The Ultimate Guide to Playa La Saladita
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.
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.
(2024 update: Some people say La Saladita is going the way of Santa Teresa but we don’t agree. Yea, there’s more here than there was 5 years ago but chill is still the MO and there’s still room on the waves, esp if you ditch the mezcal and get in early).
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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 Playa La Saladita surf?
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 – a lot – 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. It 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. More on how to get in below…
How to get to Playa la Saladita?
Playa la Saladita is pretty easy to access because of its proximity to the dual resorts of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. They host the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport some 45 minutes’ drive to the south, and that has a growing array of flights, including links to major hubs like Dallas, Phoenix, and LA, plus domestic links from Mexico City.
Try using Kiwi to search flights – they have a unique algo that links together all airlines to get the best deal, not just the ones that use codeshares. It can turn up some great bargains.
Your route from the airport to the beach depends on how you like to travel.
The fastest – and most expensive way to go – is in a private taxi transfer. They take 45 minutes right to the door of your hotel. If you’ve got boards always clear that with the driver beforehand. Rates are set for journeys within Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo limits but haven’t been agreed upon for trips to La Saladita just yet. Expect to pay betweeen $30-60.
There are buses too. First, take the airport bus into Zihuatanejo and then change to a local buses going towards Los Llanos de Temalhuacán – that’s the gateway to La Saladita beach.
You can rent a car, but not many people do. Driving in this part of Mexico still doesn’t have the best rep and rates can be pricy for hires in a way they just aren’t in more developed resorts like Cabo. If you do drive, read plenty about safety, never travel at night, and use RentalCars.com for your bookings just because they tend to be generous with cancellation times.
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, who 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. And it’s closer to the airport. And it has surf camps.
Where to stay? Quinta Feliz Troncones is the bee’s knees here. Infinity pool right next to the surf – enough said! For planned surf trips, Troncones Point Hostel can’t be beaten.
We have a full guide to surfing in Troncones right here
Zihuatanejo
If you don’t mind you surf breaks kinda busy but LOVE the buzz of proper city life, the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa resort sprawl is the place to be.
There are a handful of pretty fantastic breaks within the town limits, starting with the long left walls of the Barra de Potosi and ending with the mushy beach peaks of Playa Linda.
It’s a hoot to surf here. Largely hotdogging stuff but with some great days in the summer swell season, you’ll also get great hotels, loads of nightlife, and fantastic places to eat. It’s not chilled like La Saladita itself mind.
Read our complete guide to surfing in Zihuatanejo
Where to stay in Playa La Saladita
Hotels in Playa La Saladita are not be the sprawling resorts you get in other Mexican beach escapes. Actually, that’s why we loved them so much.
They 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…
Casa Akaw
A small, self-contained cabin with wooden walls and sunny deck spaces set in the palm jungles just behind the main point break, this bolthole is heaven.
It’s super quiet, has a lovely chillout area and pool for between surf times, and really sums up the get-away-from-it-all La Saladita vibe. Perfection for surfing couples.
Casa Las Palmas Playa La Saladita
Casa Las Palmas Playa La Saladita comprises of a few super-quiet cabanas set in lush tropical gardens.
They’re super affordable and the welcome is just lovely. There’s also a nice pool and you can walk from here to paddle out/check the surf. A fine option for budget seekers.
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.
There might not be loads of surf stays here just yet but Mexico as a whole has some bangers. Check our guide to the best surf resorts in Mexico if you’re interested in seeing what we think is the cream of the crop.
Surf camps in Playa La Saladita
Given how undeveloped Playa La Saladita still is it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that there aren’t any surf camps operating on the beach itself.
We kinda’ like that, becuase it keeps the shoreline looking pretty and the vibes really low key for the people who do come to stay in the small cabanas and cabins there.
It also doesn’t mean that a surf camp is a no-go here. The proximity of the upcoming surf town of Troncones means there are a few fantastic options if you’re keen to book onto a fully-packaged surf itinerary.
They’ll mainly surf breaks in and around Troncones itself (which are fantastic) but usually work in a few trips up to Playa La Saladita to surf the epic left there.
To be honest, we think the below rec is a great way to sample what surfing in Guerrero is all about – empty waves, warm water, peeling logger shoulders galore.
- Troncones Point Hostel (7-day uncrowded surf camp) – This super chill hostel/surf camp sits right on Troncones Point/Manzanillo Point, another fantastic regional left that’s got a bit more guts and power that logger-friendly Saladita. They promise a real adventure in the surrounding area, including 11 surf sessions across 7 different breaks, and you can bet your dollar that Playa La Saldita is included in that. There’s even a boat trip out to three other unknown waves!
We have more options for surf camping in Mex in our full guide to the top surf camps in the country.
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.
One thing we would add is DON’T forget surf sunblock here. It can get pretty scorching on the midday sessions. Our rec is Surftribe (our readers can get 10% off with them using code Surfatlas10) but you can use anything – just make sure it’s non-nano Zinc and not damaging to the ocean.
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!
