Great Surfing Spots in Mexico's Riviera Nayarit Deb Dion - Womens Adventure Magazine
go to original March 27, 2015

Surfing Punta Mita Mexico (Arturo G)

I only get to surf about a week or two every year, so when it comes to picking the destination I am very particular.

This spring I had a few things I wanted out of my surf trip: An affordable place with easy-to-surf waves where I would not need a wetsuit.

I thought it might be difficult to get all three, but it wasn’t. Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit has beginner to intermediate surfing, it’s pretty cheap to fly and stay there, and sweet mother of god, it is warm enough all year for flip flops and a bikini. Boom.

What I didn’t know when I rolled my rash guard into a ball and threw it into my duffel bag was how amazing this trip would be. We didn’t need to bring boards (they’re easy to rent and find), we didn’t need to rent a car (there is plenty of mass transit, taxis are cheap, and a lot of the places to stay are within walking distance of the surf breaks, restaurants, stores) — and the waves, beaches, and people were inviting and friendly.

We rented a place with some other families and took turns watching the kids so we could surf and paddleboard and fish. I could only imagine how fun it would be to take a trip like this with girlfriends (Las Olas is a great company to book with and gives a discount if you mention Women’s Adventure) but this time it was a family trip, so it was crucial to have a safe and fun environment for the kids. They had the time of their lives. We typically drag them on a camping trip, driving down the Baja peninsula and surfing along the way, but for about the same amount of money we had a gorgeous place to stay with consistent surf and warmer water. And we didn’t have to stop every 100 miles for the Federales to search the car.

Riviera Nayarit is a beautiful place and a cultural experience, from the roadside taco stands to the artisans, music, and street vendors. And if you surf, or want to learn how, it’s the ultimate place to plan your safari. Here is the breakdown on the surf breaks:

Surfing in Punta Mita

The Cove offers some prime surfing in Punta Mita. Many of the local surfing guides say The Cove is the best surfing break in the entire Banderas Bay area. It’s best to surf at high tide since the low tide may be a little shallow. It takes about 40 minutes to walk to The Cove or you can reach it by Panga (small boat) from Punta Mita.

El Anclote offers some great Punta Mita longboard surfing for beginners since the surf break is long and slow with a very smooth pitch.

La Lancha is another great location for longboard surfing in Punta Mita especially with the incoming tide or the outgoing tide. It also takes about 40 minutes to walk from Punta Mita or you can reach this great surfing spot by Panga.

Punta Burros is located at Palladium Vallarta Resort (south of Punta Mita) and is an extremely popular surfing spot because it’s easily accessible, and is great for both short board surfing and longboard surfing. The right side offers a longer, softer pitch and the best surfing is at high tide but you can surf Punta Burros practically anytime.

Los Veneros is located further south from Puta Mita and is considered by many to be a classic reef break. This is a preferred surfing spot for short board surfing but you can also enjoy longboard surfing here.

Swimming Pools surf break is located just to the north of Los Veneros. To reach the break you will have to paddle out to it but this is a great surfing location for those that like longboard surfing.

The Beach Break is also located very close to Los Veneros and offers some fantastic barrel surfing plus exceptional beach breaks. The sandy bottom and the wide left makes this an ideal spot for surfing barrels.

Surfing in Sayulita

Sayulita surfing is great regardless of the tide, offering excellent waves without too much swell for both short board surfing and longboard surfing.

Other Nayarit Surfing Breaks

La Caleta is located near the coastal village of Chacala. This is a hugely popular Nayarit surfing spot that always draws a crowd since it offers an outstanding deep water peak with long surf rides and exceptional vertical walls.

Matenchen Bay offers legendary breaks. Many surfing enthusiasts consider this area to have the world’s longest, most rideable waves (some boast riding for over a mile on one wave).

Stoners is located on the outer point of Matenchen Bay and offers high quality waves that seem to break more frequently.

Lolas is slightly remote and must be reached by Panga from San Blas but there are no crowds and it offers regional class surfing, plus some of the best barrel surfing in the San Blas area.