Surfing in Troncones is pretty fantastic. Chilled lineups meet unbusy waves on a beachfront that’s uber-consistent and well-suited to intermediates. Add to that fine, bowly points to the north and one of Mexico’s premier logger waves and you start to see why we’re dreaming of a return.
An introduction to surfing in Troncones
Troncones is now one of the top surf destinations in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It lies north of Zihuatanejo on a long, well-exposed run of shoreline that picks up swell virtually the whole year round. A 2.5-mile playa caps of the ever-growing run of surf camps and cantinas that now dress the coast. It’s packed with clusters of submerged boulders that help to gather up sandbanks after summer hurricanes, creating wedgy shoulders for the multitude of intermediates that flock to these parts.
But the joys of surfing in Troncones are actually still being discovered. Couple the aforementioned consistency and easy-access middle-skill beach breaks with a gnarly point to rival the Ments (though, fickle) and a cruisy point break for goofy loggers and you start to see how there’s serious potential in these parts.
We also should mention the fantastic array of local guesthouses and surf camps. These aren’t your usual mix of big resort hotels a la Zihua. They are characterful spots with charming rooms steps from the shore, all set under the undulating hills and forests of unexplored Guerrero.
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
Surfing in Troncones at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Troncones surf?
Where is Troncones?
Troncones is a pint-sized town that’s about 30 minutes north of Zihuatanejo, the premier resort town on the coast of the Mexican state of Guerrero. More generally, the town lies in southwestern Mexico, facing due west straight over the Pacific Oceano. The nearest airport is the Aeropuerto Internacional de Zihuatanejo, which is about 40 minutes’ transfer to the south.
Troncones surf spots
The breaks of Troncones stretch up the beach right in front of town, go north to La Saladita and then south to the resort of Zihuatanejo. Here’s a look at the whole lot…
La Saladita
Watch this space – we think La Saladita has the cojones to become one of the finest logger lefts in Mexico. Mellow winter swells cruise into the headland here and send reverse-Noosa lines peeling into the water. It’s not for nothing that more and more cruisers are arriving every year. Plus, it’s chilled and easy-going and hardly has a crowd to speak of. Yet.
Check out our full guide to Playa La Saladita
Troncones Point (Manzanillo Bay)
At its best, Troncones Point can offer big, pitching right shoulders that peel like something out of the Ments. Sadly, the spot is both one of the highest quality in the Troncones region and one of the most fickle. You need the strong SW swells of summer to really get it kicking here. Anything under 5 foot and it is but a trickle. Over 8 foot is when it really starts to shine and the permanent reef setup and good wind shelter from the E means it can hold pretty much anything towards triple overhead. It’s a true advanced wave with lots of scope of big, scooping bottom turns into a really bowly face. The final section is straighter and a bit more down the line, finishing as you spit into the channel for a relatively easy paddle back to the point.
Playa Troncones (Troncones Beach)
The 2.5 miles of Playa Troncones is what’s helped this small town raise up the rankings to become one of the most consistent in southern Mexico. There’s almost ALWAYS a wave here, thanks to action in the NW channel come winter and the SW channel come summer, though the latter are always heavier and hollower. Peaks form and reform up and down the whole bay, but you’ll need to watch out for big seasonal changes as it’s largely sandbank waves that are created by different sections of underlying rocks. Mid-tide pushes are the best with little wind, since they put extra water over the stones and keep things a bit beefier. At low tide, the rocks can even poke above the surface so it’s best avoided.
Zihuatanejo
The combo of Zihuatanejo and Itaxpa town to the south of Troncones offers up a series of other Mexican beach breaks and points. They’re decent, though not quite as good as Troncones in our opinion. What they are is a whole load more accessible, with an airport and big resort town right on the doorstep.
Check out our full guide to surfing in Zihuatanejo right now
Where to stay when surfing in Troncones?
We’ve already mentioned how we think the hotels in Troncones are downright lovely. They just tick all the boxes for us. They don’t tend to be massive resorts with a bazillion rooms and fat expats at the bar. What they are is chilled, boutique, comfy, and – most of all – right next to Troncones Playa for sunset surfs straight outta’ your door.
Quinta Feliz Troncones
Check the empty waves on Troncones Beach from the comfort of your own infinity pool. That’s what fantastic Quinta Feliz Troncones can offer. The rooms are a touch Mykonos, a touch Mexicana. It’s super comfy. It’s the stay we’d look to first on a surf trip in this town.
Tres Mujeres Hotel
For a taste of that proper Mexicana pizzazz, pick Tres Mujeres Hotel. The wood-built cabana rooms here open to offer 180-degree views of the main beach and its breaks. They have sunset balconies to die for and outdoor bathrooms that let you shower while listening to the tropical birds and breaking waves.
Troncones Point Hostel
On a budget? Book this. The Troncones Point Hostel is like $17 a night for a dorm bed but offers a stay at the north end of the main playa, literally steps off the point break at Manzanillo. The vibe is usually great fun, with other shoestring surfers meeting and hanging in the chill-out spaces.
Step-by-step guide to planning your surfing in Troncones trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the surfing in Troncones…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 five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Troncones?
For experts, the best time to surf in Troncones is the summer. The months from May to September see the biggest swells orginating deep in the Southern Hemisphere. They’ll wrap into the point of Manzanillo Bay to offer up the biggest overheads and then some of the season. It’s altogether more powerful at that time, and a touch busier in the lineup.
For beginners, the winter season is the best time to surf in Troncones. That sees the swell offering switch to NW with lighter winds. Waves tend to be chest-to-head high most days. The expert waves of Manzanillo Bay will shut off but the cruisy points of La Saladita might just be at their very best.
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!
