Playa Icacos
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Playa Icacos is an exposed beach break in West Guerrero known for having consistent surf and being able to work at essentially any time of year. The wave setup offers both lefts and rights and is reported to function across all tide stages, which makes it relatively flexible for planning sessions around tide changes. The best-performing swell direction is described as south to south-southwest (including south-southwest groundswells), paired with offshore/ideal winds from the north-northeast. December is highlighted as the cleanest month for surf conditions, and conditions are often described as best early in the morning before the afternoon sea breeze becomes more established. Safety is the priority here: multiple sources emphasize dangerous rip currents and the presence of strong undertow. Swimming is generally not recommended because the beach water is reported as dirty / poor sea-bottom quality. Driftwood and undertow can add extra hazards, especially when conditions are rough or the swell grows. Access is described as straightforward, but the beach is characterized as rural/less serviced, so bringing supplies is advised. Overall, the spot is viewed as sometimes crowded rather than consistently hectic, with a local-leaning vibe during many periods; for surfing skill, it ranges from beginner-leaning to intermediate depending on conditions and how often the swell builds.
- Consistent exposed beach-break surfing year-round
- Lefts and rights
- Ideal offshore winds from north-northeast for cleaner surf
- Cleanest period reported in December
- Exposed but consistent beach-break surfing across the year.
- Lefts and rights are available, and it can work at all tide stages.
- Best wind/wave combo is associated with offshore NNE winds and south-southwest groundswells.
- Dangerous rip currents are a key risk.
- Water can be dirty with poor swimming conditions due to sea-bottom quality issues.
- Surf can deteriorate into closeouts on very large swell.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NNE
- Offshore directions
- NNE
- Wind Range
- 8–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Ideal offshore winds for surfing are reported from the north-northeast; regional winds are described as thermal sea-breeze driven, with occasional winter frontal influence.
- Reliability
- moderate to consistent-year-round
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Reported as steady in the afternoon/through the sea-breeze period.
- Best Months
- December
- Shadow Zones
- None, very exposed coastline
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Medium — Medium wave size is reported in one source; can close out on bigger swell.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach with ample space for access and setup.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy launch/access is reported, with a wide sandy setup.
Through the year
Usually quieter, with slightly more visitors during Mexican holiday periods; December is singled out for cleanest surf.
June to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break with consistent surf that can work across the year. Offers lefts and rights and generally works at all tide stages; best performance is associated with south-southwest (groundswells) with offshore NNE winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Reported to work at all tide stages.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open, exposed coastline with no meaningful wind sheltering.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore from the north-northeast is described as ideal; early morning can be cleanest before the sea breeze increases and/or effects afternoon winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when the swell exceeds about 3 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Reported as good/average depending on conditions; cleanest conditions occur in December.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Sources describe mixed shape; another report notes primarily peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling, fast-breaking peaks.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, punchy rides; sometimes fast beach-break peaks.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short, punchy beach-break rides; fast beach-break peaks.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Playa Icacos in the full forecast view.
Playa Icacos wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 17 kts
- Direction
- S177°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 268 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.4–2.8 m10s period
- Temperature
- 23–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Playa Icacos is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 17 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 1.4–2.8 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Dangerous rip currents
- Dirty water / poor sea-bottom conditions
- Strong undertow
- Occasional driftwood
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported on this beach stretch.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated rescue service reported for this stretch; maritime search and rescue is handled regionally, with medical care available in Zihuatanejo.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are reported in Zihuatanejo. In Mexico, the national emergency number is 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mostly visited by locals per regional notes, with generally low friction reported.
Rules of the spot
Respect local surfers and the natural environment.
- Be aware of dangerous rips.
- Water quality is poor in the Acapulco Bay/along this beach stretch; swimming is not recommended.
- For surfing, conditions are often best early in the morning before the sea breeze picks up.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Acapulco
- Nearest Town
- Acapulco
- Parking
- Informal parking reported near beach access points in at least one source.
- Access
- Beach access described as via coastal/nearby road access and general beach entry; one source notes entry is free.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Limited eco-cabins and small guesthouses in nearby rural areas; accommodations more broadly are available in Zihuatanejo.
- Food & Drink
- A few local seafood shacks (enramadas) may be open during weekends or holidays.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on-site in one source; broader regional rentals for surfing/SUP are described as available in Zihuatanejo, while specialized wind-sport rentals are limited.
- Gear Storage
- No specific gear storage facilities reported for the beach.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard and sail repair can be found in Zihuatanejo; no specific on-site repair reported for the beach.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Playa Icacos?
The best overall months at Playa Icacos are December, January, February, March, April, May. The best wind months are December.
Which wind directions work at Playa Icacos?
Playa Icacos works with NNE winds. Offshore directions are NNE.
What skill level is Playa Icacos suitable for?
Playa Icacos suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.