BEACHES & SURF
Surf lessons, board rentals and a consistent and quite punchy wave that will be a challenge to beginners. Those that prefer to watch can enjoy world class dining at the water's edge.
Playa San Pancho
Consistent waves, board rentals, surf lessons and a perfect beginners surf beach. Excellent swimming surfing and boogie boarding here. Fantastic dining right on the beach. Something for everyone.
Playa Sayulita
Surfing in Punta Mita doesn't get better than this with a choice of 2-3 different peaks to choose from. This surf attracts both long and shortboards. Lessons and rentals are right nearby.
Playa La Lancha
Located south of Punta Mita, it is a high energy powerful beach break. You must have intermediate/advanced experience and it is a place suitable for short boards only.
Playa Palmitas
This wild and secluded break is waay worth the adventure - if you’re up for it.
La Caleta is in the area of Chacala, 45 mins drive north of Sayulita. With no beach population in this spot, it’ll be just you and the insane nature that surrounds this break.
If you’re looking for a true surf adventure in Mexico, without a doubt, this is your spot. Accessible only by four-wheel-drive through rocky and uneven roads or via boat into the secluded cove from the town of Chacala, this wild and scenic voyage with surroundings of black volcanic rock, will transport you to a break like no other.
Chacala
Veneros is another great spot in the Riviera Nayarit. This beach is located south of Punta Mita. This beach break is ideal for beginners to intermediate levels because waves are good sized and punchy. Ideal conditions are hurricane and south swell, but I can fire also with big north swells.
It’s a classic beach break that has fast rights and lefts, great for short for surfing and getting barreled. To get to Veneros you’ll need to hike for five minutes from the Rancho Banderas entrance.
Los Veneros (aka Dinosaurs)
If you’re a fan of Bachelor in Paradise, then perhaps finagling a visit to the small and secluded beach is worth the effort.
You are most likely to have a place to yourselves!
Located between two Rocky headlands with no reasonable public access and better beach options nearby, visiting Playa Escondida may be a bit much for some beach bums, but you are almost guaranteed to have a private and glorious beach experience.
Playa Escondida
Exponentially larger than Caves Beach, Playa Malpaso is a mile long expansive virgin beach stretching from Sayulita’s far northern point to the south eastern fringes of San Pancho.
Due to its isolation and Low key jungle hike, Playa Malpaso has quickly become a favourite Sayulita beach to visit. Malpaso may be a little struggle to access by beach, it is possible to access Sayulita via a combination of the inland jungle trail and Route 200 and inland jungle trail, it makes for a very different journey than reaching Sayulita via the coastline.
Rumour has it there is a guard who watches the gates and you can cross with a 50 peso tip there and back.
Playa Malpaso
North of Sayulita is Playa Las Cuevas (Caves Beach). It is a small beach wedged in between the rocky headlands of North Beach (to the south) and Playa Malpaso (to the north).
Your experience here will largely depend on the tides and how you choose to access the beach, the day of the week you visit, and time of day.
At low tide you can easily access all sections of the beach, from the shaded and picturesque northern area where the caves are, to the sandy exposed southern area where a seasonal wash empties out into the ocean.
Playa Las Cuevas
“What an amazing place to stay! From the luxury villa, gorgeous space, incredible views, and a 60 second walk to the ocean or main street. And San Pancho was such a perfect eco-conscious fun town!”
— Wendy W. Toronto, Canada