Surfing in Vallarta and the Bay Area

Surfing in Puerto Vallarta, the Bay area & beyond

Puerto Vallarta sits smack bang in the middle of some amazing beaches and fishing towns. It has an abundance of waves to offer, which means that you can find your perfect break no matter what kind or level surfer!

Even though Puerto Vallarta and the entire Banderas Bay is stock-full of beautiful sandy beaches, the real surf action is on the Northside of the bay, even beyond Bucerias in places like Lo de Marcos and Sayulita.

Warm water, a variety of surf breaks, and gentle winds, that are usually offshore, make the Punta de Mita area an ideal surf destination.

If you use our Vallarta beach guide, you can easily find the surfing favorite, Punta de Burros, and Playa Burros, by Grand Palladium, halfway between Bucerías and Punta Mita.

Sayulita another word for surfing

Sayulita another word for surfing

You’ll find over 20 breaks from Bucerias to the end of the point. Take your choice from zippy little reefs to the perfect point breaks to fun beach breaks. Having a boat usually ensures that there are uncrowded waves somewhere on the coastal area.

Surf Spots

(From North to South)

You’ll find many great locations from Lo De Marcos in the north to Quimixto in the south (there are more places even further south for adventurers).

Punta de Burros surf

Surfing at Punta de Burros, Riviera Nayarit

La Caleta

La Caleta, Nayarit: great surfing spot

La Caleta is just north along the coast of Chacala. On good days it offers waves that are the length of a football field, as well as being situated to hold any size of swell. The bigger it gets, the cleaner the ride.

Caleta is well known by surfers all over Mexico, and slowly also the rest of the surfing world!

More on La Caleta

Chacala

Surfing at Chacala Nayarit

If you hit it right, the south end of the main beach at Chacala offers a rideable barrel (left and right), but only available at the beginning and the end of a swell period. It is not so good at a peak swell because they close out quickly onto the sandy bottom.

This is a great place for beginners and always good for boogie boarders.

More on Chacala

Lo De Marcos

Surfing at Lo De Marcos

The surf break at Lo De Marcos can range from lake calm to large angry breakers. The southern end of the beach, close to the peninsula is suitable for surfing, and it’s not uncommon for the local kids to show up with their boards after school.

Most of the surf break at Lo De Marcos is large breakers that crash quickly and produce a long, strong churn, very suitable for boogie boarding by people of all ages.

More on Lo De Marcos

San Pancho (San Francisco)

San Pancho surfing

San Pancho is a laid-back town with an inviting yet serene atmosphere. The locals are friendly and welcoming, making it one of Mexico’s top destinations for tourists who want to get away from it all while enjoying beautiful sunsets every night! San Francisco is just over an hour north from PV but you can take any number of local “camiones” (buses) that will bring your trip up to 2 hours depending on where and how much they stop along the way – this coastal paradise has plenty going on in between its golden sand beaches and Pacific front villas so don’t worry if there isn’t enough time left when you leave.

San Pancho has fairly consistent open reef surfing conditions, as well as left reef breaks. San Pancho is 10 minutes north of Sayulita off Highway 200.

You can catch point breaks off the headland at either end of the beach and there is a beach break in front of the lagoon closest to town, always remember the strong undertow.

Check with San Pancho’s Surf Shop on Calle America Latina as to where and when it is safe to surf locally.

Sayulita

Surfing at Sayulita

Sayulita is one of the most iconic surfing spots in all of Mexico. As you can imagine, it’s got plenty going on and has been a haven for travelers looking to get their feet wet with some waves under them before they head further south or up north through Baja California Sur!

Sayulita has been called “the hottest spot on earth…[and] undoubtedly deserves every bit

Known for its friendlier surf breaks. There are two surf spots in the area; a right (longboard) break in front of the village and a left (faster) break in front of the campground (north).

Surfboard rentals can be found at a variety of locations on the beach, with plenty of surf shops to choose from.

If you are learning to surf, then the waves of Sayulita are excellent because they are not too big, fast, or heavy. Sayulita consists mainly of exposed and beach break conditions, as well as a left reef break. The surf here is relatively consistent.

La Bahia

Surfing at La Bahía Punta Mita, Nayarit

La Bahia is north of El Faro in the Punta Mita area. From El Anclote, you can walk along the edge of the beach some 20-25 minutes past the Four Seasons Resort, or take a rental boat too. La Bahia is right in front of the Four Seasons Golf club on the Punta Mita peninsula.

El Faro

El Faro, Punta Mita

El Faro (The Lighthouse) is a point and reef break with very reliable surfing conditions. Once you get to El Anclote you can walk along the beach some 10-15 minutes to the area in front of the Four Seasons Resort or hire a panga to sail you there. W and NW swells wrap in and create lined-up perfection, ranging from slow peeling waves for 75-100 yards on smaller swells to hollow, barreling waves that will get your heart pumping on medium to large swells.

El Anclote

El Anclote, Punta Mita surf

A longboarder-friendly surf and for beginners, you get there by following the Highway 200 North past Bucerías and taking the Punta Mita – La Cruz exit left. There you drive west past La Cruz de Huanacaxtle until you get to Punta Mita, follow El Anclote Av. (Avenida El Anclote) and park in the restaurant area.

More about Punta de Mita

La Lancha

La Lancha, Punta Mita

La Lancha offers both an ideal place for beginners to learn to surf as well as fun waves for people who can already shred. The vibe on the beach is always laid back and peaceful, attracting local surfers, visitors, and local families just looking to picnic on the beach. This spot features a right reef break.

The area seems to recently have been fenced off, so access might not be possible.

Veneros

Veneros Surfing

Veneros offers well-shaped slow-rolling reef break. It is a nice wave but can be difficult to predict when it is working. To get to Veneros, take the coastal highway north toward Punta de Mita, past La Cruz and Destiladeras.

At kilometer 8, you’ll find a trail just before the Costa Banderas Development Park. Follow the trail through the jungle until you hit the beach.

Punta Burros

Surfing at Punta Burros

Getting to Punta Burros is not that obvious. You drive north of Vallarta and take the road that goes to Punta Mita/La Cruz, once you get to the Palladium Vallarta Resort (ex-Viva Vallarta). You drive in as if going to the resort and before the gate, you’ll see a dirt road going off to the left, park in this area, and walk/hike to the beach (read more our in beach guide).

Punta Burros is a reef break that’s most consistent in the winter months. Burros is sometimes crowded.

Quimixto

Quimixto Surf

A small village in Cabo Corrientes, south of Puerto Vallarta, there is no access by land, so the only way to get there is by water taxi (panga), home of some of the best surfing in the area.

Quimixto is a spot that has a beach break, unlike the rest of Banderas Bay, it is most consistent in the summer months. Quimixto offers both lefts and rights and is remote enough that it’s rarely crowded.

To get to Quimixto, take a water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan or the “Los Muertos” pier. Water taxi operators in this area are accustomed to surfers.

Read more on Quimixto beach and town.

Surf rentals and schools

  • Coral Reef Surf Shop
    Héroe de Nacozari 114, Bucerias, Nayarit
    (329) 298-0261
    coralreefsurfshop.com
  • Coral Surf Shop
    Insurgentes 322, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
    (322) 222-7785
    coralreefsurfshop.com
  • Green Lagoon Surfing
    Bucerias, Nayarit
    (329) 298-6245
    greenlagoonsurfing.com
  • La Onda Surfboard Repair
    Mar de Caribe Oriente 50, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit
    (322) 294-9767
    sayulitasurfboardrepair.com
  • Lunazul Surf School and Shop
    Marlin 4, Sayulita, Nayarit
    (329) 291-2009
    lunazulsurfschool@gmail.com
    lunazulsurfschool.com
  • Mictlan Surf School
    Av. Anclote S/N, Centro Comercial Local 2, Punta de Mita, Nayarit
    (329) 291-5413
    mictlansurf.com
  • Mita Aventuras
    Av. Las Redes, Punta de Mita, Nayarit
    (329) 291-5222
    info@mitaadventures.com
    mitaadventures.com
  • Punta Mita Expeditions
    Av. El Anclote 200 Nuevo Corral del Risco, Punta de Mita, Nayarit
    (329) 291-6649
    puntamitaexpeditions.com
  • Sayulita Surf Camps
    (329) 291-3350
    Cell: (045-33) 138-13000
    sayulitasurfcamps.com
  • Surf House San Pancho
    Tahiti 109, San Francisco (San Pancho), Nayarit
    (322) 188-9826
  • Surf N Roll Sayulita
    Las Gaviotas, Sayulita, Nayarit
    (33) 3814-1524
    surfandroll.com
  • Tortuga Surf Clinic
    Primavera, Sayulita, Nayarit
    (322) 172-9896
  • Tranquilo Surf Adventures & Surf School
    Calle Pez Vela #130, Nvo. Corral del Risco, Punta de Mita, Nayarit
    (329) 291-5114 or (329) 291-6475
  • Vallarta Surf Guide
    Río Papaloapan, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
    (322) 169-7648
    vallartasurfguide.com
  • Vallarta Surf N Dive School
    (52) 322-111-9532
  • Wildmex Surf Camp
    Pelicanos 7, Sayulita main beach next to the river, Sayulita, Nayarit
    (322) 107-0601 or (322) 100-7070
    wildmex.com

Last Updated on 24/07/2022 by Puerto Vallarta Net