Punta Mita Surf – Complete Surf-Travel Guide
Punta Mita surf takes you to a headland on the north side of the Bahia de Banderas. We love it, because it covers all levels and is very close to the legendary surf town of Sayulita.
An introduction to Punta Mita surf
It’s the geography at Punta Mita that makes it such a surf hotspot. The place is a headland that pokes out from the beaches of the Riviera Nayarit to the top of the Bahia de Banderas.
Surf breaks occur on the north, west and south sides.
That means a huge swell window of over 180 degrees and somewhere where the wind is always offshore. It’s hardly a surprise that consistency is one of the draws.
There’s also good variety on offer from Punta Mita…
Hardcore shortboarders will drool at the prospect of nailing one of the double-overhead reef wedges on Burros in the summer. Intermediates can whip back and practice turns on the steeper sets of La Lancha. Beginners can relax on El Anclote and other spots.
You’ll see all levels in the local cantinas after a morning sesh, and Puta Mita is now the go-to playground for surfers in Puerto Vallarta and even Sayulita.
More than just cracking waves, Punta de Mita (notice the ‘de’ – it refers to the village, not the whole area) is a fine place to base a Mexican surf trip.
Superior-quality hotels might cost a packet, but by god they’re good. Alternatively, you could branch out to lovely little surf towns like San Pancho to find a little casita of your own (though you will need to travel to get to the surf from there).
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing Mexico
Punta Mita surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What’s in this guide to Punta Mita surf?
Where is Punta Mita?
Punta Mita marks the join between the Riviera Nayarit and the Bahia de Banderas. The latter is the huge bay where the city of Puerto Vallarta makes its home. The first is a run of coastline filled with quaint Mexicana fishing towns and surf villages.
The area of Punta de Mita is spread over a whole headland, confusingly called almost the exact same, with the big hotel resorts ot the north and the town centre of Corral del Risco to the south.
How to get to Punta Mita?
Most people will fly into Puerto Vallarta and transfer from there…
The closest airport to Punta de Mita (the town) and Punta Mita (the area) is Puerto Vallarta. It’s a major arrival point for flights coming in from the US, because it’s also the gateway to the resorts on the Pacific. You might need a changeover in Mexico City if you’re traveling in from Europe.
We tend to use Kiwi to hunt for flights because we like the interface. But Google Flights also works a charm for seeking out quick bargains.
Private transfer is the best way to get from the arrivals at PVA airport to your hotel in Punta Mita. Yea, they cost about $80 each, but it’s zero hassle. The public buses, which are like $5 leave from outside airport grounds, over a bridge on the main road. It’s doable but schedules aren’t always accurate and different drivers take different attitudes towards folks with boards in tow. There’s this door-to-door option that includes pick up with a name sign. Easy.
If you’re in downtwon PV: Public buses run from Puerto Vallarta to Punta de Mita about ever 15 minutes most days. They cost just a couple of dollars and take about 1h45 (they’re slower because there are lots of stops).
You could also rent a car. You don’t have too, but there are now pretty good roads linking the whole of the Punta Mita area. The bonus would be that you can travel up and down the Riviera Nayarit in search of waves whenever you like. That said, be wary of driving any Mexican coast highway at night – we’ve heard horror stories. The best car rental offerings in Mex are typcially from RentalCars.com.
Punta Mita surf spots
We’ll start in the north, right up on the Riviera Nayarit.
It’s worth mentioning because that’s more untrodden Mexican surf territory. You’ll need to either taxi or drive or do a surf trip up there with a local school but it can be worth it because there are some fun places (like the right handers in Chacala that are still quite unknown).
As you move south, you come to the Punta Mita proper. It begins with Bahia and then bends to face south with El Faro and Stinky’s, which are the first surf spots that are really wihin walking distance of the town.
Remember to check out wind directions and swell angles to work out the best places to hit each day.
Chacala
Chacala is a sleepy little beach town with brown sand and palms that droop down to the ocean. It’s not that well known for surfing, since the spots here are only accessible on fishing boats. They are good though, offering peeling lefts off a point.
Read more about surfing in Chacala
San Pancho
In our humble opinion, San Pancho is one of the most loveable towns in all of Mexico. It’s north of Punta Mita. Between jungles and low hillsides, it unfolds with cobbled streets and spicy taquerias. It’s downright charming and we can’t wait to go back. The surf is okay, but the break on the main beach is pretty dumpy, with coral hazards underfoot that mean it’s really good intermediates only.
Check out our complete guide to the surf in the small town of San Pancho
Sayulita
Sayulita is the de facto surf capital of Mexico. We won’t go into its breaks in too much detail because we have a dedicated guide to the surf there. Suffice to say it has all levels covered but suffers from overcrowding. The town’s worth a pitstop for its charming Pacific Mexicana character (banging fish tacos!). It’s close enough to the Bahia de Banderas to be a decent base for accessing the Punta de Mita surf, too. And it’s got loads of great surf camps.
Check out our complete guide to surfing in Sayulita
Litibú Beach
You can surf Litibú Beach, which stretches south from San Pancho to the top of Punta Mita. However, the main reason to come here is to dodge the crowds. It’s not the best break in the region. Can be characterised as a dumpy shorebreak. Pretty typical of the waves that hit the Nayarit coast without sandbanks or reefs to shape them up. Some fun on its day but you’ll need a car from Punta Mita town.
Bahia
Bahia is the most consistent spot in all of Punta Mita. It draws in swells from NW and SW channels, so it’s often working when nothing else is. It’s not a beginner wave, but does mellow to intermediate level in the calmer winter months (November-March).
The best days are on 5-10 foot at low tide (don’t even both at high). They give hollow wedge A-frames with a very quick right and a fast but rippable left. Fun apart from the paddle out. A boat from Punta de Mita harbour is the only real option.
Lighthouse (El Faro)
Lighthouse is the second spot that makes the most of the rocky reefs at the end of the Punta Mita head.
With a nice low tide and an offshore (NE) you can catch some bloody cracking rides. It does need some strong swells to start working, so the punchier SW season in the summer might be better.
About 20% of the winter works to a quality that makes the paddle and walk worth it. You’re chasing a pretty hollow right hander that gets good, cruisy peelers off the rocks. Not for beginners. Shortboards are perfect.
Stinky’s
Stinky’s the premier break within walking distance of Punta de Mita town (that’s the village in the middle of the Punta Mita headland).
That makes it popular, but it also gets busy because it’s pretty versatile. Yep, everyone from the total beginner (who can sometimes squeeze round to uber-chilled El Anclote) to the carving pro will find something fun.
On good S swells the spot is a little quicker, but it’s usually a rumbling right that offers a neat pocket and plenty of scope for getting the log out (something of a rarity in Mexico!).
Palmitas
At high tide or on the push Palmitas can give gnarly sandbanks rides that crank the G-force up to 11. When it’s holding shape – which can be unpredictable – it’s a shortboarder’s dream.
Rip-worthy shoulders are on the left and the right, but you will probably have to hold out for a good N swell in the winter months (the summer can kill it dead).
La Lancha
La Lancha is now sorta’ the place to go for surf schools in PV and Sayulita when they want an out-of-town break of real quality. As such, it’s getting busier.
But we’d still rank it among the top three Punta Mita surf spots. The reason is that there are actually two breaks here, one intermediate and one more beginner.
They are both great fun, with gorgeous turquoise waters and high cliffs dotted with palm trees as a backdrop. Good paddle and pop practice on the beach wave which is a short ride. Better left on the wedge that’s out back. Summer swells can turn it fiesty.
Burros
Intermediates after a challenge are sure to love the waves at Punta Burros. They require some extra punch to get going but often work well on southerly swell channels in the summer months but are tamer in December and Jan (chest high is uber-fun).
Wedgy and hollow, the break is predominantly a right with plenty of speed off the peak and into the shoulder. Be ready to walk through the forest to get there!
Surf camps in Punta Mita
We get asked all the time about logistics of a surf trip to Punta Mita. Our first answer is: Do yourself a favor and book a proper surf camp package here.
There’s loads of reasons for it but transport back and forth to the breaks is numero uno. A tailored itinerary like the ones below means you won’t ever have to think about a taxi or car hire or long walk to the next wave. It’s taken care of for you by the camp every day.
Surf camps here also tend to be pretty darn affordable (think like $500 for seven nights) and come with expert surf teaching and loads of extras. The ones here we can reccomend are:
- Punto Mita Suites and Hostel x WildMex – The guys at Punto Mita Suites and Hostel have teamed up with seasoned surf guiders at WildMex to offer a fantastic package that aims to take you from total beginner to green wave rider. They have one of the best board stores around and know the region like the back of thier hand.
- Mita Surf House – Mita Surf House are the leading name in the town. They’ve got a really nice pad with a pool and palm trees. They’ll take you out every day to breaks all around Punta Mita and up the riveira so you can experience what the whole region has to offer. All lessons are run by ISA-certified and all-round great bloke Luis Mariscal.
Where to stay in Punta Mita?
Punta Mita does hotels very well.
Of all the resorts in the Bahia de Banderas, this is the one with a rep for style and class. In fact, one whole side of the headland is given over to the huge Four Seasons Punta Mita.
It’s a stunning hotel resort that’s always out of our budget. If you can afford it we’d say go for it! You get the full Mexican luxury experience, with uber-cool villas that open straight onto the Pacific and access to the surf breaks whenever you want.
Below are a few other accommodation choices in the area. They should be pretty convenient, not just for hitting the surf but also for eating out and exploring the beaches around this north end of the Bahia. (Oh, did we mention that Punta Mita is a bit of a luxury hotspot?)
Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection
If you’ve got some $$ to splash and want to chill, surf, chill, and surf some more, there’s hardly a better option in Punta Mita than Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection. This uber-stylo hotel is walkable from La Lancha, which we rate as the best beach in the area (good for multiple levels). The swimming pools aren’t like anything we’ve ever seen before: They step down towards the Pacific in tiers. Man it’s a cool one!
Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa All Inclusive
Okay, so the Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa All Inclusive still ain’t cheap. But we don’t think you can beat the locale. It’s right above the breaks of La Lancha (all levels) and it’s also within walking access (on the coastal path) to Stinky’s. What’s more, you get a gorgeous pool and spa facility, along with spacious suites and private swimming lagoons on the Bahia de Banderas.
Punto Mita Suites
For longer stays that make your private space and self-catering facilities all the more important, the Punto Mita Suites are just about perfect. The piece de resistance is a rooftop area with views of the ocean and its own half al-fresco kitchen space.
Surf lessons in Punta Mita
If you haven’t got your own car or are stuck in a hotel up the riveira somewhere, there’s one surefire way to get on the breaks of Punta Mita for a day. Book yourself onto a surf lesson, which typically include pick-up at your suites, all the equipment you need, and then a drop off back at the hotel later in the day.
It’s the perfect option for beginners that find themselves holidaying here and fancying a little sample of that sport that eveyone else seems to be doing. And it just so happens that some of the best day and half-day surf options in the whole of Mexico are run in these parts, including…
- Private Surf Lesson with WildMex in Punta Mita – The best combo of ISA-rated instruction (the gold standard) and downright fun comes from WildMex, a tried-and-tested surf school who run these three-hour sessions that include in-water and out-of-water practice. It’s one of the best beginner surf options in the coutnry in our opinion.
- Private Surfing Experience in Punta de Mita – A casual but effective surf lesson from local ripper Alejandro that includes all the neccessary gear. We see this as a top option for couples and families who want something a little more local.
Most surf lessons in Punta Mita take place down on La Lancha. It’s probably the best option there, great for all levels. Lately, it’s been a little busy but the vibes are still happy in the water.
When to surf in Punta Mita?
The summer is the peak season for swell in Punta Mita, as the south channels turn on and send big waves up through the Pacific. Winter is generally better for beginners and longboarders, because it’s never quite as big and sets tend to be mellower. There’s swell pretty much all year though.
Let’s take a closer look at the seasons:
Winter (October-March)
Winter is our favourite Punta Mita surf season, but not necessarily the best for you. Basically, the months between October and March are tamer waves. Swells originate predominantly from the NW Pacific, which means they’re wrap-around sets on the south side of Punta Mita and more angular on the west.
The result is a whole load more glassy days and some smaller days with chest-high sessions that create waves running for 150m+. This is the time for beginners and intermediates.
Summer (April-September)
The swell direction switches to the south in the summer months and that can cause a whole load of action to roll into Punta Mita.
The breaks on the south side of town are the first hit, with only Burros and La Lancha holding up well, although El Anclote (a beginner spot by Stinky’s) is more rideable. The real joy here comes with the reefs on the outside – Lighthouse and Bahia.
They harness those SW swells and offer overheads on steep waves. It can get pretty heavy and some sessions are best left to the pros and locals who know what they’re doing.
You MUST take sunscreen and good surf sunblock.
We warn because we’ve emerged from Punta Mita redder than a rojo salsa on a previous surf. The sun is STRONG here.
We adore the stuff made by Suntribe these days – they’re our go-to sunblock offering. It’s all natural and it’s all ocean safe. Use code Surfatlas10 for a 10% discount there.
Surf shops in Punta Mita
The Punta Mita area has a burgeoning set of surf shops. Most are located in Punta de Mita village itself. Of the ones there, we can recommend one…
- Mictlan Surf – Mictlan Surf is exactly the sort of local surf shop we love to see in our surf towns. It’s not got an overload of branded goods, but there are SUP paddles, flippers, foamies and good beachwear. Probably not stocked for all your gear needs, but a good base level for the extras.
Where to eat in Punta Mita?
Finding food won’t be a problem in Punta Mita. If you manage to make it out of your hotel’s classy restaurant, think about dining in…
- Teresa’s Tacos – Yea so it might not look anything fancy (it’s little more than a roadside shack). But that’s the charm. This homely Mexican kitchen churns out some of the best local food in the region. Big words. All justified. It’s a must try!
- Tacos & Papas – Right on the main street of Punta de Mita village. It’s a rustic Mexicana joint with stoop tables and adobe walls that are only half finished. Don’t come for the architecture, come for the mouthwatering plates of beans, salad and mole. Oh, and the live music!
- Arena Surf Cafe – This is a fine spot for a pre- or post- surf bite to eat. They do lush brunch sets of waffles and bagels, along with strong coffee and fresh milkshakes. There’s a surf theme about it and pretty chilled, friendly owners.
Things to do when you’re not surfing in Punta Mita
Most people will just kick it by the pool or on the beach when they aren’t on the Punta Mita surf. That’s fine, but you could also…
Puerto Vallarta
You gotta’ head down the road and visit Puerto Vallarta. One of the funnest cities in the whole of Mex, this one has a nightlife to keep you dancing and smashing tequila until sunup (especially around spring break). Buses there take less than an hour and there are some darn fantastic hotels (look for somewhere in the charming Romantic Zone area)
This Amazing Vallarta tour is a full-day option that ticks off all the must sees of PV city. It includes pick up and drop off at a hotel in Punta Mita.
Hike in the Sierra Madre
The mountains that frame Punta Mita to the east are called the Sierra Madre. They loom over the surf spots with misty jungles and host all sorts of monkeys and orchids. There are now a few local companies offering guided treks in them, just in case you wanted to keep active when the waves die down.
Marietas Islands
If we had to pick one bucket-list thing to do in Punta Mita on the ocean when there’s no swell around, it would be these incredible islands. Potential sightings of whales and dolphins on the way over are matched by crystal-clear reefs filled with tropical fishies, not to mention a beach inside a cave!
This tour is one of the few that goes from nearby Sayulita, not Puerto Vallarta, making it more accessible if you’re staying in Punta Mita.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
How is the surfing around the W Hotel?
We’ve seen kitesurfers down that way before but the beach doesn’t have the reefs and points that you get further west. Honestly, La Lancha is the best option if you want to stay that way out of town.
Hey Joseph, nice guide. I am an intermediate bodyboarder and planning to hit Punta Mita late June/early July 2023. What would be your break(s) suggestion(s)? Read in another site that Punta Burros or El Faro could work, for an easy day La Lancha. Thanks!
Things should be nice and big and consistent in midsummer for you. We’re not bodyboarders this end really, but would say that the suggestions you have should work well. Maybe try a trip up to San Pancho too? It can be heavy and dumpy but also decent depending on swell direction. Plus the town is good fun.
Anyone reading this now…..Just go see Lalo at Accion Tropical Mita Surf (directly across the street from the El Cafecito and next door to Tranquilo). He’s an early riser and I ran into him by accident on my first morning there. I went for an early morning sunrise walk to see what was going on for log rental and boat trips. We hit it off and I was set up with the best real longboards (no surf school foamie crap) and early morning boat rides out to Bahia about 1-2 hours before all the other surf boats showed up.
Lalo runs a genuine family business with his wonderful wife. His son does private fishing charters, too, on their open fisherman. They’re awesome people and can’t recommend them enough.
The wife and I also used them for tickets to the Hidden Beach on Marietas (tickets are limited each day, so book early!), and the boat ride over. The crew was great and we had the best time touring around the island after swimming through the hidden beach hole.
I came across this article just now while planning my next trip there for early June…can’t wait!
Great Info Here Joe! Looking to book a surf week at the end of this April. Intermediate surfer, prefer cruisey right hand point breaks that are easy to access. surf early in the morning and adventure/hike and chill out in the afternoons. Is the Nayarit region good this time of year? if so what area would be best? if not, what region would you recommend?
thanks!!
Punta Mita doesn’t actually sound like all that bad a choice to us. Nayarit is good all year – April will see some bigger swells come through as the summer wave season sets in (it’s MUCH bigger between May and June here than in the winter), but should still have its cruisy days. Point breaks not so much, but there’s Lighthouse (which can be mellow and pretty long when the tide peels back) and La Lancha (which has rights and lefts off nice wedges). Crowds are often stuffed into Sayulita and this isn’t the high season so it shouldn’t be too busy, especially if you’re rising early.
Thing with Mexico is that it’s HUGE. Our next plug would probably be for Oaxaca, but things down there become hard to access. Then there’s Cabo, which has lots of right points to suit but it’s not quite the season yet in April (summer is best).
Thanks for the prompt reply!
I’ve been to the Oaxaca area but assumed that the swell direction in April would not be ideal for the south- is it? Would the west coast not be better late april? only taking a week off so cant run around the coast- Just looking for consistent waves, doesn’t matter the region, they don’t have to be big- just accessible from accommodation. really appreciate the insight!!
Na you’re right – April isn’t ideal for those better S swells but it can work. Nayarit is superior for W and NW swells and accessibility for sure. When we were there March time we had pretty mellow waves with one or two sessions that were heavier. April should have more of the heavier stuff but without the consistent overheads of summer probably.
Hi, we’re heading to Punta de Mita in mid June staying at the Conrad. Im an intermediate surfer and wondered if there is any surf nearby or walking distance? Thanks
Hey – you can walk north from the Conrad to Litibú Beach. It’s also known as Higuera. It’s okay, not the best in the region but usually quite empty. Should take maybe 15-20 minutes to get there. Best days are with SW swell when a nice left will work but if we’re being honest it’s usually dumpy as hell. You’ll have MUCH more fun hitching a ride over to the south-facing coast. S swells picking up in May and spots like La Lancha show real quality, especially for intermediates.
Great guide Joe! I recently surfed a pointbreak in Sinaloa where PU boards worked really well and PE/EPS board didn’t. Any thoughts on what to bring for these spots?
Really depends on what time of year you’re heading in. In the middle of winter when we were last in Punta Mita, it was small but spicy, so a bit of extra volume went a long way. We surfed a nice PU egg for the week and didn’t feel the need to change up much. We know that it gets heavier in summer, even at more protected spots like La Lancha, so something shorter with knifier rails would go better June-August most likely. Also depends how far you’re traveling. We like an EPS these days just cos it’s lighter to lug around. Nayarit is nice for the diversity of spots though, so there’s lots of scope here!
Hello! Love your guide! Is it safe to surf after heavy rain in punta de Mita? Is there runoff that can make it easier to get sick from bacteria?
The best we can say is that we’ve done it without any issues! There’s a pretty good write-up on the water quality situ in Sayulita here. Overall, it’s certainly not as risky as getting in the water in Bali during rainy season, and we do that too! Hope that helps!