Mexico is one of the world’s top surf destinations, offering thousands of kilometers of coastline, consistent Pacific swells, and a lively surf culture. Whether you’re a beginner looking to catch your first wave or an expert chasing heavy barrels at Puerto Escondido, Mexico delivers waves for all levels.

On top of world-class surf, you’ll find amazing weather, delicious food, affordable surf camps, and a great social vibe. Mexico is a perfect mix of surfing, culture, and adventure.

Best time to surf in Mexico

Mexico offers year-round surf, but your timing should depend on your skill level and surf goals:

• April to October (Rainy Season): Bigger, more powerful swells and the best time for intermediate and advanced surfers. Puerto Escondido and Barra de la Cruz shine during these months.

• November to March (Dry Season): Smaller, cleaner waves ideal for beginners. Consistent swells still hit key surf spots like Sayulita and Saladita.

Best Places to Surf in Mexico

Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is a world famous surfing destination on the Mexican Pacific Coast with one of the world’s heaviest beach break, Playa Zicatela. However, surfing conditions are definitely not always monstrous in Puerto Escondido. During the shoulder seasons, even beginners can catch some fun waves in Puerto Escondido, either at Playa Zicatela or at one of the surrounding beaches.

Read our complete surfing guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Sayulita

Sayulita is a lively and charming surf town located in Nayarit, just north of Puerto Vallarta. With several surf spots and year-round mellow waves, Sayulita is a great place in Mexico for beginners and intermediate surfers. The surfing vibe in Sayulita is awesome with many hostels, bars and restaurants that provide a great social aspect to your surf trip.

Read our complete surfing guide to Sayulita, Mexico

Baja California

Baja California is a surfers’ favorite on a surf trip to Mexico with many empty and unexplored waves as well as some world-class surf spots. The region is separated between Baja North, including Ensenada and Rosarito, and Baja Sur which includes Cabo San Lucas, Punta Abreojos and San Juanico. 

Read our surfing guides to Baja North and Baja Sur

Barra de la Cruz

Barra de la Cruz is a world-class surf spot located a short drive south of Puerto Escondido, near Huatulco. This right-hand rocky point break has hosted the World Surf League twice and remains one of Mexico’s most iconic waves. Barra de la Cruz is part of a reserve which makes it a bit secluded and there aren’t that many options of places to stay within a short distance to the wave. Most people stay in Puerto Escondido and drive down when swells hit.

Read our complete surfing guide to Barra de la Cruz, Mexico

Playa Saladita

Saladita is an awesome left-hand point break located in the state of Guerrero, just north of Zihuatanejo. This spot is still a hidden gem and is a long boarders’ favorite. Playa Saladita is a true wave magnet with waves all year round.

Read our complete surfing guide to Playa Saladita, Mexico

Best Surf Camps in Mexico

8-Day Surf Camp and Learn Spanish in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
US$590, including:

• 1.5 hours of Spanish semi-private tuition from Monday to Friday
• 7 nights of accommodation
• Learning material and final Spanish Diploma
• Yoga classes along the week
• Surf theory class
• Coaching session
• Welcome activity
• 5 surf lessons
• Surf photos

7-day Exclusive Surf Retreat in Cabo San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Sur
US$425, including:

• 5 surf lessons
• 1 guided art-walk through San Jose art district
• All equipment, documentation photo and video, and professional instructors
• Daily healthy breakfast and ground transportation
• 6 nights accommodation
• Camping night

Budgeting a surf trip to Mexico

While Mexico used to be extremely cheap, prices have increased since the rise of digital nomads and post-Covid tourism. Here’s a realistic cost breakdown for surfers in 2025:

Travel Tips:

• Sayulita and Puerto Escondido are now quite popular and can get expensive in peak season (December to March).

• Look for surf camps or shared housing to save on accommodation.

• Street food is cheap, delicious, and an easy way to cut costs.

The post Ultimate Surfing Guide to Mexico appeared first on MyWaveFinder.

Mexico is a popular surfing destination in America for its cheap cost of living, great beaches and tropical weather. However, due to the country’s impressive size, it can be hard to decide where to settle on a surf trip to Mexico. Here are our top 5 options of places to go on a surf trip to Mexico to have the best possible experience.

Top find the best surfing destination for YOU, try our FREE WaveFinder search engine!

Sayulita

Read our complete surfing guide to Sayulita, Mexico

Sayulita is a buzzing surf town with a great mix or tranquility, party, quality surf and beautiful beaches. Sayulita is in the Nayarit region and receives most swells coming from the Pacific Ocean, making it a very consistent surfing destination in Mexico! With many surf spots, Sayulita is perfect for surfers of all levels as everyone can find its perfect wave…

Book a Surf Camp in Sayulita, starting at US$710

Puerto Escondido

Read our complete surfing guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Puerto Escondido has a reputation for being one of the heaviest beach break on Earth. In fact, Playa Zicatela, which is Puerto Escondido’s main surf spot turns into a barreling machine from April to October. However, even beginners can find some waves in Puerto Escondido whether it is during the low season, from November to March, or at some sheltered spots during the high season.

Book a Surf Camp in Puerto Escondido, starting at US$333

Huatulco (Barra de la Cruz)

Read our complete surfing guide to Barra de la Cruz, Mexico

Halfway between Puerto Escondido and Salina Cruz is a world-class point break called Barra de la Cruz. This surf spot is famous for the World Surf League event which was held here in 2006 in epic conditions. Waves in Barra de la Cruz are usually a bit more fickle and smaller than Puerto Escondido, but when it does turn on, it is probably Mexico’s best wave.

Baja California Sur

Read our complete surfing guide to Baja California Sur

The Baja California peninsula is a very fertile land in terms of waves and surf spots. Many surfers who venture in Baja California Sur do so to find some uncrowded, perfect waves which they will find towards the middle of the peninsula. Down south, at the tip of Baja, is Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo which attracts more crowd and development. Either way, there are great waves to be found everywhere in Baja Sur.

Book a Surf Camp in Baja California Sur, starting at US$185

North Baja California

Read our complete surfing guide to North Baja California

North Baja includes the cities of Tijuana and Ensenada which both have great waves. Once again, for more adventure and uncrowded surf, you may way want to venture towards the center of Baja California towards Rosarito. This small surf town if a perfect place to have a mix of nightlife and surfing and fall in love with Baja California!

The post 5 Best Places to Surf in Mexico appeared first on MyWaveFinder.

Summary

The Baja California peninsula is a piece of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. Over the last decades, Baja California became a surfing holy land with some of Mexico’s best surf spots.

Baja California Sur is the southern end of the peninsula, including the cities of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Puerto San Carlos. This part of Baja has warmer weather than north Baja and still has the same great waves as the rest of the peninsula.

On a surf trip to Baja California Sur, you can expect some great surf with only a fraction of the crowd you will usually find in Southern California and all that for a fraction of the cost!

What is the best time to surf Baja Sur?

Surfing is good all year long is Baja California. South swells push from the south Pacific from April to October while north swell arrive from November to March.

Baja California Sur Surf Spots

Scorpion Bay

Near the little town of San Juanico is a great wave called Scorpion Bay. When it’s on, Scorpion Bay is hands down Mexico’s most epic wave. A long, perfect right-hand point that goes on for hundreds of meters. It has a few different sections that will connect on a good swell.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Rocks
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : E

Punta Abreojos

When it works, Punta Abreojos is another epic Mexican point break. Located just north of Scorpion Bay, this wave works well on a SSW swell and will be more consistent from May to October.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Sand and rocks
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NW

Shipwrecks

Located on the southeastern tip of the peninsula, Shipwrecks is a really fun and special break. As the name suggests, this surf spot is surrounded by ship wrecks. The wave itself is smooth and manageable for almost every surfer.

• Wave direction : Any
• Bottom : Reef/rocks
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : S
• Optimal wind direction : NW

The post Baja California Sur, Mexico appeared first on MyWaveFinder.