The Best Surf Breaks in Punta Mita

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Punta Mita, Mexico, is a well-known surf destination for surfers searching for clean waves and luxury accommodations. Punta Mita offers incredible surf breaks from Porta Fortuna to Punta Del Burro. Many of the Punta Mita surf breaks are easily accessible by boat.

What is Punta Mita?

For those who haven’t heard of Punta de Mita, it is a city about forty minutes north of the Puerta Vallarta Airport and is home to the exclusive 1,500-acre gated community known as Punta Mita. Once inside the heavily guarded Punta Mita community, visitors will find two luxury hotels:  The Four Seasons Punta Mita and The St. Regis Punta Mita, plus golf courses, over fifteen residential gated communities, and multiple beach clubs.

Punta Mita Surf Season

Nayarit, Mexico offers surfers incredible swell near Punta de Mita. Surfing Punta Mita is based on two seasons:  the winter season from November-March and the summer season from April-October. The Punta de Mita surf varies depending on the season.

Winter Surf Sessions in Punta Mita

The winter months in Punta Mita provide terrific weather for surfing. The winds are mostly offshore, with air temperatures hovering around 76-82 Fahrenheit and water temperatures ranging from 73-77 Fahrenheit. The slow-moving swell at breaks such as Burros, Playa La Lancha, and El Faro offers epic rides that can be 75-100 yards. The swell can be around 2-10 feet during the winter months. 

Summer Surfing in Punta Mita

Punta Mita’s surf breaks over the summer months can be a little more unpredictable. I have been on two surf trips to Punta Mita in September when the forecast was 6-8 feet. However, the swell failed to materialize. During this time of year, the south swell holds up best at breaks like Burros and La Lancha. Fewer breaks in the summer months mean the lineup can be crowded. 

Surfers get fun days where the swell is 3-5 feet, and can catch long, slow, fun rides even on smaller days!

The Best Punta Mita Surf Spots

Surfers looking to surf in Mexico should know that there are surf breaks accessible from inside the gates of Punta Mita and in the town of Punta de Mita. Both Punta Mita and Punta de Mita surf breaks can be epic. Below are the best local surf spots in Punta Mita.

La Lancha

One of the more well-known Punta Mita surf breaks is La Lancha. La Lancha is a public beach in front of El Surf Club in Punta Mita. Surfing La Lancha offers two-point breaks and a beach break. The surf is consistent and works with most swell.

La Lancha is a popular Punta Mita surf break, especially for lessons, because the surf break is mellow and good for longboards. More experienced surfers tend to catch waves on the point breaks. 

WildMex is a popular school surf that teaches lessons at La Lancha. 

If you are staying in Punta Mita, you likely have access to El Surf Club, a private Punta Mita surf club right off the beach where you can relax after a surf session. El Surf Club is a terrific restaurant in Punta Mita where the food and the margaritas perfectly complement a day in the water. After surfing, you can relax at El Surf Club in Punta Mita on one of the beachfront lounge chairs or have lunch in the open-air restaurant. As this is a private club, there is plenty of staff to help you with your every need, including helping you carry your surfboard. 

Monuments         

Just off the beach from the St. Regis Punta Mita is Monuments, a west-facing break. Monuments is a point break where surfers can catch a slow right or left. The paddle out is shortish, if you pay attention to the current and take advantage of the rip tide. Depending on the time of year, Monuments is an excellent spot for beginners. 

I surfed Monuments recently and caught a ton of waves during my surf lesson. My instructor from Punta Mita Adventures knew the break well and put me in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the waves. 

My husband and I were in the lineup together on this rare occasion. Seeing him surf from the water rather than the shore was a real treat. 

La Bahia

Another popular Punta Mita surf break is La Bahia, where surfers chase a long, fun right that can handle size as well as a punchy left. La Bahia is a reef break good for shortboards. The predominately right-hand break works with most tides and is best in the morning. La Bahia is generally a better break for intermediate and advanced surfers.

At any given time of day, there might be a surf boat or two at La Bahia, shuttling surfers from one surf break in Punta Mita to another. Bahia is one of the more popular breaks for surfers using surf taxis because it is challenging to reach by land. 

Guests staying at The St. Regis Punta Mita can walk about a half mile along the coast to La Bahia on extremely sharp rocky terrain. If you are staying with someone who lives in Punta Mita, they might be able to walk you down to the surf break. Otherwise, forget it. There is plenty of security to keep visitors at bay. 

Pro Tip:  Reef booties are a must if you plan to walk to La Bahia. Gary forgot to wear them one day and picked thorns out of his foot for a month. 

You might be asking yourself, how do I access La Bahia, if I cannot get to it by land.  The easiest way to make your way to La Bahia is by boat.  Now, you might be thinking, great, I have to drive somewhere to meet my boat. (I know, life is rough). But my answer would be nope! After all, The Trav Nav is a luxury blog.

If you are staying at one of the resorts in Punta Mita, you can book a private surf safari through your hotel.  At The St. Regis, for example, guests are picked up on the beach in front of Mita Mary’s.   The captain and his surf guides will shuttle you around to different surf breaks based on your ability and the best waves of the day. 

You can also book a boat taxi through one of the Punta Mita beach clubs, which will run you about half the price.  But the boats are not as nice and you may not have the same five-star service. 

El Faro

You will need a boat to access El Faro, also known as Lighthouse. The right-hand point break can offer long rides when there is a six-foot-plus north swell rolling through the area. The hollow right peels nicely off the rocks when there is a strong swell. Since the break is adjacent to La Bahia, if you have a surf boat and the swell isn’t thumping at La Bahia, it’s extremely easy to check out the swell at El Faro. 

Burros

Burros is a reef break near the Palladium Hotel. Surfers flock to Burros, which means it can get crowded. The hollow swell is best at low tide when there is a south swell. Burros is not easy to access. 

Litibú Beach

One great feature of surfing at Litibú Beach is the lack of crowds. However, there is a good reason why few people choose to surf here. The swell at the other breaks is usually better. However, if you are staying at the Four Seasons or have access to the beach clubs in Punta Mita, it is a good option when all you care about is getting wet.   

Sayulita

Another popular place to surf near Punta Mita is in the town of Sayulita. A visit to Sayulita is about a 30-40 minute drive from Punta Mita. Given the distance, unless Sayulita is the only place to surf, you are better off staying in Punta Mita.

In Sayulita, you will find lots of beginners learning how to surf. The town is extremely popular with backpackers, while luxurious houses for rent are up in the hills. However, Sayulita offers several good restaurants in town, and it’s a fun place to go for dinner. 

One thing to know about Sayulita is there is a river runoff right next to the surf break. All of the water and whatever else might be in the water flows directly into the ocean. While most of the water in Punta Mita is a beautiful blue color, the water is murky in Sayulita and surfers have been known to get sick after a rainstorm. 

Know Before You Go Surfing in Punta Mita

1. Do I need reef booties when surfing in Punta Mita and Punta de Mita? Yes! You need reef booties when paddling out for a Punta de Mita surf session. The shore can be extremely rocky, making the walk out uncomfortable, to say the least. Walking along the shore to get to certain breaks is a non-starter without reef booties. You don’t want to be picking thorns out of your feet.
2. What surf forecast should I use while surfing in Punta Mita? Surfline does not work well in Punta Mita and is notoriously wrong. It is hard to predict the waves in Punta Mita because Isla Marietas blocks the incoming swell and pushes it around the islands before it hits the shores of Punta Mita. Surfers often refer to Surfline in Punta Mita as “Surflies.” Surfline might report an upcoming swell of 8 to 10 feet, and then it turns out to be 1-2 feet and vice versa.  Magic Seaweed is usually more reliable when checking the surf forecast in the Punta Mita area. 
3. How do I access the surf breaks in Punta Mita? Unlike in California, Mexico doesn’t guarantee beach access. As a result, many of the beaches with epic surf breaks are private. The general public does not have beach access to several of the breaks discussed in this post. This is even true if you stay within Punta Mita’s gates. You will need to rent a boat to get to most of the Punta de Mita surf breaks, regardless of whether the surf is inside or outside the Punta Mita gates. 

Hope is not lost. If you are staying in one of the luxurious Punta Mita rentals, you can book a surf taxi through your Punta Mita concierge or book directly at one of the Punta Mita Beach Clubs. The surf taxis leave from Sufi Beach Club inside the gates of Punta Mita. The hotel concierges can also book a surf trip for you. 

Pro Tip:  If you are staying at a hotel but are looking for a basic panga, the most economical option is to book a surf taxi at a beach club, like Pacifico Beach Club.

4. What type of wax should I use? The area’s weather is tropical; therefore, tropical wax works best when surfing in Punta Mita. 

5. If you are traveling with a longboard, make sure you tell your transportation company the size of your board(s), so the car picking you up from the airport is big enough to handle your boards. 

6. If you are a beginner surfer, you might not know the value of a rash guard. It’s a waterproof shirt you can wear in the water that protects you from the sun. The sun is strong in Punta Mita. I highly suggest wearing a rash guard to avoid getting sunburned.

7. Surfers often surf with hats and apply copious amounts of sunscreen. We use reef-safe sunscreen such as Surface, and FCS makes great surf hats.

In addition to surfing, there are so many other amazing things to do in Punta Mita. Whether you are looking for a one-day itinerary, a hike out to Monkey Mountain, or just relaxing at a beach club, Punta Mita has something for you!

For accommodations, there are two luxury hotels in Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and the Four Seasons Punta Mita. If you are looking to rent a luxury home, VRBO has incredible rentals. We stayed at Condo Azul, and it was amazing! 

Check out the following blog posts for

more information about Punta Mita

Where to Stay in Punta Mita

Condo Azul – a fabulous luxurious rental property

The Top 10 Reasons to Stay at The St. Regis Punta Mita

What to Do in Punta Mita

The Ultimate Guide to Punta Mita

The Best Restaurants in Punta Mita

A One-Day Punta Mita Itinerary

The Best Things to Do in Riveria Nayarit

Your Guide to Hiking Monkey Mountain