Baja Mexico Surf Spots
Surfing in Baja began in the mid 1940’s when vacationing
surfers ventured south of the border looking for quality waves.
Since then, surfers have been returning year after year, and season
after season, with countless stories of perfect peeling right-hand point breaks, barreling beach breaks and freak, big wave surf spots.
Baja can be divided into two major surf regions: Northern Baja and Southern Baja. Northern Baja is much colder than Southern Baja. There is good surf year-round in Northern Baja, but it really fires during the winter months from large northwest groundswells. It’s not uncommon to need full suits, booties and a hood while surfing in Northern Baja.
Cabo San Lucas in Baja’s southern region is definitely the main draw for most traveling surfers. Cabo San Lucas and Southern Baja can produce good surf year-round, but it really lights up during the summer months when the southern hemisphere swells start to send long-period southwest groundswell into the coast. This is the secret ingredient needed for Cabo’s world-class surf spots to really fire.
Cabo San Lucas was once a warm water getaway for California surfers looking to escape the cold. Today, Cabo San Lucas is a colorful vacation town that boasts 5-star resorts just steps from the world-class surf. However, with high-priced oceanfront resorts come overcrowded lineups. It’s still an amazing place to visit and surf, but if you're looking to escape the crowds and the scene, then you'd better look elsewhere.
Beware: Traveling through Baja is a great adventure, but each region is filled with petty thieves, banditos, drug smugglers, and Federals that are always looking for a bribe. We advise you not tocamp at any location by yourself. Always travel and surf with a large group.
Find a surf school in Baja, Mexico.
Read Our Ensenada Surf Travel Guide.
Surfing in Northern Baja
Northern Baja remains relatively unchanged, as a place where traveling surfers can find perfect waves without the crowds. Some coastal developments and vacation residences have sprouted up in the larger towns of Ensenada and San Quintin. These towns are a good jumping-off point for surfing and exploring the wave-rich surrounding area.
Baja Malibu |
| Surf Location |
20 minutes south of the border, just above the Rosarito beaches |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Tide |
Mid |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northeast or East |
| Best Surf Season |
Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Not named after the original Malibu in California. This spot is a fun beach break that is very consistent year-round. This place picks up a lot of swell and can get very big and hollow. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded on a good swell. Lots of traveling San Diego surfers check this spot, plus a good number of locals live right in front of the beach. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, fun shape, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to difficult depending on the swell size |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Rips and undertow |
| Water Condition |
Dirty/Polluted |
Rosarito Beaches |
| Surf Location |
30 minutes south of the border |
| Best Swell Direction |
Combo swells are the best, ground swells can close out on larger sizes |
| Best Tide |
Mid |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Year round, but summer and fall are best |
| Wave Quality |
The beach and breaks at Rosarito are numerous and varied. This is a long stretch of coast that is mostly beach break, with the biggest waves on the south end of the bay. |
| The Surfers |
Not usually crowded, plenty of room to spread out |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, fun shape, and longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate, but can be tough depending on the swell |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Rips, undertows, sharks |
| Water Condition |
Dirty/Polluted |
Mushrooms |
| Surf Location |
Just south of Calafia, in front of the big pink tower |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southwest, Northwest |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer and Fall |
| Wave Quality |
Right-hand rock reef break. The bay is very shallow and laden with rocks, so it’s pretty dangerous. |
| The Surfers |
Not many surfers stop at this spot, but those that do score some really fun wavesk |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, fun shape, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef, rocks |
| Watch Out For... |
Rocks, sharks, urchins |
| Water Condition |
Dirty |
Calafia |
| Surf Location |
Six miles south of Rosarito Beach in front of Hotel Calafia |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southwest, West, or a large Northwest swell |
| Best Tide |
High |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Best summer and fall, but consistent all year |
| Wave Quality |
Right-hand point break |
| The Surfers |
Will get crowded during good swells |
| Boards |
Big wave gun, shortboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rocks and sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Sharp rocks, urchins (wear booties) |
| Water Condition |
Dirty |
Salsipuedes |
| Surf Location |
51 miles south of the border |
| Best Swell Direction |
Needs a good size swell to start breaking, best from southwest to northwest |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer and Winter (??) |
| Wave Quality |
Perfect peeling right-hand point break. This is a heavy wave that races down the point. Definitely one of the best waves on the west coast. |
| The Surfers |
Gets crowded. Traveling California surfers have this place wired. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, longboard |
Paddle Out |
Difficult, these spots only break on large swells |
| Skill Level |
Experienced surfers only |
Bottom |
Rock and sand |
| Watch Out For... |
The cliffs and rocks |
| Water Condition |
Relatively clean |
San Miguel |
| Surf Location |
San Miguel |
| Best Swell Direction |
West, Northwest |
| Best Tide |
Mid to high |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Very fast right-hand point break. Consistently, one of the best waves in northern Baja. San Miguel is fast, powerful, and hollow. |
| The Surfers |
This place gets crowded |
| Boards |
Shortboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to difficult; watch out for the sea urchins |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rocks |
| Watch Out For... |
Sharks, urchins |
| Water Condition |
Dirty/Polluted |
Todos Santos (The Killers) |
| Surf Location |
In the town of Ensenada. Todos Santos Island is only accessible by boat or jet ski. |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northwest, West |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Consistently produces some of the biggest waves in the Pacific during the winter months. There are a variety of breaks around the island.
Isla Natividad: World-class beachbreak.
Killers: one of the original big wave surfing spots.
Chicken’s and Thor’s Hammer are nearby and provide smaller waves for those not interested in large surf.
|
| The Surfers |
There are definitely crowds at these spots, mostly professionals and experienced surfers |
| Boards |
Big wave gun, tow board and equipment, big wave shortboard |
| Paddle Out |
Difficult |
| Skill Level |
Experienced surfers |
| Bottom |
Rock and sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Sharks, rocks |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Shipwrecks (Chainsaw Point) |
| Surf Location |
120 miles south of the border just past Colonet at the shipwreck “Maria de Carmen” |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southwest and Northwest |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
East and Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer through Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Mushy right-hand point break that can produce rides over 100 yards long. Good longboard wave. Generally smaller here than other area surf spots. |
| The Surfers |
There is a resort on the point by the break, so it depends on the season |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board |
| Paddle Out |
Easy to moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand and rock |
| Watch Out For... |
Getting tangled in the kelp |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
The Seven Sisters Region |
| Surf Location |
This area stretches from Punta Cono to Punta Rosarito. About 400 miles south of the San Diego border. |
| Best Swell Direction |
West to Northwest. Most of these waves need a good-sized swell to start breaking. |
| Best Tide |
Low - Mid |
| Best Wind Direction |
East or Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Winter |
| Wave Quality |
A series of awesome right-hand point breaks that peel perfectly. This stretch of coast resembles Morocco in terms of the numerous perfect right-hand point breaks available. |
| The Surfers |
The water isn’t too crowded, unlike the beach which can be filled with campers at times |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board |
| Paddle Out |
Easy to moderate most days |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Flat rocks and sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Terrible roads, Mexican development destroying the waves, kelp |
| Water Condition |
Mostly clean |
Surfing in Southern Baja
Southern Baja surf spots are very different from those in the Northern regions. Geographically, everything looks pretty much the same: dry desert mountains and cliffs that spill dramatically into the Pacific Ocean. However, water and air temps are generally much warmer in the south. Heavy wetsuits are not needed - a 3/2 at most during January/February when water temps drop to around 65 degrees. Plus, Southern Baja surf spots are more reliant on south to southwest swells to produce the best waves at area breaks. |
La Bocana |
| Surf Location |
About 12 miles off of the main highway, Mexico 1 |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Offshore from the northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beachbreak waves |
| The Surfers |
Nnot very crowded |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Rips, some rocks |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Scorpion Bay |
| Surf Location |
San Juanico; requires off-road driving to access |
| Best Swell Direction |
Large southwest or west swells |
| Best Tide |
High tide; low tide exposes the lava reefs and makes wipeouts brutal on your body |
| Best Wind Direction |
East or Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Legendary right-hand point break. Scorpion Bay is actually a series of 6 point breaks that can all connect on bigger swells. Third point is the main draw – it’s fast and more hollow and peels for over 100 yards. Watch where the crowd sits to determine which point you want to surf. |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded, surfers camp for days and weeks waiting on Scorpion Bay to come alive |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, fun shape, longboard, stand-up paddle board |
| Paddle Out |
Long but fairly easy |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sharp reef with sand |
| Watch Out For... |
Sharp volcanic rock |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Playa Pescadero |
| Surf Location |
South of Todos Santos near Km. 60 |
| Best Swell Direction |
South or Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Low to incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
A right-hand reef break with excellent form |
| The Surfers |
Crowd-free |
| Boards |
Shortboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Sea urchins on the reef |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Playa Los Cerritos |
| Surf Location |
South of Playa Pescadero near Km. 64 |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southwest or Northwest |
| Best Tide |
Low to incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer and Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Very consistent right-hand point break that is good for all ability levels. Waves are pretty mellow so it’s a good beginners spot. But when a big swell hits, it’s for experienced surfers only. |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded, this is the most consistent spot in the area |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rock reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Reef, the crowd |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Monuments - Cabo San Lucas |
| Surf Location |
East of Cabo San Lucas off Highway 1, near the Mission del Cabo Hotel |
| Best Swell Direction |
West-Southwest, South |
| Best Tide |
Low incoming tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Very consistent and powerful left-hand point break. Monuments gets hollow at lower tides, but is safer to surf at high tide. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded - this is one of the only left point breaks in the region |
| Boards |
Shortboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rocks, boulders |
| Watch Out For... |
Urchins, jellyfish |
| Water Condition |
Mostly clean |
Old Man’s (Acapulquito) - Cabo San lucas |
| Surf Location |
In front of the Cabo Surf Hotel in the Costa Azul area. It’s the first break as you head into the Costa Azul area. |
| Best Swell Direction |
South or Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Mid |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Long, mushy right-hand reef break that is perfect for beginners or chill longboarders |
| The Surfers |
Plenty of surfers frequent this spot. Lots of travelers. |
| Boards |
Fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board |
| Paddle Out |
Easy |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef and rock |
| Watch Out For... |
The crowds |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
The Rock - Cabo San lucas |
| Surf Location |
Located between Playa Acapulquito and Zippers. The second breaks in the Costa Azul area. |
| Best Swell Direction |
South, Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Incoming |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Awesome right-hand reef break |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with territorial locals, so mind your manners |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef with exposed rocks |
| Watch Out For... |
Reef and rocks, this wave breaks in very shallow water |
| Water Condition |
Clean and clear |
Zippers - Cabo San lucas |
| Surf Location |
Just west of Cabo San Lucas |
| Best Swell Direction |
South to Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Incoming |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Awesome right-hand point break |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded, everyone surfs here and accepts the madnesse |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Crowds |
| Water Condition |
Clean and clear |
Shipwrecks - Cabo San lucas |
| Surf Location |
Very hard to find. Shipwrecks is located in front of Rancho Rocas del Mar. |
| Best Swell Direction |
South |
| Best Tide |
Incoming |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Awesome right-hand point break. There is also a left at the other end of the bay. Stunning coastal scenery. |
| The Surfers |
Not too terribly crowded since it’s so difficult to get here. Typically more experienced and well-traveled surfers are here escaping the crowds. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Getting lost or stuck in the sand |
| Water Condition |
Clean and clear |
Nine Palms - Cabo San lucas, Sea of Cortez |
| Surf Location |
Look for a group of 9 palm trees around Rancho Santa Elena |
| Best Swell Direction |
Needs a strong south swell to break |
| Best Tide |
Incoming |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Fun right-hand reef break that is good for all ability levels |
| The Surfers |
Not too crowded due to lack of consistency |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Nothing |
| Water Condition |
Clean and clear |
Punta Perfecta - Cabo San lucas |
| Surf Location |
South of Vinorama |
| Best Swell Direction |
Needs a strong south swell to break |
| Best Tide |
Incoming |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer, May-October |
| Wave Quality |
Powerful right-hand point/reef break that is best for experienced surfers. Punta Perfecta does throw down some power and produces some great tubes. |
| The Surfers |
This place doesn’t break too often, but when it does it gets very crowded |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Bottom |
Reef |
| Watch Out For... |
Crowds and strong wipeouts |
| Water Condition |
Clean and clear |
