The US picks up where it left off and Mexico goes through some of the challenges of the Central Pacific waves. Cross the border into California and enter Baja, a region of vibrant party towns, cactus-filled deserts, and mouth-watering point breaks. As you walk, jungle hills approach the coast. First in the popular longboard center of Nayarit, then in Oaxaca, an unexplored surfing destination in Mexico.
Yes, no doubt about it.
Home to tacos, tequila, and tamales, he’s one of the world’s premier surfing destinations. There are epic point breaks, huge XXL waves, peeling cruisers, and everything in between, as this guide to 8 of Mexico’s best surf spots shows.
1. San Pancho
For a true Mexican experience, San Pancho is your number-one choice. This quiet little surfer town is where cowboys roam the streets in the mornings and mariachi bands sing in taquerias. Cobbled streets intersect here and there, with cafés extending down to the sidewalks, creating a very nice atmosphere.
Surfing takes place on the main beach, Playa San Pancho. Not necessarily the best collection of peaks, but consistent. Move a short distance left or right on the powerful wall that appears at the bottom of the reef. It only works on certain stretches of the beach, but I think the southern end is generally more reliable.
What makes San Pancho stand out is that it’s a relaxed version of Sayulita with one foot in the same epic surf region.
Riviera of Nayarit. A surfing school on Main Street Avenida Terselmund offers tours to La Hele Ranch and Punta Hele Mita, including board rentals and lessons. Choose this if the San Pancho itself punctures or blows out.
2. Mazatlan
Mazatlan is the main seaside resort in Sinaloa. Yes, this is the same Sinaloa that brought El Chapo and more to the world, but the Malecon’s designated tourist zone and recently renovated Old Town (details below) are generally safe for visitors in 2023 considered, so you shouldn’t worry too much.
The western half of the city has a whopping 21 kilometers of coastline. It has long stretches of golden sand and rocky coves. Each person has their own way of resting. The main acts I would consider are the Rucos crowd-spreading on multiple peaks suitable for all skill levels and the left and right frame Playa Bruja for a very enjoyable shortboard ride.
Now, let’s go back to the old town. Mazatlan’s Centro district has just completed a decade of painstaking restoration work. It exudes a sort of Havana vibe, some call it “tropical neoclassicism”. With colorful buildings lining tree-lined boulevards, towering golden balconies, and plazas shaded by jacaranda trees, there’s no denying the atmosphere.
3. Troncones
If you’re the type of person who likes to go off the beaten path to unmapped beaches and unsurfed waves, Trongkorn might be the place for you. It’s one of Guerrero’s few surf towns, but it still feels strange given the country’s constant exposure to the waves of the South Pacific.
Anyway, Troncon crawls out of the coconut palms of the jungle about 30 minutes drive north of Zihuatanejo. It has a great main beach for surfers of all skill levels, but it can get big and powerful in strong summer waves. To the north lies the region’s rising star, La Salidita.
Yes, La Salidita is an estuary wave conditioning fest. It begins where water from a small river south of its eponymous settlement (which is actually a settlement) meanders into the sea and flows around a cobbled promontory into a wide bay. The shallow silt and mud flats at the mouth of the river usually keep it small and clean, making it perfect for longboarders at any time of the year.
4. Punta Mita
Punta Mita is famous for its luxury getaways on the lower Riviera Nayarit. The name is both a cape and a city, stretching along the Bahia de Banderas just north of Puerto Vallarta and lined with dozens of five-star hotels and luxury resorts overlooking the foaming Pacific Ocean.
Here are his two beaches to play. The first is facing west. This brings in decent winter waves, mimicking waves like Sayulita and San Pancho, and a series of beach breaks can be okay, but can also be epic. Everything depends on how the sandbars line up. Next is the south side of Punta Mita. Golden spots await here in the form of well-protected beaches and spots that favor south-southwest waves in summer. I’m talking about La Lancha, arguably the most beautiful A-frame beach in the country, and Stinkies, a long-drive top-down wave near the main port.
5. Puerto Escondido
No list of Mexico’s most famous surf spots would be complete without mentioning Puerto Escondido. Zicatera’s main beach, known as the Mexican Pipeline, is one of the world’s most dangerous beaches for his tube factory. When the huge waves from the south begin to rumble in the summer, a 40-foot-tall wall emerges and you have to dare to dive directly into the back door. It only takes a few seconds, but it will be the ride of a lifetime.
Of course, most people wouldn’t even try it. Most can only reach the sandy beach, where crowds gather with cold cervezas and limes to see the pros in action. Luckily, Puerto Escondido has beaches for all levels. La Punta is a point he breaks with a beautiful right shoulder for advanced surfers. Carrizalillo is a sheltered beginner cove perfect for the off-season.
One of his favorite things about Puerto Escondido is that it is the gateway to the entire coast of Oaxaca. This may be one of the taco and tequila country’s least-known surf spots. Some say May, June, and July are a series of epic real-life moments that all flow like clockwork. But sh!
6. Cabo San Lucas
Open up your tequila, sizzle some fish tacos, and apply some sunscreen. Cabo is the R&R Mecca of the Baja Peninsula, as it’s known by its legions of loyal followers. Located at the tip of the peninsula, just off the Lands on His End, it has attracted spring breakers, partygoers, and A-list celebrities for decades.
But when the summer waves roll in from the south around May, it becomes a haven for surfers. The main reason for that is the entire coastline that stretches east of town to its front door on the Sea of Cortez.
When the waves crash headlong into the 40s and the wind changes from east to north, it can look very pretty. It’s really very beautiful. I’m talking about the long, stripped walls of the Costa Azul where fancy longboarders poke their noses. I’m talking Bahia’s lip-like wedges in his Chileno and all the plaster a sheer beginner on the sands of Cerritos Beach would want.
Cabo certainly prefers regular-footed riders, as he has plenty of point breaks on his right hand. It’s best to stay somewhere in the Hotel Corridor (the area lined with resorts east of downtown) to get closer to the waves.
7. Sayulita
Everyone greets Sayurita. No other surf spot in Mexico is more famous. A city of entertainment and taverns, this city is one of the country’s legendary Pueblo Magicos, a ‘magical village’ known for its unique charm and beautiful appearance. It sits on a hooked bend of golden sand bordered by two very regular waves.
The first is the Sayulita Sandbar. Once upon a time, someone somewhere realized that this gentle little number was just right to start surfing. Gentle, soft, and powdery underfoot, making urination more comfortable than ever. Directly above the playa is the Sayulita Light, which emerges from the mouth of the river towards the sea, providing a shorter, sharper, but still agile longboard his trimmer. It’s great when you make progress.
result? The one in Sayulita is a near-perfect cocktail for a study space. There’s a place to start and a place to go later. After that, you can tackle the many wedges that await around Cape Punta Mita, from the fat A-frames of La Rancha to the punchy shore breaks of San Pancho.
Sayulita has therefore become the epicenter of surf camps in Mexico and has what it takes. Margaritas are a staple at beachside eateries, and there are plenty of great hotels on the waterfront that host all-night parties if you feel like it.
8. Todos Santos
Baia de Todos Santos is a large chasm in the northern Baja peninsula that houses the seaside town of Ensenada. Welcome to one of the original surfer vacations for ex-pats from California. Located just an hour and a half drive south of the US border, it has for decades been a haven for Americana borderers looking to escape the bustle of San Diego.
Well, if you thought being close to Southern California’s legendary cobbled spire meant something similar, you’d be right. Bahia’s highlights are the steep, right-handed solipedes, which mimic the lower trestles on a sunny day, and San He Miguel, a series of crystal-clear launches credited with starting the sport of surfing in Mexico. . Here you also have to deal with the sleeping giants of Todos Santos. And only the most serious daredevil will pull it off. Like the Nazarenes, he rises upon the rocks of the Pacific Ocean, reaching heights of over 30 feet on stormy days. Oops!