Where to SUP in Oaxaca, Mexico

Last Winter, I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, with my husband, our cat, and our Hala inflatable stand-up paddleboards. Oaxaca might not be the first place you think of when you hear SUP vacation, but if you know where to go, you can discover breathtaking places. Check out how we traveled with our SUPs, favorite places, and where to stay.

Getting There

We flew from Dallas International Airport to Oaxaca City. It was an easy 2.5 non-stop flight, and flying with our Hala SUPs was a breeze! We used our Hala Roller bags, which easily hold the SUP, breakdown paddle, hand pump, and repair kit.

Rio the adventure cat had been to Mexico, but this was his first time flying.  He traveled in a pet carrier under the seat in front of me. He did exceptionally well.

Oaxaca City

Oaxaca City is located in the center of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. It is in a mountainous inland area.  Although we couldn’t SUP from Oaxaca City, we still enjoyed the colorful cultural sights and cuisine. 

We visited the ancient pyramids in the city and surrounding areas.  We also traveled to a nearby petrified waterfall, attended local sporting events, played pickleball, and went on hikes.  

Everyone we met in Oaxaca City was warm, welcoming, and interested in getting to know us. The locals made us feel welcome and at home in a new, foreign city.

Salina Cruz & SUP Surfing

Our next stop was Salina Cruz. We packed our rental car and headed out of the mountains to the West Coast. We stayed in Salinas Cruz for about two and a half weeks, where we were finally able to get on our SUPs.

Salina Cruz is not a touristy town. However, it has all the amenities a traveler needs and plenty of accommodations. We learned from the locals that they prefer that visitors hire a local guide while checking out the area’s many stellar surf spots.

Although waves are optimal in the summer months, we still had a blast catching waves on our Hala Carbon Playa and Playita. 

Salina Cruz Power Plant

The first spot we explored was an abandoned power plant near Salina Cruz proper. We paddled out near the plant, which provided a great structure for spearfishing.  

We paddled up the bending coastline, dipping in towards shore to catch waves and back out past the breakers to continue exploring the seashore.  Once again, everyone we encountered was extremely friendly. The locals were eager to chat and very curious about the sport of SUP Surfing. 

Punta Conejo 

The next place we recommend is a well-known surf break outside town called Punta Conejo. The waves were not extraordinary the day we visited, but our Hala SUP boards love to catch any wave!  We had a blast riding the point-break waves. We had the break all to ourselves, and the scenery was stunning. 

Playa Zipolite & Nearby Towns

After our time in Salina Cruz, we headed up the coast to spend a month in Playa Zipolite. This is a popular but quaint bohemian town and the only nude beach in all of Mexico. The people in Zipolite vary from expats to travelers to locals and vacationers from other parts of Mexico. 

The sandy beach of Playa Zipolite is about a mile long, with stunning cliffs and cacti on each end.  The waves at Playa Zipolite were very dumpy on most days. They were friendly for boogie boarding but not super SUP-friendly.  

We opted to take our Hala SUPs to nearby small towns and coves to enjoy exploring the coastline and snorkeling.  There are several small beaches up and down the coast in this area with perfect waves for stand-up paddle surfing and coves with accessible flat water for beautiful snorkeling and coastline paddling. We enjoyed introducing the sport of stand-up paddle boarding to people who had never tried it.  

Besides the sublime SUP views, one of the highlights of our time in this area was helping to release baby sea turtles for their first voyage to the sea. 

Huatulco

Our last stop in Oaxaca was Huatulco.  This area is a Stand-up paddleboarding paradise with nine large bays with amazing views and otherwordly snorkeling.  There are also great surf spots within 20 to 45 minutes down the coast. 

Huatulco features several fancy resorts with private beaches and restaurants along the coast. We recommend staying at a local Airbnb and immersing yourselves in the community.  

We still experienced the mega-resorts using our Hala paddleboards. We parked at the local fisherman's beach and paddled the shoreline to see what each resort had to offer. 

Oaxaca + Hala SUP = Match Made in Heaven

Oaxaca, Mexico, is a beautiful place with wonderful people and excellent SUP opportunities.  I love traveling to new places and am so grateful to bring my Hala SUP to explore wherever I go on an even deeper level.

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Hala Team Paddler Emily Barnes discovered SUP 12 years ago as a way to cope with drug and alcohol addiction. She has since tried whitewater SUP, ocean surfing, and has even explored bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.

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