When you think of surf spots around the world, countries like Portugal, Bali, and Hawaii probably come to mind first. But Mexico? Honestly, until recently, we didn’t really know you could surf there. Since we’ve become a little more part of the “surf bubble,” though, the internet has been showing us more and more surf content—including surf spots around the world.
Pretty convenient when, after two years of our surf journey, we’ve started planning trips based on where we can surf well. And no, we’re definitely not pros. We’re still learning. At this point, we’d say we’re more intermediate than complete beginners, but there’s still so much to improve.
But back to the actual topic: surfing in Mexico. More specifically, surfing in a small town on Mexico’s Pacific coast called Sayulita. And since Sayulita exists more than once, we’re talking about the one in Nayarit, Mexico.
Below, we’re taking you along on our little trip to this part of the world and sharing what the surf felt like from our perspective.
Where You Can Surf in Mexico
Mexico’s Pacific coast offers a lot of surf spots with really good waves for every level—from beginners to pros and for both shortboards and longboards. Since we’re at an early intermediate level and surf longboards, we naturally focused on the spots that work well for exactly that.
In general, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Nayarit are some of the best-known regions for good surf. On our shortlist were La Saladita, Puerto Escondido, and Sayulita. In the end, we chose Sayulita because the vibe—at least from what we saw online—appealed to us the most.
All three areas can work for beginners and intermediate surfers. Within those regions, you’ll find longboard-friendly waves, but, of course, also spots better suited for shortboards. It also depends a little on the time of year you’re going. In general, Mexico’s Pacific coast has surfable conditions year-round. During the dry season from November to April/May, the waves tend to be smaller and calmer. During the rainy season, they can get bigger.
Surf Spots in Sayulita, Nayarit
Sayulita is especially known among longboard surfers. Right at the main beach of this little town, you’ll find two surf breaks—a right and a left—plus another area that works for complete beginners. That’s actually really nice, because it helps spread everyone out and gives each surfer a better chance to find their own space.
At first, the surf spot looks like a beach break, but the wave actually breaks over rocks and reef, so it’s not a classic beach break.
The right break offers great conditions for longboarders and more advanced surfers. The left break is shorter, faster, and has more power, so it’s better suited for more experienced surfers.
Because both breaks are right at Sayulita’s main beach, it can obviously get crowded quickly. But don’t worry—there are great alternatives nearby. We went to La Lancha a few times, which is about 20 minutes by car from central Sayulita. The spot is surrounded by nature, and from the parking area, you walk around 10 minutes through the jungle before arriving at the sandy beach. And honestly, the walk alone is already worth it.
La Lancha is a reef break. We personally never really noticed the reef, but we’d still recommend surfing there around high tide.
The wave at La Lancha is a clean A-frame. The right offers longer, softer waves, while the left breaks faster and steeper. A little further down, there’s another break as well, but we didn’t try that one.
Since you can’t rent surfboards directly at La Lancha—and since it’s always a good idea to explore new surf spots with someone who knows them well—we’d definitely recommend booking a trip. We went with Stalla Surf Center and can truly recommend them. We learned so much and felt safe and well cared for at all times.
You meet at the shop in central Sayulita and drive together to the surf spot in La Lancha. You can choose and rent your board directly in Sayulita, and after surfing, everyone heads back together. Super easy, well organized, and absolutely worth it.
The Water: Quality and Temperature
Water quality seems to be a topic in Sayulita—or at least that’s what we read after arriving (yes, we didn’t research it beforehand). A few years ago, the water quality in Sayulita apparently used to be more of an issue, but by now it’s supposed to be fine. We personally had no problems at all. Of course, we also didn’t swallow large amounts of ocean water.
We were there during the dry season, so the river that flows into the ocean at the main beach was dried up at the time. Unfortunately, during the rainy season, when the river is flowing, trash can be washed into the sea. That can affect the water quality. How exactly we can’t really say from personal experience.
The much nicer topic when it comes to the water in Sayulita is the temperature. The ocean in Sayulita and La Lancha is pleasantly warm year-round, which means you don’t need a wetsuit.
In the mornings in May, it sometimes felt a little fresh to me, so I surfed in a bikini with a 2mm neoprene jacket over it. During the day, though, you can easily surf in a bikini without getting cold. The bigger topic then is definitely sun protection.
Our Final Thoughts After Three Weeks of Surfing in Sayulita
To sum it up, we really, really loved Sayulita. The vibe in the water was super pleasant, rules and etiquette were respected, and we never felt unwelcome. The surf isn’t comparable to those perfect Bali waves, but it was much better than the conditions we often get in Europe. Both the break in Sayulita itself and the one at La Lancha were so much fun. The lineups were rarely truly packed, so we were always able to catch waves.
In general, we also loved the whole region. Sayulita has such a relaxed vibe. Everywhere you go, there are little cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and shops. You always discover something new while wandering through the streets—even though the town itself isn’t actually that big.
What we especially loved was how colorful everything is and that the main beach isn’t completely built up with huge hotels. Nature still feels like it has space here, and hotels and businesses seem to be more integrated into the surroundings rather than taking over completely.
Besides surfing, you can also do SUP tours and so much more. With a car, you can easily explore nearby towns, each with its own vibe and something different to offer. It definitely doesn’t get boring—and we would absolutely go back anytime.
