Mexico Surf Spots

On Mexico's mainland Pacific coast — Puerto Escondido, La Punta, La Saladita, Nexpa, Sayulita — the main swell season runs roughly April through October, with the biggest, most consistent south swells June through September. The exception is Banderas Bay's La Lancha, which is most consistent November–April on northwest groundswell, and coast-wide the November–March dry season is the smaller, cleaner, more beginner-friendly window.

No — US citizens don't need a visa for tourist trips to Mexico and can be granted up to 180 days, though the actual number is at the immigration officer's discretion, so check the stamp before leaving the booth. Canadian, UK, and EU passports get the same visa-exempt terms.

A surf trip to Mexico runs roughly $30–50 per day on a shoestring (hostel or basic casita, street tacos, colectivos), $60–110 mid-range (private room or simple beachfront hotel, restaurant meals, occasional board rental or boat trip), and $130–250+ for comfort (boutique hotel or surf resort, rental car, guided sessions or surf-camp days).

It depends on the zone: fly into Puerto Escondido (PXM) for the Oaxaca coast (Zicatela, La Punta, Carrizalillo), Puerto Vallarta (PVR) for Sayulita and the Punta de Mita/La Lancha area, and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (ZIH) for La Saladita and Nexpa. Huatulco (HUX) is a backup for Puerto Escondido, about 1.5–2 hours east by road.

Millions of travelers surf Mexico every year without incident, but the surf states differ: Baja California Sur and Oaxaca's coast are generally relaxed, while Baja Norte, Nayarit/Jalisco, and especially Guerrero and Michoacán carry higher US State Department advisory levels, mostly tied to cartel activity that rarely targets tourists. The problems surfers actually face are smash-and-grabs from parked cars at breaks and petty theft from beaches — keep valuables out of sight, don't drive remote highways at night, and use toll roads where they exist.

No — don't drink the tap water anywhere in Mexico, including nice hotels; locals don't either. Buy purified water or refill from the 20-liter garrafón jugs every guesthouse has; ice in restaurants is almost always commercial purified ice and fine.

Mexico's currency is the peso (MXN), and while USD cash is widely taken in Baja border towns, Cabo, and big resort zones (usually at a poor in-house rate), mainland surf towns like Sayulita and Puerto Escondido expect pesos — carry them. Cards work at hotels and mid-range restaurants in tourist towns, but taquerías, beach palapas, and small guesthouses are often cash-only.

The June–September peak-swell months are tourism low season on Mexico's mainland Pacific — in Sayulita that's when the lineup and the town are at their calmest — while December–March brings peak North American high-season crowds. For beginners, the small, clean November–March dry season is the friendliest water, just with busier towns.