About Zicazteca Surf School
Zicazteca Surf School is a locally owned surf school operating on Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido, run by Puerto Escondido native Julio Soto Noyola whose family has generational ties to the area. The school delivers safe, fun and professional surf lessons in English or Spanish for surfers of all ages and abilities, with a strong focus on first-timers and improvers.
Lessons use beginner-specific boards with soft surfaces and flexible fins for added safety, and the school also runs guided surf tours and trips, seven-day adventure packages and a small retail store. Julio is also an artist, and the school offers custom surfboard painting alongside its instruction — a signature touch that reflects the creative side of Puerto Escondido's surf culture.
Zicazteca stands out for its authentic local ownership and personal approach. Julio's artwork has appeared on the cover of Viva Puerto Magazine and on murals for local businesses and lifeguard towers, and the school has earned recognition in the Fodor's travel guide. Students get instruction from someone who has grown up surfing these exact waves and knows the breaks intimately.
