Surf’s Up in Los Cabos
It’s May, which for surfers marks the start of the summer swell season in Los Cabos.
Deep-sea fishing and world-class golf have always attracted their share of enthusiasts to Cabo, but surfers, a dedicated bunch who will go anywhere to catch a wave, have been exploring the beaches in and around Los Cabos for decades.
There’s a reason they return. The U.S. state of California is one of the most famous surfing spots in the world. The Baja California peninsula is simply an extension of California, with Los Cabos at its southernmost tip. Balmy weather, friendly vibes, and fun onshore activities round out the destination’s appeal.
Expert surfers are expert meteorologists who watch surf reports and know exactly when and where the surf is best. Advanced wave riders tend to frequent remote beaches along the East Cape and the Pacific Ocean.
But beginners are not overlooked in Los Cabos. The region boasts a handful of surf spots that offer ideal conditions for those new to the sport, allowing novices to gain confidence in a safe, welcoming environment. With its warm, clear waters and gentle swells, coupled with reputable surf schools, Cabo provides an enjoyable setting for newcomers to develop their skills.
If you’re new to the sport and want to experience the indescribable thrill of catching a wave and riding it to shore, here are couple of good places to get started.
Acapulquito Beach. Situated on the outskirts of San Jose del Cabo, Acapulquito Beach is arguably the best place to learn to surf in Los Cabos. Located on the far south side of Costa Azul, the swells here are sheltered and tend to form mellow waves.
Beginners can arrange for lessons at the Mike Doyle Surf School inside the Cabo Surf Hotel. Anybody from 8 to 80 years old is encouraged to try, though it helps if students are swim proficient and have some fitness stamina. The school guarantees students will stand up and surf, otherwise additional lessons are scheduled free of charge.
Doyle, who passed away in 2019, was a world-class surfing legend and a great ambassador for Cabo water sports. His motto: "The best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun.” Doyle’s legacy is perpetuated by the school’s instructors, each a consummate teacher of the art of surfing. Just bring a swimsuit and suntan lotion.
Each lesson includes board rental and a rash guard along with instructions on the beach and in the water. Private, semi-private and group lessons are available, as are private and group clinics.
The school’s surf shop has a large selection of SURFTECH board rentals as well as soft boards for practicing after the lesson. Umbrellas, beach chairs and towels are available. There’s also a restaurant-bar on the premises overlooking the surf. Advance reservations are recommended. https://mikedoylesurfschool.com/
Cerritos Beach. Situated 45 minutes north of Pueblo Bonito Resorts and Quivira Los Cabos on the road to Todos Santos, Cerritos Beach, known locally as Playa Los Cerritos, is one of the premier surf spots in Baja Mexico. This quaint, off the grid beach, located near the sleepy farming community of El Pescadero, is a veritable surf oasis. Hard-core surfers can be competitive about their “turf,” but Cerritos retains its friendly demeanor and welcomes beginner surfers. Plus, with three distinct areas to surf, Cerritos Beach has a break for every level surfer.
With its placid waves at the north end of the beach below a scenic headland, Cerritos is the only safe swimming and surfing beach on the Pacific for miles around. Much like the beaches in southern California, the sand at Cerritos is finer, darker and firmer underfoot than the beaches in Los Cabos. The crescent-shaped beach, nearly three miles long, is ideal for a carefree stroll or a fitness walk. There’s always a nice cool breeze off the sea, too.
For beginner lessons, check out CRT Surf School in El Pescadero. According to the school’s website, many of the bilingual instructors on staff are certified lifeguards in the U.S. “By hiring them to learn this beautiful sport, you can be completely calm and relaxed…and (capture) that feeling of riding a wave for the first time.”
Surf lessons for beginners include surfboard, rash guard, shade and a beach chair. Instructors first teach the theory of how to get into the ocean and stand. After practicing on the beach, instructors help novices improve their technique in the water, enabling them to choose and ride their first whitewater wave.
In addition to top-notch instructors, CRT offers a full range of surfboards to suit all skill levels, including foam boards, longboards, short boards, etc. Boards are available for rent on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. https://crtsurfschool.com/
As the Beach Boys sang of the “coastline craze” in the 1960s, “Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.” Los Cabos and its environs is the perfect place to learn how to surf, a pastime described by Hawaiian royalty as the “sport of kings”.