Best Surf Spots in Mexico — and Why Cerritos Belongs on Your List

Mexico has some of the best surfing in the world. Two coastlines — the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico — produce completely different wave environments, and the range of breaks across the country covers everything from world-class, consequence-heavy reef breaks to long, forgiving beach breaks perfect for learning. Here's an honest look at the spots worth knowing about, and where Cerritos Beach fits into the picture.

Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Puerto Escondido is home to the Zicatela break — one of the most powerful beach breaks on the planet, sometimes called the "Mexican Pipeline." The wave breaks fast and hard over a shallow sandbar, producing heavy barrels that attract professional surfers and experienced big-wave riders from around the world. The annual Quiksilver Pro México competition has been held here for good reason.

For advanced and expert surfers, Zicatela is a bucket-list wave. For beginners and intermediates, the nearby La Punta and Carrizalillo beaches offer gentler alternatives in the same town — making Puerto Escondido one of the few places where complete beginners and elite surfers can both have a great time in the same destination.

Sayulita, Nayarit

Sayulita is probably Mexico's most famous surf town — a colorful, bohemian village about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta that's been a surf destination since the 1960s. The main break is a consistent right and left beach break suitable for beginners and intermediate surfers, and the town has more surf schools per square kilometer than almost anywhere in the country.

The tradeoff is popularity. Sayulita gets busy — particularly November through April — and the main break can feel crowded during peak season. The vibe is social and festive, which is either exactly what you want or not really what you're after, depending on your travel style. For a quieter alternative nearby, San Pancho (5 minutes north) has a similar wave with a fraction of the crowd.

Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

Todos Santos sits on the Pacific coast of Baja, about 20 minutes north of Cerritos Beach. The surf here is more powerful and less forgiving than Cerritos — the breaks around Todos Santos (La Pastora, San Pedrito) are better suited to intermediate and experienced surfers who want more punch than a beginner break offers. San Pedrito in particular is a beautiful, uncrowded point break that works well on the right swell.

The town itself is a designated pueblo mágico — colonial architecture, excellent restaurants, galleries, and a slower pace than Cabo. It's an easy day trip from Cerritos and a natural pairing: surf the mellower waves at Cerritos in the morning, explore Todos Santos in the afternoon.

Punta Mita, Nayarit

Punta Mita is a peninsula north of Puerto Vallarta with several quality surf breaks, the most famous being La Lancha and El Faro. The waves here are more powerful and technical than Sayulita — better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers looking for less crowded alternatives to the main Sayulita break. The area has become increasingly upscale over the past decade, with luxury resorts and private villas making it a popular destination for surf trips that don't skimp on comfort.

Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca

Less well-known than Puerto Escondido but beloved by surfers who've found it, Barra de la Cruz is a world-class right-hand point break about three hours from Puerto Escondido. The wave peels for hundreds of meters on a good swell, producing long, clean rides that can last well over a minute. It hosted a WCT (World Championship Tour) event in 2006, putting it briefly on the global surf radar before retreating back into relative obscurity.

The infrastructure is minimal — a small village, basic accommodation — which is exactly why the crowd is thin and the experience feels genuine. If you're an experienced surfer willing to make the journey, it's one of Mexico's most rewarding waves.

Mazatlán, Sinaloa

Mazatlán doesn't have the wave quality of Oaxaca or Baja, but it's worth mentioning as an accessible entry point for surfers visiting the Pacific coast of mainland Mexico. The breaks around Mazatlán — Playa Los Cerritos (different from the Baja Cerritos) and Playa Brujas — are consistent beginner-friendly beach breaks. The city itself is one of Mexico's most underrated — a historic centro with genuinely good food and a local culture largely untouched by mass tourism.

Cerritos Beach, Baja California Sur

Cerritos sits on the Pacific coast of Baja, about 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas. It doesn't have the fame of Puerto Escondido or the scene of Sayulita, and that's largely the point.

The wave is a long, mellow right-hander breaking over a sandy bottom — consistent enough to surf almost every day of the year, forgiving enough for beginners, and with enough wall on a good swell to keep intermediate surfers engaged. The beach is wide and uncrowded by Mexican surf destination standards. The surrounding area — Todos Santos 20 minutes north, La Paz 75 minutes away, Cabo 45 minutes south — means there's plenty beyond the surf to fill a week.

What makes Cerritos worth choosing over better-known alternatives isn't the wave alone. It's the combination: reliable surf, easy access (Los Cabos International Airport is 45 minutes away), genuinely warm water for most of the year, and the kind of unhurried pace that's increasingly hard to find in Mexico's more popular surf towns.

For beginners specifically, Cerritos may be the single best place in Mexico to learn. The conditions are consistent and forgiving, instruction is available directly through properties like ours, and there's no intimidation factor from crowds or heavy waves.

How to Choose the Right Spot for You

A few honest filters:

• If you've never surfed: Cerritos, Sayulita, or La Punta (Puerto Escondido) — all three have reliable beginner conditions and good instruction. Cerritos is the least crowded of the three.
• If you're intermediate: Todos Santos, Punta Mita, or Cerritos on a bigger swell day. Each offers more punch than a beginner break without the consequence of expert-level waves.
• If you're advanced or expert: Puerto Escondido's Zicatela or Barra de la Cruz. These are genuinely world-class waves that reward skill and experience.
• If you want surf + comfort: Cerritos and Punta Mita both offer quality accommodation alongside good waves. Barra de la Cruz does not.
• If you want surf + town life: Sayulita and Puerto Escondido both have established surf cultures with restaurants, nightlife, and markets. Cerritos is quieter — closer to Todos Santos for that energy.

Luna Del Mar is located steps from Cerritos Beach. We offer surf lessons, a full Surf Boot Camp package, and direct booking on 5 private suites across 3 villas.