Playa La Saladita might just have the best left-hand logger wave you’ve never heard of. It’s a break of sheer quality, capable of offering up long, cruisy rides of over 100m in warm Mexican water. It’s also super consistent, working both winter and summer for different levels and comes backed by a mega-chill, mega-fun Guerrero beach town. Read on all the info you need to plan a visit.
An introduction to Playa La Saladita
Playa La Saladita is about to be big. At least that’s what we think. The town possesses what we’d rate among the very best longboard point breaks in the Americas but it’s still sleepy, still chilled, still only known by a few snowbird pilgrims who come down with the 9-footer or the minimal lodged in the back of the car.
On top of all that, the spot is downright lovely. Boutique hotels dot the shoreline between groves of coconut palms. The sands slope softly into a lapping ocean. There are cantinas serving fish tacos and quesadillas and margaritas to sunset shows that can rival any, anywhere. Like, it’s paradise with waves. What more could you want?
Let’s try to pinpoint some downsides, eh? Playa La Saladita can be a touch tricky to get to. It’s a 40-minute romp up not the greatest roads from Zihuatanejo. Oh, and there’s not all that much variety to the waves in the town itself, though you can still track south to find the right points and sandbars of fantastic Troncones if you want something extra.
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 in Mexico
Playa La Saladita at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Playa La Saladita?
Where is Playa La Saladita?
Playa La Saladita is located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. That puts it further north than the remote beaches of Oaxaca but further south than the tried-and-tested surf hubs of Sayulita and Cabo. The nearest resort you’re likely to have heard about if you haven’t vacationed extensively south of the border is Zihuatanejo. Iit had an honorable mention in The Shawshank Redemption and remains a popular winter beach escape for US travelers. That’s home to the nearest airport, about 40 minutes’ drive to the south.
Playa La Saladita surf spots
There’s actually only one proper break in Playa La Saladita but it’s so darn good that it really does warrant a whole guide. That said, the region here is blessed with a couple of other high-quality wave spots and surf towns, so there’s more to get through than just the single point.
La Saladita Point
There are rumors flying around that longboard pros out of Europe and the Aloha State are now heading to La Saladita Point to train. True or not, there can be no doubting the sheer quality of this cruiser. It breaks on the south end of Playa La Saladita, just off a rivermouth sandbank setup that’s created a sort of fishhook point.
Different seasons mean different swell directions and that can alter the character of the spot just a little, though it’s always a longboarder/midlength hotdogging wave at heart. Winter sees the less-powerful NW swells pump. They cut down the size and the consistency. It’s rarely anywhere near overhead then and it can be glassy by morning thanks to regular N and E winds that are offshore. This is the time to come if you want La Saladita at its easiest – and to make the most of the smattering of local surf schools.
When the summer kicks in and the temp cranks up, the swell turns to the SW and comes from big storms down below the Equator. It’s a factory for long-period groundswells that churn out punchier rides with a bit more of a pitch to the face of the wave. It’s a season for shorter boards, more turn action, and pro longboarders who can handle steeper faces and more demanding down the line stuff.
Troncones
The town of Troncones is, in our humble opinion, one of the most upcoming surf destinations in southwestern Mexico. It’s started to get a steady stream of wave hunters out of nearby Zihuatenejo, whom it can sate with a fantastic right point in Playa Manzanillo and a series of peaky beach breaks off the sandbars that form up along the main beach during the wet season. We LOVE the vibe – think Sayulita like 20 years ago.
We have a full guide to surfing in Troncones right here
The best hotels in Playa La Saladita
Hotels in Playa La Saladita might not be the sprawling resorts you get in other Mexican beach escapes, but they do have some alluring features up their sleeve. First, most are literally just a couple of steps from the beach (and therefore the waves). Second, they are authentic B&Bs and boutiques that have true style and a personal touch, at least for the most part. Here are a couple that we think stand out from the mix…
The Resort at Majahua Palms
The Resort at Majahua Palms is to the south of the main point break at Playa La Saladita. It’s a charming spot with leafy coast gardens and a swimming pool. Kinda perfect for all sorts of travelers, surfer or not.
Casa La Quinta Ola
You can rent the whole of three-bedroom Casa La Quinta Ola for a stay with family or friends on the beach south of Playa La Saladita. It’s a short drive to the main break and you get oodles of space. It can sleep 9 at once.
Step-by-step guide to planning your playa la saladita trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the playa la saladita…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Playa La Saladita?
The seasons have quite a big effect on the type of wave you find in La Saladita, though there’s almost ALWAYS a wave on offer. Let’s break it down a little more.
- Winter (November-March): This is the so-called low season for surf here, but all that means is that the swell tends to originate from the northwest. That means it’s a little less powerful on the point simply because of the angle of the point itself, and the waves won’t have such a punch to them, or quite the same size as they do in the summer months. It’s the perfect time for learner surfers in Playa La Saladita.
- Summer (April-October): The peak season for surfing can be roughly split into two parts. There’s the early summer, when groundswells power the left point break and the dominant winds are from the NE. That’s prime time, when you get head-high shoulders that are like glass to ride from the take-off all the way to the beach, hanging 10 the whole way. Later summer can bring more stormy conditions across the Pacific Ocean. That’s okay but means it’s a touch less clean on the wave face.
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!
