Advanced Surf Spots in Mexico
36 surf breaks we map are rated for advanced surfers in Mexico: Bahia Grande, Barra de Colotepec, Calafia, Chacahua, El Faro / Punta Maldonado, Ixtapa Island, K-55 and La Fortuna and 28 more.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
- Point breaks
- 14
- Beach breaks
- 12
- Reef breaks
- 10
The advanced breaks
Best months are filled in where the break states a season. Open a break for its map, photos and the property nearest the lineup.
- Bahia Grande
- Wave
- Reef Break / Beach Break · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Remote access • reef/rocks • strong currents • limited rescue infrastructure • shifting coastal conditions • limited reliable break information.
- Barra de Colotepec
Santa María Colotepec
- Wave
- Rivermouth / Beach Break · Left and Right
- Level
- Intermediate + Advanced
- Season
- April – October
- Tide
- Mid + High
- Watch out
- Strong currents, shifting sandbars, river discharge/water-quality considerations, powerful surf and wildlife.
- Calafia
Playas de Rosarito
- Wave
- Point Break / Rock Reef · Right
- Level
- Beginner + Intermediate; advanced surfers when large
- Season
- June–September
- Tide
- Mid to High / Rising
- Watch out
- Submerged Rocks • Rocky Entry and Exit • Strong Currents on Solid South Swells • Cliff Access • Variable Water Quality • Larger-Swell Power
- Chacahua
Chacahua
- Wave
- Point Break / Rivermouth / Jetty · Right
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April to October
- Tide
- Low to Mid High Tide
- Watch out
- Rock jetty, strong currents at the lagoon mouth and long paddle-backs. The sandbar shifts. Remote, with boat-only access and limited services.
- El Faro / Punta Maldonado
Punta Maldonado / El Faro
- Wave
- Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Reef • strong rips • sharks • exposed coastline • remote location • limited surf infrastructure.
- Ixtapa Island
Zihuatanejo
- Wave
- Reef / Rock Break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- May–September
- Swell
- South
- Tide
- All tides, conditions permitting
- Watch out
- Rocks, sea urchins, marine life, changing currents
- K-55
Ensenada
- Wave
- Reef Break / Beach Break · Left and Right
- Level
- Intermediate + Advanced; easier beach peaks on smaller days
- Season
- Year-Round; summer for SW swell, winter for larger W–NW swell
- Swell
- SW–W
- Tide
- Mid Tide; other tides can work
- Watch out
- Submerged Rocks • Sea Urchins • Shallow Reef • Strong Currents • Powerful Swells • Restricted Access • Cold Water
- La Fortuna
East Cape
- Wave
- Reef Break · Primarily Right; Occasional Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- May to October
- Swell
- S–SE
- Tide
- Mid Tide Preferred
- Watch out
- Rocks • Shallow Reef • Sea Urchins • Rip Currents • Strong Surf • Remote Access
- La Pastora
Todos Santos
- Wave
- Beach Break / Sandbar · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate + Advanced
- Season
- November–March
- Swell
- W–NW
- Tide
- Low–Mid / Rising, depending on sandbars
- Watch out
- Strong Currents • Heavy Shorebreak • Powerful Swells • Shifting Sandbars • Submerged Rocks • Limited Rescue Services
- La Poza
East Cape
- Wave
- Reef / Point Break · Primarily Right
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- May–October
- Swell
- S–SE
- Tide
- Medium to High Tide
- Watch out
- Submerged Rocks • Shallow Reef • Difficult Entry and Exit • Strong Currents • Remote Access • Limited Emergency Services
- La Punta
Playa Zicatela
- Wave
- Point Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate + Advanced
- Season
- March - October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Rocks, extremely concentrated lineup, long paddle-backs, strong swell and significant local presence.
- Las Gatas
Zihuatanejo
- Wave
- Reef break / Point Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- May–October
- Swell
- S - SW
- Tide
- High tide, preferably rising
- Palo Alto / A-Frames
El Roble
- Wave
- Beach Break / A-Frame · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April–October
- Swell
- S–SW
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Owner or Boat Access Only • Rip Currents • Strong Shorebreak • Shifting Sandbars • Powerful Waves • Submerged Rocks • Remote Location
- Patole
- Wave
- Point break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Swell
- S - SW
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks/Reef • Rip Currents • Shallow Sections • Strong Currents • Larger-Swell Power • Remote Location
- Playa Linda
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
- Wave
- Point break · Left
- Level
- All levels
- Season
- May–October, with year-round opportunities
- Swell
- SW - W - WNW
- Tide
- All tides; rising tide can be favorable
- Watch out
- Rocks, rip currents, and runoff after heavy rain
- Puerto Escondido
Playa Zicatela
- Wave
- Beach Break · Right and Left
- Level
- Advanced to Expert
- Season
- May to October
- Tide
- Low to Mid High Tide
- Watch out
- Severe hold-downs, powerful currents, difficult paddle-outs, shorebreak, board-breaking power and extreme consequences at size.
- Punta Chipehua
Santa Gertrudis Miramar,
- Wave
- Point Break / Beach Break / Sandbar · Right / Left
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- Low to Mid High Tide
- Watch out
- Remote location • strong currents • shifting sandbars • limited rescue/surf infrastructure • powerful swell when large • extreme seasonal winds in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The last point is especially important here: the region is famous for powerful Tehuano winds, which can overwhelm otherwise favorable swell conditions.
- Punta Conejo
- Wave
- Sand-Bottom Point Break · Right
- Level
- Advanced to Expert
- Season
- May to September
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Heavy lineup • local etiquette • guide-controlled access • gap winds • long rides and exhausting run-arounds • rocks around the point • strong sun • remote coastline.
- Punta Encomienda
Cerro Hermoso
- Wave
- Sandbar / Beach Break · Left / Right
- Level
- Advanced / Expert
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Strong rips • jetties/structures • powerful surf • heavy drops • shifting sandbars • remote location • experienced-surfer conditions. Surf-Forecast specifically flags rips and jetties as hazards.
- Punta Guetaguichi
- Wave
- Point Break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Rocks • sharks • remote coastline • limited surf infrastructure • powerful offshore winds • potentially difficult access.
- Punta Perfecta
East Cape
- Wave
- Point break / Rocky Reef · Right
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- May–October
- Swell
- S–SE
- Tide
- All Tides; Rising to Mid Tide Preferred
- Watch out
- Shallow Reef • Rocks • Difficult Entry and Exit • Strong Currents • Sea Urchins • Remote Location • Limited Emergency Services
- Rio Tapextla
Río Tapextla
- Wave
- Rivermouth / Beach Break · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- All Tides / bank dependent
- Watch out
- Strong rips • sharks • shifting sandbars • river discharge • possible water-quality issues following heavy rain • remote coastline • limited surf infrastructure. Rips and sharks are hazards, while nearshore ocean temperatures at river mouths can differ significantly after heavy rainfall.
- Salina Cruz
Salina Cruz
- Wave
- Breakwater / Beach Break · Right / Left
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- March – September
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Shallow sections • scattered rock • powerful southern swell • strong regional winds • difficult access to some breaks • local etiquette • guide access at certain points • intense sun.
- San Augustin
Bahía San Agustín
- Wave
- Beach Break / Sandbar · Left / Right / A-frame
- Level
- Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April – November
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Large swell required • shifting sandbars • remote/rough-road access • powerful surf when large • sharks
- The Ranch / El Rancho
El Rancho
- Wave
- Point break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April–October
- Swell
- S–SW
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks • Strong Currents • Powerful Surf • Shallow Sections • Rip Currents • Remote Location
- Topleca
Agua Blanca
- Wave
- Reef / Sand · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Uneven reef • rock-and-sand bottom • heavy closeouts • sharks • powerful overhead surf • remote coastal roads.
- Troncones Beach
Troncones
- Wave
- Beach break · Right / Left
- Level
- Intermediate, with Beginners when small and Advanced surfers when larger
- Season
- March – October
- Tide
- Mid - High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks/Boulders • Rips • Shifting Sandbars • Shorebreak • Heavy When Large • Avoid Rocky Low Tide
- Troncones Point / Manzanillo Bay
Troncones
- Wave
- Point Break / Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- March – October
- Tide
- Low - Mid High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks/Cobblestones • Urchins • Submerged Rocks • Long Paddle • Stronger Currents at Size • Local Lineup
- Zicatela
Playa Zicatela
- Wave
- Beach Break / Sandbar · Left / Right
- Level
- Advanced to Expert
- Season
- May – October
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Extreme wave power • severe hold-downs • strong currents • inescapable rips • difficult paddle-outs • board-breaking duck dives • heavy shorebreak • rapidly escalating consequences with size • highly experienced lineup. Surfline specifically warns about the strong currents, rips and board-snapping power even though the bottom is predominantly sand.
- Zicatela
Brisas de Zicatela
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Barra de la Cruz
El Coyul
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and a current around the point, so plan your entry and exit. The beach is run by the local community; pay the entry fee and follow their rules.
- La Saladita
La Majahua
- Wave
- Point break · Left-hand
- Level
- Beginner to Advanced
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and a current run around the point, so plan your entry and exit. It gets busy with surf schools and longboarders on weekends; share the long rides and do not drop in.
- Pascuales
Tecomán, Colima
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Todos Santos Island
Ensenada
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- November to March (winter NW swells)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- A boat-access big-wave reef off Ensenada — strictly for experienced big-wave surfers; powerful currents over shallow rock.
- Baja Malibu
Tijuana, Baja California
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- November to March (winter NW swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars, and the shorebreak is heavy on bigger swells. Check the banks before paddling out.
- Nine Palms
East Cape, Baja California Sur
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- May to October (south swells)
- Swell
- S - SW
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Sand and rock bottom with a current around the point; plan your entry and exit. The East Cape road is unpaved in places and services are limited.
Other levels in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Where can advanced surfers surf in Mexico?
36 surf breaks we map are rated for advanced surfers in Mexico: Bahia Grande, Barra de Colotepec, Calafia, Chacahua, El Faro / Punta Maldonado, Ixtapa Island, K-55 and La Fortuna and 28 more.
When is the best time for advanced surfers to surf Mexico?
The advanced-rated breaks we map in Mexico are mostly at their best in May to October.
What kind of waves are the advanced surf spots in Mexico?
Of the 36 advanced breaks we map in Mexico, 14 are point breaks, 12 are beach breaks and 10 are reef breaks.