Don't know how to surf? Not a problem. Take some surfing lessons
at Alejandro Olea's
Costa Azul Surf Shop in San Jose del Cabo. Photo courtesy of Costa Azul Surf Shop
SURFING IN CABO SAN LUCAS, LOS CABOS, TODOS SANTOS
Surfing in Cabo San Lucas offers diversity in location, break direction, level of difficulty and some of the greatest coastal scenery you're likely to experience anywhere in the world. With hundreds of miles of coastline along the Pacific ocean and the Sea of Cortez, spending a few days scouting ridable breaks is a great adventure. We've compiled information on some of the more popular breaks to make it easy to get started on your journey. Be sure to check our interactive Cabo surfing locations map of surfing spots on the east cape of southern Baja.
When it comes to where to be when, there's a pretty simple but effective rule to apply. Spring and Summer is Sea of Cortez time, Fall and Winter belong to the Pacific side of the Cape. That doesn't mean you can't surf each side all year... in fact, this is a year-round surfing destination but like anywhere else, timing means everything and certain times of the year are just historically better than others.
A pair of surfers make their way to Zippers, a famous surf break found just south of San Jose del Cabo
at the Cabo Surf Hotel and Zippers Restaurant.
The Summer months of June through August bring chubascos, hurricane and tropical storm winds pushing swells, and with them some great surfing but the downfall is that's when the waves are the most crowded. The Fall months of September to November is really the time to be here to avoid crowds but still manage to catch good waves. The Pacific side of Los Cabos is where you want to be then as west swells can bring consistent waves, and when the conditions are just right, twenty-footers can appear for days on end!
Here's a short video from Red Bull Surfing with Andy Irons and friends shredding waves off of Cabo San Lucas. If you didn't know that Cabo has some kick-ass surfing, now you do!
Here's a another short video this time featuring Ian Walsh and friends at Shipwrecks in Los Cabos.
NO BOARD? NO PROBLEM! SURF BOARD RENTALS IN LOS CABOSHere's a list of places where you can rent all the surf gear you need, or for those that want to learn how to surf, some surf schools where you too can put your toes on the nose.
COSTA AZUL SURF SHOP KM 28 off of HWY 1 in San Jose del Cabo OTHER LOCATIONS
Satellite locations in Cabo San Lucas and Cerritos Beach near Todos Santos PHONE: USA 1-866-546-2102
LOS CABOS 624-172-6011
WEBSITE
MIKE DOYLE SURF SHOP
KM 28 off of HWY 1 in San Jose del Cabo
Surf school with rentals on Zipper's Beach at the Cabo Surf Hotel. You're literally steps away from your first wave here. PHONE: 011-52-624-172-6188 WEBSITE
PESCADERO SURF CAMP
KM 64 on HWY 19 towards Todos Santos
Also has camp sites and casitas for rent.
They also offer surfaris where their guides take you where the surf is that day so you're not locked into one spot. PHONE: 011-52-612-130-3032 WEBSITE
LA SIRENA SURF ADVENTURES
In Todos Santos they have surfing & kayaking gear and eco tours plus some places to stay nearby where you'll be surfing. PHONE: 011-52-612-145-0353 WEBSITE
No board? No problem! There are several places to rent a board in Los Cabos like this trailer-based rental shop at Cerritos Beach run by Costa Azul Surf Shop.
Get ready to see a ton of Olea logos in Cabo San Lucas. The surfboards made by the Costa Azul Surf Shop's founder and owner, Alejandro Olea, are very popular. Photo courtesy of Costa Azul Surf Shop
CABO SAN LUCAS SURF BREAKS AND LOCATIONS There are lots of "secret" surf breaks, we'd tell you about them, but then we'd have to... well you know. Here's the Los Cabos surf breaks we can tell you about.
MONUMENTS
Monuments is a left point break that can get a little tricky. This spot is best saved for the seasoned or expert surfer. You’ll find this break just east of Cabo San Lucas off of highway 1. Look for a statue or monument at the entrance near the Missiones del Cabo hotel in the Cabo corridor. The break is located below the hotel’s restaurant. Monuments can offer decent size breaks even when the rest of the area is flat.
ZIPPERS
World famous Zippers is the closest break to San Jose del Cabo. Located just west of the town, it offers up a fun, fast right break and is the site of numerous surf competitions. Unfortunately, with fame comes crowds and if you are hoping to find a wide open ocean, chances are you won’t. If you can handle fighting for position you will be rewarded with a nice long ride as the reef structure creates a long break when the size is there.
LA BOCANA AT THE SAN JOSE ESTUARY
Find the Presidente Intercontinental Hotel at the north end of Hotel Row in San Jose del Cabo and walk out onto the beach. This is a sandbar break that can get good especially after storms have built up the sandbar. Left and right breaks that can build to double overhead but watch out for a mean shore break at low tide.
SHIPWRECKS
Off the beaten path and best accessed by 4 wheel drive vehicles, Shipwrecks is one of the more famous breaks that is usually un-crowded. The drive into this area boasts some of the most amazing coastal scenery you’re likely to ever see. Not well marked, you’ll need to keep a sharp eye out for a small development named Rancho Rocas del Mar, the first break is just south. Shipwrecks is most productive during a strong southerly swell. Further north are Nine Palms, Punta Perfecta and Los Frailes.
ACALPULQUITO
On the way from San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas, this is right breaking swell that offers good surfing for beginners as well as advanced surfers.
LA ROCA
Another good spot along the Costa Azul shore this is also a right break, this one forms off a rock outcropping. On a good day, the ride is a bit over one hundred yards. Light swells produce 3-4 footers but the occassional push from tropical storms can push it to 6-10 feet in the right swell.
EL TULE
You will find this spot In the middle of the Cabo Tourist Corridor adjacent to Chileno Bay. This is a strong break that goes both ways with speed and is best left to the expert surfer.
LA PASTORA
Located about 5 miles north of Todos Santos you'll find this break by starting in town at the Hotel California. Just east of the hotel look for a road that heads north and when you get to the bottom of the hill hang a left and continue down a dirt road for several miles and keep your eyes out for a small sign saying Pastora. There is a sand lot where you can park but avoid going in deep without a 4 wheel drive vehicle, getting there is important, getting out is even more so! Once you arrive you’re in for a treat on fun breaks that go both directions and are usually un-crowded.
PESCADERO
This is a very good reef break a few miles south of Todos Santos at KM 60. Consistency on the reef is probably the best feature of this break but be especially careful paddling in and out as the reef is covered with sear urchins and nobody wants to spend the day pulling out spines! Here you can spend the day surfing and you have the convenience of a small restaurant for quick refueling or just plain relaxing.
CERRITOS BEACH
Rated one of the best breaks on the Pacific side it is also the most well known and most crowded. This is a right point break when the swell runs right or a good beach break the majority of the time. Located at KM 64 off of highway 19.
SAN PEDRITO
Near Cerritos this makes it worth a stop. Located at KM 59 off of HWY 19 this is a dual break, lefts and rights.
SURF BREAK LOCATIONS MAP FOR CABO
Click on the map above to open a new window with our interactive surf break locations map. You'll find most of the surf breaks we talk about above plus a few others along the Sea of Cortez from just north of Cabo San Lucas up to the East Cape. We're working on a surf break map for the Pacific side, so check back soon for that.
