Best Surf Camps in Mexico – 8 Awesome Packages for 2025
Our team have scoured this land of peeling Pacific beach breaks and right points to find the very best surf camps in Mexico. It’s got surf-yoga retreats in Sayulita, intermediate improver camps in Puerto Escondido, and a whole load more.
Mexico has to be up there with the world’s best surf camp destinations.
There’s a whopping 4,500 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean here, and that means there are breaks big, small, barreling, soft, cruisy, slabby – you name it.
From the Baja in the north – long the province of cross-border surf adventures for rippers out of SoCal and the USA – to the still-undiscovered towns of Guerrero and Oaxaca in the south, there’s simply stacks and stacks to get through.
That said, a few key towns lead the way when it comes to surf camps in Mexico. They are:
- Sayulita – Probably the major learn-to-surf destination in Mexico. This one has very beginner-friendly breaks within walking distance of the center, but also lots in the surrounding region that’s good for intermediates.
- Puerto Escondido – The surf capital of Oaxaca. The place is actually famed for its MASSIVE beach barrels but winters bring small swells and surf camps here tend to venture to nearby waves that are more accessible, though we’d still say this is a better spot for intermediates.
- Cabo – The ultimate surf-holiday combo. Come here to surf fantastic breaks in the day and party at night. There’s something for all levels but we’d recommend the summer months when the waves at the entrance of the Sea of Cortez work best.
Now you have an idea of the lay of the land, let’s get to the specific surf camps.
The last 10 years has been kind to the land of tacos and tequila on this front. There’s now everything from super-lux yoga retreats that’ll have you feeling like a Insta fitness influencer when they’re done to more hardcore surf packages that focus on hitting Mexican barrels.
Let’s home in on the very best of the bunch, at least according to The Surf Atlas team…
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 is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Mexico
This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
Quick-click to our Mexican surf camp picks…
- Oasis Surf House [Puerto Escondido] – Virtually guaranteed improvement to green wave surfing – exactly what you want from a surf camp!
- WildMex Surf & Adventure [Sayulita] – Our second top pick in the country, though it’s SOOO close this is basically joint top!
- Sayulita Cruz [Sayulita] – A great choice for complete beginners
- Barbarenas [Puerto Escondido] – Lots of yoga, holistic ceremonies, and 100% vegan
- Cabo Surf Hotel [Cabo San Lucas] – Luxury accomodation right on the waves (and an on-site surf school)
- Troncones Point Hostel [Troncones] – Empty breaks and a location by one of Mexixo’s best and most unknown left point breaks
- Riptide Surf Hostel [Cabo] – A very flexible schedule and a chance to really explore the Baja
- ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel [Sayulita] – A bargain surf stay
Prefer a luxury surf hotel? We’ve got a guide to the best surf resorts in Mexico, too, don’t ya know!
Oasis Surf House
- Location: Puerto Escondido
- Highlights: Virtually guaranteed improvement to green wave surfing – exactly what you want from a surf camp!
There aren’t many surf schools in Mexico that put such an emphasis on technical development as the Oasis Surf House, which is why we’ve elevated this one to our top all-rounder for the coming year.
They run two-week packages that all but guarantee you’ll graduate from whitewash to green waves and do it the right way, too – that means nipping the bad habits in the bud and building solid foundations for your surfing going forwards.
We can see how they manage that…in-house instructor and course leader Roger Ramirez is one of the OG Mexican pros and has over 30 years of surf experience to his back.
Over a full fortnight, guests will go through 10 separate surf lessons of two hours each. Every single one has a limit of two learners to one instructor, and they’re all backed up by regular surf theory tutorials and out-of-water training lessons.
There’s also a fitness program that runs alongside the surfing to develop strength and flexibility in core areas. See how they can guarantee that improvement?
You’ll be staying in a very nice lodge just past the beginner-friendly breaks of Playa Manzanillo, though still within easy reach of the monstrous beach barrels of Zicatela. It’s got a pool, plenty of chillout areas, and it’s own on-site surf shop for stocking up on anything you might have forgotten to pack.
WildMex Surf & Adventure
- Location: Sayulita
- Highlights: Great vibes, lovely surf spots, fantastic local knowledge
WildMex Surf & Adventure are continually rated as one of the best surf camps in the country – which is saying something these days, since there’s a whole load of competition, especially down in thier hometown of Sayulita.
Thge backbone of the 7-day offering is five surf lessons that last around 2 hours a pop. They’ll either be in Sayulita itself (an awesome beginner playground) or Punta Mita, which has breaks that suit all levels and a very long swell season.
There are a few things that help it stand out. First, days five and six of the week are given over to something a little more explorative, when you head further afield to some of the more secret breaks in the Riviera Nayarit, so long as your skills warrant it (which they usually do by days 5 and 6!).
Second, there’s the variation in rooms on offer. On a budget? Choose the dorm beds and live the life of a hostel partier for a week without breaking the bank. Want private? No worries, you can fork out more and get a double room in a rather stunning hotel with a pool and jungled gardens.
Sayulita Cruz
- Location: Sayulita
- Highlights: A mix of lessons and surf trips
Sayulita Cruz is a local surf camp that embodies the laid-back, adventurous spirit of Sayulita.
They offer a range of surf packages to suit different budgets and skill levels. The entry-level options cover the essentials for those who want a taste of surfing in Sayulita, but we think the Ultimate Package is worth every penny of its $1,400 price tag.
It’s essentially the full experience of the Nayarit surf coast…
The week kicks off with an introductory surf lesson right in Sayulita, a perfect spot for getting comfortable on the board.
From there, guests embark on three epic surf trips to the surrounding Punta Mita headland (just to the south), which boasts world-class breaks for all levels, but particularly improvers.
A highlight of these excursions is La Lancha, a pristine white-sand beach with consistent waves ideal for progressing from beginner whitewater to green wave rides.
The vibe at Sayulita Cruz is laid-back and welcoming. Groups are intentionally kept small, making it easy to connect with fellow surfers and get plenty of one-on-one time with the experienced instructors.
Accommodation options cater to all budgets and preferences. Stay in affordable shared hostel-style dorms or upgrade to a private double room for a touch of luxury. Either way, you’ll enjoy a vibrant space with lush amenities like a rooftop pool overlooking the tropical coastline and a lively bar that serves up some of the best margaritas in town.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Barbarenas
- Location: Puerto Escondido
- Highlights: Lots of yoga, holistic ceremonies, and 100% vegan
The camps at Barbarenas aren’t for the frothing ripper who wants to hit wave after wave. They are for the surf-yoga travelers who like to take things slow, align those chakras, and enjoy the chilled vibes that the Pacific coast region has to offer.
They take place in a lovely cabana-style hotel on the cliffs of Puerto Escondido, all imbued with works by eminent Cuban artist-come-designer Yunior Marino, no less. They’re the picture of eco luxury, offering balconies overlooking the coast jungles and walking access to the surf breaks.
Okay, so with a balance of three yoga classes per day and just one surf lessons every two days, this one’s not really about pushing those pop-up skills to the limit.
What it does promise is plenty of relaxation, meditation, and hands-on practice of traditional Mesoamerican ceremonies, along with a good bout of wave action to help you get started or to improve your surfing.
The overarching vibe is healthy living and healthy eating. Vegan breakfasts and lunches are part of the deal, as is all that meditation and pranayama practice. You’ll also get to holiday with a group of likeminded pals who’s main aim is to take it easy and reconnect with thier inner selves.
Cabo Surf Hotel
- Location: Playa Acapulco, Baja
- Highlights: Luxury accomodation right on the waves (and an on-site surf school)
Super-highly-rated Cabo Surf Hotel is up there with our top hotel picks for surfers in the whole world, let alone just Mexico.
It sits smack dab on the edge of Playa Acapulquito, which has long, shouldering right handers that can barrel and section into rippable lips morning until night throughout the peak summer season. Yep, all that literally steps from the door to your suite.
The stay itself is corker. Rooms open onto breezy balconies that have 180-degree views of the Sea of Cortez and the point breaks working in the bay. There’s a gorgeous splash pool, multiple terraces for sunning yourself on in between sessions, a rejuvenating sea spa, and even a calendar of nightly entertainments.
The one thing to remember is that this stay is booking only, which means you don’t get surf lessons and guiding included. You just get the room. But that room will be a two-minute walk from one of the top all-level spots in the Baja.
Plus – and here’s the kicker – the hotel has partnered with the Mike Doyle Surf School, one of the leading offerings in Cabo, so you can join lessons and get board rental without even leaving the accomodation.
Troncones Point Hostel
- Location: Troncones
- Highlights: Empty breaks and a location by one of Mexixo’s best and most unknown right point breaks
Troncones is one of the most upcoming surf towns in the country. It’s still relatively undiscovered, which means you shouldn’t find the breaks here packed to bursting like they can be in Sayulita and Puerto Escondido.
On the downside, that means there aren’t all that many surf stays doing the business, apart from the Troncones Point Hostel, which is now established as the go-to in the region for surf vacays. At least in our opinion.
Join this 7-day package with them to get 11 surf sessions across seven different waves on the Guerrero coast. The guides know exactly what they’re doing, so you’ll surf the places that are working best in the prevailing swells and winds.
Plus, all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included.
The stay itself is charming and authentic, with rooms in daffodil-painted Mexican cabanas just meters from the beach and the break. There’s an onsite bar, great people, and you’re within walking distance of the main playa.
There’s not much more to ask.
The Riptide Surf Hostel Cabo
- Location: San José del Cabo, Baja
- Highlights: A very flexible schedule and a chance to really explore the Baja
The aim of this week-long surf holiday in northwestern Mexico is to help participants “live the Baja dream.”
They aim to do that by offering five fully tutored surf sessions on the best breaks of the peninsula, along with transport to various spots, pro instructors, and neat extras like a guided walk through the San Jose arts district.
What really stands out here is just how flexible the schedule is. If you’re not one for organized fun then they could offer just what you want. Keen to double up on surfing time? No worries. Want extra chill sessions back at the hostel? That’s fine. No one’s judging, everyone’s happy. It’s sorta’ the Cabo dream they promised.
ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel
- Location: Sayulita
- Highlights: It’s a bargain!
ITH Sayulita Amazing Hostel is a top-rated gem for surfers seeking an affordable yet fulfilling surf trip to Sayulita. It’s all about delivering the essentials without breaking the bank – perfect for budget-conscious travelers who want the full surf vibe without the hefty price tag.
For as little as $15 per night, you can snag a bed in one of their 10-person dorm rooms, putting you less than a 10-minute stroll from the nearest surf break. That means more time riding waves and less time commuting to the action.
The hostel also makes surf logistics a breeze. They have an on-site board rental service and partner with the legendary WildMex crew to offer pay-as-you-go surf lessons and packages.
And it’s not all basic. There’s a pool here. There’s a lovely outdoor area. And it’s social to the max, with evening BBQs a particular highlight.
Check prices and availability at ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel
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!
