Riding the Waves

Novice and experienced surfers find waves aplenty in the West Cape, the Corridor, and the lower East Cape regions. In winter, a west-northwest groundswell combines with the year-round northwest windswell to stoke point breaks along the Pacific shore from Punta Márquez all the way to Migriño.

During summer’s southern swell, point breaks fire all along the Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Large swells can send surfable waves up the Sea of Cortez as far north as Los Barriles.

Los Cabos

Most of the action in the Los Cabos region takes place near Playa Costa Azul, just outside of San José del Cabo [1]. When summer’s south swells roll in, experienced surfers wait for a turn at Zippers and The Rock, while beginners can usually handle the waves at Playa Acapulquito, the next cove to the west.

Book a condo within walking distance to the breaks, and sign up for lessons through the Costa Azul Surf Shop across the highway from Playa Costa Azul, or the Cabo Surf Shop inside the Cabo Surf Hotel at Playa Acapulquito.

East Cape

Nine miles northeast of San José, Shipwreck picks up the south swell, and farther north, Nine Palms is popular with longboarders. During the late summer/early fall chubasco season, opportunistic surfers often find surprisingly good waves at Punta Arena [2], near La Ribera [3] and the Camino Rural Costero. Load up on supplies in San José, and plan to camp on the beaches.

West Cape and Todos Santos

Guests of the Pescadero Surf Camp head to Playa Los Cerritos [4]. Beginners appreciate the sandy bottom and can learn to stand up on the whitewater on the inside. Closer to Todos Santos [5], the cobblestone point at Punta San Pedro [4] breaks on both north and south swells. Several inns and vacation rentals in El Pescadero [4] are located within walking distance to the break. Surfers looking for big waves head to Playa La Pastora [6] north of Todos Santos. You can rent boards and buy gear at two shops in Todos Santos or at the beach at Los Cerritos.