Oaxaca, Mexico · The destination
Barra de la Cruz.
A Zapotec fishing village built around one of Mexico's best right-hand point breaks. The wave, the town, how to get here, and what to know before you come.
Barra de la Cruz at a glance
- Where
- Pacific coast of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, off the Mex 200 between Huatulco and Salina Cruz.
- Nearest airport
- Huatulco (HUX), about 45 minutes by car.
- The wave
- Long right-hand point over sand. South swell April to October, peak June to September.
- The beach
- Owned and run by the Zapotec community. About 100 MXN per person per day at the gate.
- Money
- Cash only in the village, and no ATM. Bring pesos from Huatulco.
- Water
- 27–28°C (80–82°F) all year. No wetsuit.
- Language
- Spanish, with Zapotec among the elders. English at the property.
- Signal
- Wi-Fi at the property. Cell signal is patchy in the village and reliable on the beach.
The wave, by the numbers
Mexico's most perfect right.
Barra de la Cruz is precisely how you'd dream it. A long right point break reminiscent of Snapper Rocks — heavy takeoff, hollow barrels at low tide, then it fattens and peels beautifully down the sand. Turns, tubes, and repeat. South Pacific swells wrap around the headland from April through October, delivering some of the most consistent, world-class surf on Earth. And you're watching it all unfold from your balcony.
Wave Type
Right point break
Best Swell
W / SW
Best Wind
Mornings / East
Best Season
April – October
Water Temp
27–28°C / 80–82°F
Consistency
80%
Right now in the water
Live from the buoy.
Conditions update hourly. Forecast covers the next five days at the point.
Updated Fri 4:15 PM
Wave height
3.9 ft
1.2 m
Period
9.8 s
Swell direction
SSW
208°
Water temp
30.4°C
87°F
Next five days
2 Fri
4.8 ft
3 Sat
4.1 ft
4 Sun
4.2 ft
5 Mon
4.5 ft
6 Tue
4.6 ft
Live conditions via Open-Meteo
Forecast looks fun? Inquire on WhatsApp
Photographed from the cliff above the property.
About Barra
A village the world walked into.
Barra de la Cruz is a Zapotec fishing village of a few hundred people on the coast of Oaxaca. The community owns and runs the beach — which is why the wave is still as good as it is. There's a single beach restaurant with fresh fish and cold beer, a couple of comedores in town, no big resorts, no nightclubs, no chaos. It's quiet. That's the point.
A typical lineup at Barra. Long rights, multiple peaks, sand-bottomed point — and a community of surfers that keeps it that way.
When to come
Best time to visit.
Barra works year-round, but the wave wants south swell. April through October delivers — June through September is peak. Off-season is mellower but quieter.
Plan your trip
What you need to know before you come.
The practical stuff. Bookmark this page before your flight.
- 01
What to pack
Boards a touch more volume than usual — the wave wants paddle speed. Reef-safe sunscreen, light rashguard, dry bag for the walk down, headlamp (the path back at dusk is dark), and a couple sandals.
- 02
Cash & ATMs
Pull pesos in Huatulco before driving in — there's no ATM in Barra. Most spots in the village are cash-only. The property accepts transfer in advance or cash on arrival.
- 03
Language
Spanish is the default. Jose and a few others at the property speak English. Zapotec is still spoken by elders in the village. A handful of phrases go a long way.
- 04
Internet & cell
Wi-Fi is at the property and works fine for video calls. Cell signal is patchy in the village center and reliable along the beach. No SIM needed for short stays.
- 05
Power & plugs
110V, US/MX two-prong plugs. If you're coming from Europe or the UK, bring an adapter — preferably one with USB-C built in for charging at the beach.
- 06
Community beach fee
About 100 MXN per person per day at the beach gate. Goes to the local community — palapas, the restaurant, lifeguards. Worth every peso, and you're contributing directly.
- 07
Photography etiquette
Always ask before photographing locals. Drones near the point are a hard no without prior permission from the community council. Be a guest, not a producer.
- 08
Flat-day plans
Snorkel La Bocana (20 min south), hike to the lookout above the village (45 min), day-trip to Huatulco's nine bays, or ask Jose which neighboring break is working — Mojón and Salchi often pick up when Barra goes quiet.
- 09
Getting around
We rent scooters to guests. The point is a two-minute walk, so you don't need one to surf — but it's the simplest way to check the neighboring breaks on a flat day, run into town for cash or groceries, or take the coast road for an afternoon. Ask Jose when you book.
Getting here
How to get to Barra de la Cruz.
Almost everyone comes through Huatulco. The airport is about 45 minutes west by car, and the last stretch into the village is a dirt road that a normal car handles fine in the dry season.
By air
Huatulco (HUX) has year-round direct flights from Mexico City and seasonal connections from the US and Canada. Puerto Escondido (PXM) is the backup, about two and a half hours up the coast.
Taxi or transfer
A taxi from Huatulco runs about $20 USD (roughly 350 pesos). Guests can ask Jose to arrange an airport transfer straight to the bungalows.
Rental car
From about $25 USD a day in Huatulco. Head east on the Mex 200 toward Salina Cruz and take the signed Barra de la Cruz turnoff. Fill the tank and shop in Huatulco, the last proper supermarket on the way.
Collectivo
The budget option at about 50 pesos. It drops you at the highway, and from there it is a 20-minute walk into the village.
The village
Eat, sleep, and the days between swells.
Where to eat
There is one restaurant on the beach with fresh fish and cold beer, and a couple of comedores in the village. No supermarket, no nightlife. Most visitors cook as well: the bungalows have full kitchens, so stock up in Huatulco on the way in.
Where to stay
No hotels, no resort. A handful of family-run cabañas and guesthouses, community camping near the beach, and a few purpose-built surf bungalows, almost none of it on booking sites. Bungalows Buena Vista is the closest bookable property to the point: four bungalows with AC, full kitchens, private bathrooms and board storage, a two-minute walk from the sand. Book ahead for June through September.
Is Barra de la Cruz safe?
It is a small, quiet community of a few hundred people where the beach is run by the village itself and lifeguards work the point. The cautions are the ordinary ones: carry a headlamp for the dark path back from the beach at dusk, bring cash, take the dirt road slowly after heavy rain, and respect the wave, which at size suits confident intermediates and up.
Questions people ask
Barra de la Cruz, answered.
- Where is Barra de la Cruz?
- On the Pacific coast of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, off the Mex 200 highway between Huatulco and Salina Cruz. Huatulco airport is about 45 minutes west by car.
- How do I get to Barra de la Cruz from Huatulco?
- Taxi or private transfer (about $20 USD from Huatulco), a rental car (about $25 USD a day), or a collectivo (about 50 pesos) that drops you at the highway for a 20-minute walk. Guests of the bungalows can have Jose arrange an airport transfer.
- Is there an ATM in Barra de la Cruz?
- No. Most places in the village are cash-only, so withdraw pesos in Huatulco before you drive in.
- Is there a fee to use the beach?
- Yes. About 100 MXN per person per day, paid at the beach entrance to the local community. It funds the restaurant, the palapas and the lifeguards.
- When is the best time to visit Barra de la Cruz?
- April through October for surf, with June through September at its peak. November to March is smaller, quieter and still warm, with water at 27–28°C all year.
- Is Barra de la Cruz safe?
- It is a small, quiet, community-run village with lifeguards at the point. Use ordinary care: a headlamp for the dark path at dusk, cash on hand, slow driving on the dirt road after rain, and respect for a wave that at size suits confident intermediates and up.
- Where can I stay in Barra de la Cruz?
- A handful of family cabañas and guesthouses, community camping near the beach, and a few purpose-built surf bungalows. Bungalows Buena Vista is the closest bookable property to the point, a two-minute walk from the sand. Book ahead for June through September.
- Where do you eat in Barra de la Cruz?
- There is one restaurant on the beach with fresh fish and cold beer and a couple of comedores in the village. Most visitors also cook, so shop at the supermarket in Huatulco on the way in.
- Can beginners surf Barra de la Cruz?
- Not at size. On a clean, overhead day the point is a fast, powerful wave for confident intermediates and up. Smaller off-season days are far more approachable. There is no surf school or board rental in the village.
- What is there to do when the surf is flat?
- Snorkel La Bocana 20 minutes south, hike to the lookout above the village, spend a day in Huatulco's bays, or check the neighbouring breaks, Mojón and Salchi, which often pick up when Barra goes quiet.
Have your dates?
Lock them in today.
Same-day confirmation. Reply usually within the hour.
When you're ready
Your wave is breaking.
We don't take card payments online. Every booking starts with a WhatsApp message to Jose — usually a reply in under an hour. Tell us when you want to come and how many of you.
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