Cabo San Lucas Surf – Spots North + South [2025]
Cabo San Lucas surf can be epic in the summer S swell season. You’ve got south-facing bays that curve and bend around the opening to the Sea of Cortez but also beaches exposed to the open Pacific.
An introduction to Cabo San Lucas surfing
Cabo San Lucas is known as just Cabo for short. In the last couple of decades, it’s become something of a byword for vacation vibes on the Mexican Pacific.
Spring breakers and celebs alike flock down to the town at the tip of the Baja California. They come to get loose in the tequila bars, shop in open-air malls, and bronze those bodies on the beaches. Cabo doesn’t disappoint.
Cabo San Lucas also happens to cap off a region that’s pretty darn awesome on the surfing front. Just look at the map – it’s basically a continuation of Southern California!
The Cabo San Lucas surf spots you’ll be able to reach from the town itself span about 40 miles to the north of the headland’s southernmost tip.
It all starts with some mixed reef and beach breaks that get heavy on direct northern swells like the top end of the Golden State.
Then come a series of shapely right handers off the points of the desert. Finally, you get into the Hotel Corridor and the southern areas, which benefit from a huge swell window in the summer and proximity to the resorts. For us, that’s really where the money is.
Thanks to decades of largely US-based surfers chugging down this way on road trips, secret spots are now virtually non existent in Cabo. You can thin out the line up if you’re willing to drive on some sketchy backroads further north. That said, we kinda’ prefer the vibes around the town, which are rarely spoilt by bad mojo.
The other great thing about Cabo San Lucas is that it lets you fling off the wetsuit. You might need one in midwinter in some places but it’s rash vests and boardies for much of the year.
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
Cabo San Lucas surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What’s in this guide to Cabo San Lucas surf?
Where is Cabo San Lucas?
Most American travelers will have a decent idea about where to find Cabo San Lucas – they’ve been heading there for R&R for some decades now!
If not, it’s easy…Just look to the long, thin Baja California Peninsula. It’s that finger of land that juts out of SoCal, through Ensenada, past the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean.
Cabo San Lucas is right at the far south tip of it. Don’t go thinking that’s an easy drive from the US-Mex border. It’s not. It can take over 22 hours to complete.
How to get to Cabo San Lucas?
Most folks will jet straight into Cabo.
Yes, you can drive from the US but that’s a 780-mile romp through a region that’s, shall we say, not got the greatest marks in class for safety – it’s a major drug running route.
The good news is that this is such a popular resort town that there are now countless carriers making the hop from countless US cities, and they’re now joined by big-name long haulers that connect up with Europe.
Driving down to Cabo has been seen as something of a rite of passage for many Californian surfers. It’s no mean feat, taking at least 22 hours on the road from the border.
It can be a real adventure, cruising all the way through the desert on MX1. The other bonus with driving is that you’ll have your own wheels when you arrive, which we can’t recommend enough – the breaks are a little spread out from east to west and take some getting between.
Just be careful if you do drive. Don’t travel at night and read up about the risks on this road.
Alternatively, it’s a cinch to rent a car at Cabo Airport. We use RentalCars for that, mainly because we like that they tend to have pretty generous cancellation policies.
Where to surf in Cabo San Lucas?
The sheer variety of the Cabo San Lucas spots is what’s kept folk coming back to this part of Mexico for so long.
We’ll reiterate something at this point: Having your own wheels is a good idea, because some of these breaks are 40 mins+ from the town itself and swells can change from S to NW quite quickly, meaning you’ll need to swap from south-facing bays to west-facing ones.
We’ll start with the spots that are farthest away to the north of town and move around the headland to the east.
Todos Santos
Don’t confuse this one with the other Baja break on the Isla de Todos Santos. That’s a much heavier prospect (an XXL tow-out, in fact). Here, just 76 clicks up the lovely desert coast road of the Baja California Sur, you can find a real mix of breaks.
Experienced riders are sure to love the exposed reef at La Pastora. When it’s working, that can roll into very fast barrels on low tide. Look right and get position well and you’ll be pitted and spitted before you can shout Baja. A little to the south are the more practicy waves of Playa San Pedro, which is also stunning!
Pescadero
It’s all reef at Pescadero and the access is pretty poor. That’s why the line up is usually locals and clued up American travelers on their umpteenth Baja surf trip. The reward for going off grid is a spot that picks up pretty much all the swell angles on offer, apart from straight south. When it’s right (NNW is best) it’s a chocolate box of A-frames. Rocks and urchins are the problem, so booties are a must.
Cerritos
On the hunt for surfing in Cabo for beginners? Cerritos is certainly up there with the best spots. It’s a wide expanse of a bay that has some approachable whitewash all the way from south to north.
That’s favoured by the Cabo surf schools, who will often make the 45-min drive up to have sessions on the breakers. To the north end of the strand is Cerritos point. That’s a lovely right-hander that harnesses NW swells to give arguably the best log wave in the region. It can get big in winter, which also causes it to fatten out and become rippable on a shorty.
Migrino
Thanks to its west-coast location, Migrino enjoys a wide 180-degree swell window that keeps it in action from summer to winter. It’s also one of the closest breaks to the resort (20 mins in the car) on the Cabo San Lucas surf line up, so the crowds will make an exodus if it’s smaller to the south. Wave wise, you’re looking at a few peaks along the sand. However, the piece de resistance is the right hander at the point, which has some good moxie when it’s rolling.
Monuments
The only real spot to surf in Cabo San Lucas town is Monuments. It’s not the surfing in Cabo for beginners, either, because we’re talking a speedy left that’s a joy for seasoned goofies.
The wave breaks on the point at the end of the main beach and closes fast, so you’ll need to pump the back foot to get on the shoulder. When you catch it, it’s zippy and heart-thumping. When you don’t, just pray the urchins don’t get you!
Bahia Chileno
Approximately midway up the Hotel Corrido from Cabo downtown is this relatively hidden spot. It’s patchy reef and sand, so pack the booties to feel safe. Waves are shallow on the incline, which means it’s a lovely longboarders or intermediate shortie’s spot. Fantastic for practicing turns off the lip, with lots of forgiving drops that won’t rag-doll you around. Works best on SW swells with an offshore northerly and heights of about six foot.
Costa Azul
If you’re serious about surfing every single day in Cabo then Costa Azul is where you’re going to want to be based. It’s the main beach of San Jose del Cabo, which is where you’re likely to fly into.
There are plenty of hotels right on the shoreline, and the beach has multiple spots for multiple levels. Just remember that it only works in the peak summer S swell season (May-September).
There are three main breaks in Costa Azul to know about:
- Old Man’s -The easiest wave in the bay, Old Man’s is a nice, cruisy logger spot with decently elongated shoulders that are perfect for practicing trimming.
- The Rock – Tight in to the headland at the western side of Costa Azul is this right point break. Not a great wave in our opinion, but does have its day on a pushing tide and strong S swell, when it’s quick, pitching, and sectiony. Often closes out. Good for everyone since there’s not too much of a local’s vibe.
- Zippers – The favorite of the local rippers. When the summer swells start cooking from the south, there’s no better place to be than this right. For us, it mimics the Moroccan star of Boilers but without the extra punch. Rippable, wally, fun. That’s it. Downsides are that it’s one of the few Baja spots that suffers from consistent localism.
Meanwhile, Acapulquito Beach on the far south side of Azul Beach is the better place for beginners as any S swells are more sheltered there and tend to form an all-round mellower wave.
Where to stay? You CANNOT beat a stay at the Cabo Surf Hotel in our humble opinion. It’s right on the edge of Costa Azul, so you can walk to all the above spots each morning. Plus, there are rooms with hot tubs overlooking the Pacific. Niceee.
El Tule
A hidden beach just below the flyovers of the main freeways that go from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo, this one’s a popular spot for more advanced surfers. It’s a two-directional, beach-reef break with some good speed credentials. Hard to get in the water without boots.
Shipwrecks
Shipwrecks is one of the last Los Cabo surf spots you can rely on to get rolling on normal ocean swells. That’s because it’s tucked a little into the mouth of the Sea of Cortez. That mean good protection from summer onshores but less flow-in W and NW sets. Still, it works beautifully between 5-9 feet, offering a cruisy point with a big shoulder to play on.
Shipwrecks is the name of just one break, but the area here actually has nearly 10. They all work on the same swell angle so it’s one or none, sadly. There’s also a playa beach break that can get hollow but dumps on shallow at high tide.
La Fortuna
A fairly decent right that has some of the widest faces in the Cabo area. Needs huge S swells to work cos it’s tucked right up there on the eastern edge of Baja. Crews will make strike missions in 4X4s – it’s that fun. Tends to be emptier than spots around Costa Azul and is a real performance dream. Bring the shortboard and draw squiggles.
Surf camps in Cabo
Perhaps a little surprisingly, there aren’t all that many surf camps in Cabo.
We definitely think that’s going to change in the coming years, because the town here is sort of changing from party mecca to more adventure hub aimed at scuba people and whatnot.
Right now, you really have just the one option:
- Cabo Surf Retreat x The Riptide Surf Hostel – The only dedicated surf town in the whole region, the Riptide is actually located in the charming Mexican town of San Jose del Cabo. That puts it super close to the airport but also near the best summertime breaks in the region. This 7-day package includes all your accommodation, one night’s wild camping, five surf lessons, equipment, and great company. We actually rate it really highly, particularly because it helps avoid the big Cabo rush and get to the waves along the edge of the peninsula.
Hotels for surfers in Cabo
We’d say the best surf camp Cabo San Lucas has to offer sits up the Hotel Corridor where the rights of the Sea of Cortez get pumping. Basically, you’re going to wave goodbye to the party hotels in the resort if you want to be close to the breaks. That’s what we’ve focussed on here…
Cabo Surf Hotel ($$-$$$)
Cabo Surf Hotel takes what you want from a surf camp in Cabo San Lucas and puts it on a whole new level. Seriously, this is one of our personal favorite surf hotels in the whole of Mexico. Uber-cool rooms done in whitewash with stunning bedspreads and balconies open straight onto the Costa Azul break. You’ll ride endless rights and return to an al fresco hot tub by the Pacific Ocean.
MariaMar Suites ($$)
MariaMar Suites sit just a short walk back from the wide bay of Costa Azul, where you’ll catch a range of the best-quality breaks in town, for all levels to boot. The hotel is a midrange dream that’s detached from the spring breaker bustle. You’ll return after a day on the waves to a cosy Mexicana room and a lovely infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
Surf Hostel Cabo “The Riptide” ($)
Surf Hostel Cabo “The Riptide” sits the historic town of San Jose del Cabo, close to the airport but further from the main town of Cabo San Lucas. Honestly, it’s a cracking place if you came here to surf and not drink tequila to sunup. Right points and beach breaks like Shipwrecks are just up the coast. What’s more, the hostel is affordable and fun, with a shared lounge where you’re sure to meet new surf pals.
Surf lessons in Cabo San Lucas
If you’re not into a full-on surf camp and aren’t coming here to surf from start to finish, or if you’re just a beginner or with teh family, an organized surf trip could be a great way to sample the waves in this corner of Mexico. There are ample choices, and loads you can book online before you even travel. We’d reccomend:
- Cerritos Beach – Full-Day of Surf Lessons – This is the full-day package and it’s great for families, mixed groups and kids. Takes place in Cerritos, about 40-50 minutes north of Cabo, but there’s a hotel pick up included. They use soft-top boards and surf whitewash, which is why it’s really for complete beginners. Great instructors with plenty of patience!
- Half Day Surf Lesson in Costa Azul – If you’re not fancying a full day on the water just yet, try this half-day package. It’ss run by High Tide surf school and is particularly great for family groups with kids no younger than 6. Hotel pick up inlcuded in San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, and the corridor.
When to surf in Cabo San Lucas?
In a land where the surf spots spread along the south coast and the west coast, you can look forward to a pretty wide swell window.
There’s almost always something worth waxing the board for in these parts. To make the most of it all, we’d recommend a car hire. Alternatively, plan your trip for when the swell should work in your favor.
Summer (June-August)
This is prime time to hit the Cabo San Lucas surf. The engines of the S-SW swell system turn on and you’ll catch the Sea of Cortez spots around Cota Azul working a charm. It’s a little harder for the west coast spots of Cerritos et al, but they are swell magnets so there are good waves there too.
Fall (September & October)
The SW swells of the summer start to drop away and the action shifts into the west and NW channel. That’s fine, though, and there are nice groundswell surges pumping from Todos Santos southwards. Also good is the drop in traveler numbers. This is shoulder season, so expect good rates in the hotels. The main downside comes with the chance of cyclones. They’ll smash up any surf but can work well on the spots further into the Sea of Cortez.
Winter (November-March)
Winter is the time of the north swells and the north winds in the Baja. Those are ideal for much of the Pacific-side breaks, like Todos Santos and Cerritos. Things can be big and daunting, though, so surfing in Cabo for beginners might be out of the equation a lot of the days – just be sure to check the forecast. Further north, the water can get chilly, so you might want to pack that 3/2 and the boots. Other problems include the fact that it’s high season – the hotels will be pricy.
Spring (April & May)
As US travelers leave the Baja to return home after their snowbird vacays, the hotels get more affordable in this part of Mexico. Sadly, the swells, like the resorts, also quieten down. We’d recommend waiting until the end of the spring for a surf trip to Cabo San Lucas. You might be in time to catch some nice S-SW pulses then if you’re lucky.
One MUST: No matter the time of the year, always pack a sunscreen/block. Cabo gets hot and the sun is really strong down in these parts.
We generally reccommend the stuff made by Suntribe. They’re a partner of ours because we’ve been using thier blocks for some years now and think it’s one of the best out there – good for the environment, non-nano zinc. Oh yeaaaa, and we’ve asked if our readers can get money off so here’s a 10% coupon: Surfatlas10.
Surf shops in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo doesn’t actually have too many surf schools, but there are one or two for gear replenishesa ad whatnot.
- Costa Azul Surf Shop – Conveniently located just above the rights of Costa Azul, this shop has a range of board lengths on its rail. They also do rentals and a nice range of locally made and locally designed surf wear that’s emblazoned with the Mexican flag.
- Line Up – A surf school and a surf shop, Line Up is a well-known name on the Cabo San Lucas surf scene. They do rentals and a range of surf wear, including rash vest, bikinis, surf fashion and hats.
Best places to eat in Cabo San Lucas
From chic French bistros to hearty taco stands, Cabo has it all. You won’t go hungry for waves or great food. Trust us…
- Tacos Marissa – Up on the hill above the Marina is this traditional Mexican taqueria. The meat fillings are stunning but you also get a whole salad bar of jalapenos and habaneros. This is the sort of thing that you’re supposed to eat south of the border!
- Comal – Comal is a trendy spot that turns dining in Cabo into a full-on luxury experience. It serves a fusion of local Baja ingredients and international dishes in a super nice space above Chileno Bay near El Tule and Costa Azul.
- Freesouls Cerritos Restaurant – A great dining choice if you’re basing our Cabo surf trip up in Cerritos Beach. Healthy salads infused with fresh Pacific seafood join pizzas and French crepes on the menu. There’s also a nice rooftop terrace with views of the sea.
Things to do when you’re not surfing in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas surf trips don’t have to end when the waves are over. There are loads of things to do in this buzzing Baja town. We’ve listed some below, but there are plenty, plenty more besides…
- Visit Land’s End – Surfers are sure to be entertained on a trip to Land’s End. It’s marked by rugged cliffs and huge arches of stone, which showcase the point where the Baja terminates at the Pacific Ocean. Stunning stuff. Charge the camera. Come for sunset!
- Party – Cabo is a party town at heart. From the Marina to the center, there are more pulsing spring-break bars here than you could possibly get through in one surf trip. Mango Deck Beach Club and Cabo Wabo are two of the most legendary – and fun!
- Whale watching – Whale watching tours from Cabo promise sightings of humpbacks, blue whales, and grey whales. It’s best between December and April but trips run all year, usually lasting 2.5 hours.
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!
Hi Asia!
For surf lessons, do you recommend High Tide Los Cabos or Surf Shack at SurfTown Hotel if we are staying at the Surf Town Hotel and are beginners? Is there great instruction at both?
Thanks!