The Mexican state of Nayarit has a number of good surf spots along its south coast. Large marshes and lagoons line much of the northern coast of the state, but from the San Blas area all the way south into Banderas Bay, there is a series of decent-to-great surfing breaks. The coast of Nayarit during the summer months in particular can be a surfer’s heaven.
Banderas Bay Breaks
On Banderas Bay, in the area north of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, just over the Nayarit border between Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta Mita, there is a series of reef, beach and rock jetty breaks that work when there’s a large-enough North or South swell with enough of a west angle on it to come into the Bay. The most consistent surf is from May to October; however, the winter brings great offshore conditions to this area. Access to these breaks from parking areas generally involves 5 to 15 minute hikes on beautiful beaches or through dense jungle.
Nayarit Surf Map courtesy of Coral Reef Surf Shop, Bucerias
Burros, or Punta el Burro is a good right-hand break popular with local surfers. When the conditions are right, this break gets crowded pretty easily. There is also a left break, right next to the main break — not as good of a wave, but a lot less crowded and competitive. The bottom here is flat sandstone, creating a fairly predictable break.
Other breaks in the La Cruz vicinity are Veneros, a beach break that works best with short-period south swells, and Pools and El Paredon, which don’t break most of the time, except when a bigger swell arrives. Pools and El Paredon are challenging surf breaks with steep waves and only should be attempted by advanced surfers.
Farther west is the Punta de Mita area, a unique peninsula with high-end resorts and surf breaks that work year round.
The most famous break in the area is probably Anclote, nick named the Mexican Malibu for its long and mellow right-handers. However, Anclote needs a big, solid, either south or north swell to break; when it is big everywhere else, Anclote will be half the size.
A more consistent surf break with mellow waves for beginners or long boarders, is La Lancha, which can be accessed hiking or by boat from Anclote.
The more inaccessible breaks of El Faro and La Bahia require long hikes or hiring a local panga (fishing boat) at Anclote. Both of these breaks are for advanced surfers with a sharp reef below.
There are several surf shops and surf resorts in the area offering board rentals, accessories and surf trips and tours.
Sayulita
Sayulita is a favorite spot for beginners and learners. It used to be a small fishing town but is growing fast with surf-related tourism. The town has a number bungalow and room rentals as well as more cushy vacation rentals, and also offers surf shops for board rentals and surfing instruction. Sayulita has a slower, right-hand long board break off the main beach, right in town. To the north of the river mouth (near the campground) is a faster left break.
Tours can be hired in Sayulita to take you to the neighboring surf breaks. It is easier and faster to go by land to Punta de Mita than by boat, and then to decide which break to go to and how to get there.
Sayulita is probably the best location if you want to surf in the area, with a couple of surf breaks right in town, easy access and surf tours to the Punta de Mita and the Bay of Banderas areas; and a full range of accommodation and food. All of this is made more charming by it being a small, quaint Mexican town.
A company with a great reputation that you might considered contacting for lessons and surf trips in the Sayulita and Punta de Mita Area is Wildmex Surfing.
Breaks on the Pacific Nayarit Coast from Sayulita to San Blas:
Moving north up the coast, you will find San Pancho, a left beach break that works mostly during the rainy season
To the north beyond San Pancho are two left beaks near the fishing town of Chacala: Lola’s and Caleta; these are only accessible by boat and work best during south swells.
Continuing north, less developed and harder to access breaks offer great surfing: Santa Cruz river mouth , with a high quality left break as long as there is adequate swell, and the town break at Aticama, a fun left-hander.
The last surf stop in Nayarit, is probably the town of San Blas, with its local beach break , El Borrego, and its neighboring breaks, Stoners, La Segunda and Las Islitas–a right point break with a reputation of being the “longest rideable wave in the world.” All of these work only during south swells.
Beside the spots mentioned above, in the neighboring state of Jalisco to the south of Puerto Vallarta, there is a river mouth surf spot at Boca de Tomatlan and the Quimixto point break as well as Hammerhead on Maria Magdalena Island off the coast.
