La Lancha

At a glance

About this spot

Mellow, jungle-backed beach break near Punta Mita — warm water and forgiving peaks. A Nayarit beginner favorite.

Location

20.7616, -105.4951

Photos

Trip overview

La Lancha is the friendliest wave on the Punta Mita peninsula and, for a lot of people, the place they learned to surf in Mexico. It sits on the northern lip of Banderas Bay, tucked behind a jungle reserve you can only reach on foot — a 7-to-10-minute walk down a shaded trail that crosses a couple of creek bridges before the trees open onto a long white-sand beach with turquoise water. That walk-in is the whole character of the spot: no road, no parking lot on the sand, no beach bar towering over the lineup, just a mellow, multi-peak sand-bottom break that throws both lefts and rights and lets a wave run a surprisingly long way on the right swell.

The wave reads as forgiving because mostly it is. There are softer, slow-rolling peaks down the beach that are about as gentle an open-ocean wave as you'll find, and a punchier, longer section up by the rocky point that rewards intermediates working on trimming and reading a shoulder. The catch is right there in that point: a rock sits just under the surface at the takeoff and shows itself at low tide, so the spot rewards knowing where you are before you paddle out. This is a winter-leaning break — despite facing roughly southwest, the peninsula is small enough that NW groundswell wraps in, so the most consistent surf runs from late fall through spring.

Know the context you're walking into. La Lancha is the public, jungle-backed counterpoint to one of Mexico's most upscale corners — the gated Punta Mita development with its Four Seasons and St. Regis is a couple of kilometers up the road, and the towns you'll actually base in (Punta de Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Sayulita) range from working fishing village to boho surf scene. You drive or bus to the Pemex on Highway 200, walk in, surf, and walk out. Come with your own gear or rent from the WildMex shop at the trailhead, bring small bills, and respect the estuary the trail crosses — there are crocodiles in it.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

La Lancha is known as a learner-friendly, welcoming wave with multiple peaks, which spreads people out and keeps tension low — it's a teaching beach for the area's surf schools as much as anything. Standard rules still apply: don't drop in, share the peaks, and give the point section room since that's where the better surfers and the rock are. Lesson groups are part of the scene, so be patient with beginners.

In the lineup: Spread out across the multiple sandy peaks down the beach for the softer, more forgiving waves; the longer, punchier rides are up toward the rocky point. Mind the rock that sits just under the surface at the point takeoff — it's exposed at low tide and right in the drop-in zone, so scope it before you paddle out. Enter and exit off the sand; watch for the river/estuary mouth and any current after rain.

There's no town at La Lancha — just the jungle trail, the beach and the highway shop. You'll live in one of three very different bases: Punta de Mita, a low-key fishing village fast gentrifying on the edge of the ultra-exclusive gated Punta Mita resort zone (Four Seasons, St. Regis); La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a working marina town with a great Sunday market and a sailing crowd; or Sayulita, the colorful, busy boho surf town to the north. The contrast between the empty, protected La Lancha beach and the luxury development next door is the defining flavor of the area — public jungle wave, private resort coast.

Getting there

Fly into Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, Puerto Vallarta (PVR) — about 23 miles from the break, 40–55 minutes. PVR is the only practical gateway. Tepic (TPQ) and Guadalajara (GDL) are far inland and only make sense if you're road-tripping Nayarit more broadly.

• private transferUS$60–90 per vehicle40–55 minutes

  The easiest option with boards. Most hotels and surf camps in Punta de Mita, La Cruz and Sayulita will arrange a pre-booked van; confirm it's a van or SUV (not a sedan) if you're carrying board bags. Book ahead so you're not negotiating curbside.

• taxiUS$50–70 per vehicle to Punta de Mita40–50 minutes

  Authorized airport taxis quote fixed zone fares from the terminal. Walk out of the airport and across the pedestrian bridge to flag a cheaper street taxi or Uber if you're light on luggage; with boards, the airport van is simpler. Confirm the trunk/roof can take your bag before loading.

• rideshareUS$35–55 to Punta de Mita / La Cruz40–55 minutes

  Uber and Didi both work in the Puerto Vallarta area. Pickups at PVR are restricted — you typically meet the driver across the highway bridge from the terminal, which is awkward with a board bag. Surfboards depend on the car that shows up; request larger and message the driver.

• busUS$2–4 per person1.5–2 hours with a transfer

  Compostela/local buses run Highway 200 toward Punta de Mita and La Cruz; you'll usually transfer in Bucerías or at the Walmart junction. Cheap and doable for a light traveler, slow and a hassle with a board bag and jet lag. The La Lancha stop is the Pemex on the highway.

Getting around

A rental car (roughly US$35–60/day, more in winter high season) makes the most sense if you're chasing tide windows at La Lancha and also want El Anclote, Sayulita and Burros within reach. Without a car you're fine: cheap, frequent local buses run Highway 200 between Bucerías, La Cruz, the La Lancha Pemex and Punta de Mita all day, and Uber/Didi cover the area for door-to-door hops. Taxis are easy to flag in the towns. Surf camps run their own shuttles to the trailhead.

Boards: Plan your board transport, since the local buses and many Ubers won't love a big bag — a shortboard with fins out usually squeezes into a car, but for longboards and travel coffins request a larger vehicle or use a surf-camp shuttle. If you're not bringing boards, WildMex at the trailhead rents from a 200+ board quiver so you can walk in empty-handed and grab a board on the spot.

Where to stay

• Punto Mita Suites & Hostelhostel$ budget

  Sayulita — ~20 min drive to the La Lancha trailhead · Budget base in Sayulita, walking distance from the WildMex Sayulita HQ that runs surf trips to La Lancha. Dorms and private rooms, social surf-traveler crowd; the obvious cheap pick if you want town life plus easy organized access to the wave. (Booking.com, Hostelworld)

• Viajero Sayulita Hostelhostel$ budget

  Sayulita — ~20 min drive to the trailhead · Well-run flashpacker hostel in central Sayulita with a pool, dorms and privates, and a steady backpacker-surfer scene. Good if you want nightlife and multiple breaks from one base and don't mind the drive to La Lancha. (Booking.com, Viajero direct)

• ALMA Surf Lodge Punta Mitasurf camp$ mid-range

  Punta de Mita — ~5–10 min drive to the trailhead · Surf-focused lodge near Punta Mita beach with a pool, restaurant and free parking — a comfortable mid-range pick that puts you closest of the real towns to La Lancha and El Anclote. Books out in winter. (Booking.com)

• Punta Mita Surf Lodgeboutique$ mid-range

  El Anclote, Punta de Mita — ~5–10 min drive to the trailhead · Boutique apartments steps from El Anclote beach with a saltwater pool and a relaxed surf vibe. Two- and three-bedroom units make it a good split for a crew, and you're walking distance to the El Anclote longboard wave on small days. (Direct, Booking.com)

• Hotel Cinco Punta Mitahotel$ mid-range

  El Anclote, Punta de Mita — ~5–10 min drive to the trailhead · Small beachfront hotel on the El Anclote strip with a rooftop pool and restaurant — a comfortable, well-reviewed mid-range base in town when you want a bit more polish than a hostel without resort prices. (Booking.com, direct)

• Casa de Mitaboutique$$ high-end

  Playa Careyeros, Punta de Mita — ~10 min drive to the trailhead · Long-running adults-oriented boutique beach hotel on a quiet cove with a small pool and full board available. The splurge stay in the area outside the gated resorts — book direct, well ahead. (Direct (casademita.com))

• WildMex Surf Camp (Punta Mita / Sayulita)surf camp$ mid-range

  Camp shuttles run to the La Lancha trailhead · All-in surf-camp packages bundling accommodation, lessons, boards, instructors and shuttles to La Lancha and other Punta Mita/Sayulita breaks. The hands-off option for first-timers who'd rather not arrange transport, gear and coaching separately. (Direct (wildmex.com))

• Punta Mita / La Lancha Airbnb condosvacation rental$ mid-range

  Varies — Punta de Mita condos ~5–10 min drive to the trailhead · Condos and villas around Punta de Mita and the La Lancha frontage rent well on Airbnb/Vrbo, many with kitchens and pools — the practical pick for families or groups who want to self-cater and stock up in Bucerías. Distance to the trailhead varies, so check the map before booking. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Eat & drink

• Makai (at the La Lancha trailhead/WildMex)restaurant$ mid-range

  Post-surf tacos, ceviche and cold beers — The on-site restaurant by the WildMex shop at the La Lancha trailhead — the closest food to the wave, handy for refueling before the walk back to the car. Casual surf-shack fare; the convenience is the point.

• Tacos & Papasstreet food$ budget

  Tacos al pastor and loaded papas — Cheap, authentic and beloved by locals in Punta de Mita — the go-to when you want a real taco fix rather than beach-club prices. The kind of spot to hit after a dawn session.

• La Pescadorarestaurant$ mid-range

  Midday ceviche, poke bowls and shrimp tacos — Reliable seafood right by the water in Punta de Mita — fresh daily fish and shrimp, good for a relaxed lunch or sunset dinner without the resort markup.

• Mita Maryrestaurant$$ high-end

  Guacamole, ceviche and fish tacos, toes in the sand — Toes-in-the-sand beachfront restaurant at the St. Regis Punta Mita resort (open to non-guests with a reservation) serving fresh, light Mexican plates and cocktails. A mellow upscale lunch between La Lancha sessions; book ahead.

• La Rústica Mita Beach Clubrestaurant$$ high-end

  Wood-fired pizza and sunset cocktails on El Anclote — Lively beachfront club right in front of the El Anclote break with a wood-fired Italian-leaning kitchen and a strong sunset-drinks scene. The splurge-y, social option when you want a night out.

• Tuna Blancarestaurant$$ high-end

  Pacific-French ceviches and wood-grilled octopus — Punta de Mita's upscale destination kitchen — chef-driven, beachfront, and a real treat-yourself dinner. Worth it once if your trip skews part-surf, part-honeymoon; reserve ahead in winter.

• Sayulita taco stands & comedoresstreet food$ budget

  Fish and birria tacos, fresh juices — If you're basing in Sayulita, the plaza and side streets are stacked with cheap taco stands, juice bars and comedores — the easiest budget eating in the whole area. Cash in pesos.

Cooking for yourself

• Mini-supers along Punta de Mita / Highway 200minimart

  Punta de Mita and the La Lancha stretch have small mini-supers and an OXXO by the Pemex at the trailhead for water, snacks, beer, sunscreen and basics. Fine for topping up before a session, not for a full self-catering shop.

• Mega / La Comer / Chedraui, Buceríassupermarket

  The nearest full supermarkets are in Bucerías, roughly 15–20 minutes southeast on Highway 200 — Mega and La Comer sit across the road from each other, with Chedraui nearby. This is where to do a real grocery run if you're cooking in a condo; they also have in-store ATMs.

• La Cruz Sunday Market (Mercado del Mar)farmers market

  Seasonal Sunday market at the La Cruz de Huanacaxtle marina (roughly November–April) with produce, prepared food, fish and local goods. Great for fresh fruit, veg and a cooked breakfast; cash is king.

Surf shops & rentals

• WildMex Surf School & Adventure Center (La Lancha trailhead)board rentallessonswetsuitsapparelwax~US$25–35/day; ~US$145/week

  The de facto surf hub for La Lancha, sitting right at the trailhead by the Pemex with a 200+ board quiver, lockers, changing rooms, showers, rashguards and wetsuit tops. ISA-certified bilingual instructors run lessons (typically 2–3 hours) and the shop also operates out of Sayulita with free swaps between centers. Bring a ding kit and spare fins if you're picky — for everything else this is your one-stop. There's no full retail surf shop on La Lancha beach itself.

• Sayulita surf shops (e.g. Lunazul, Sayulita Surf Camps)board rentallessonsding repairwaxapparel~US$20–30/day

  If you're basing in Sayulita, the town has several established surf schools and rental shops that also run trips and lessons at La Lancha. Handy for ding repair, extra wax and renting a longboard for the El Anclote/Sayulita small days.

When you're not surfing

• Marietas Islands snorkel & Hidden Beach tourwaterUS$80–140 per person

  Boat tours from Punta de Mita and Sayulita to the protected Marietas Islands for snorkeling and the famous Playa del Amor (Hidden Beach). Access to the hidden beach is permit-limited and weather-dependent — book a licensed operator (WildMex, Sayulita Entourage) ahead.

• Humpback whale watchingnatureUS$60–110 per person

  From roughly December to March, humpbacks fill Banderas Bay and Punta Mita boats run whale-watching trips, often combined with Marietas snorkeling. One of the best reasons to surf here in winter — go with a licensed boat.

• Surf-and-explore day in Sayulitaday tripfree–US$30

  The boho surf town ~20 minutes north is worth a day: its own beginner beach break, taco stands, boutiques and nightlife. Easy car or bus hop and a good flat-day backup if La Lancha goes quiet.

• Stand-up paddle / kayak Banderas BaywaterUS$25–50 rental/tour

  The calm, turquoise water off El Anclote and Punta de Mita is ideal for SUP and kayaking on flat days. Rentals are easy to arrange through the surf shops and beach operators in town.

• Sportfishing out of Punta de Mita / La CruzadventureUS$300–600 per boat (half day)

  Punta de Mita and the La Cruz marina are launch points for panga and cruiser fishing — dorado, tuna and sailfish in season. Split across a crew it's a memorable non-surf day; book through marina operators.

• La Cruz marina & Sunday market strollculturefree

  The La Cruz de Huanacaxtle marina has a relaxed boardwalk, fish-taco joints and (in winter) a busy Sunday artisan-and-food market — a low-key cultural afternoon between sessions.

Practical notes

Know before you go — Mexico

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-12. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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