2009. |
