Surfing in Puerto Vallarta

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Surfing

The main surfing areas are in the north, in Nayarit State, including (from south to north) Destiladeras, Sayulita, and nearly a dozen breaks off Punta de Mita, where offshore breaks for intermediate and advanced surfers are best accessed by boat. The best spots for beginners are shore breaks like those at El Anclote and Sayulita; in the south, Barra de Navidad is also appropriate for beginners.

Logistics

Seasons

Waves are largest and most consistent between June and December; the water is also warmest during the rainy season (late June-October), averaging nearly 80° July through September.

Prices

Surfboard rentals start at $5 an hour or $25 a day. Surfing trips run around $40 per hour, usually with a three- or four-hour minimum. Shops sell rash guards (no need for a full wet suit here), boogie boards, wax, and other necessities. For good info and links check out www.surf-mexico.com.

Outfitters

On the beach at Sayulita is Captain Pablo (Calle Las Gaviotas at beach, Sayulita. 329/291-2070 early morning and evenings only. pandpsouthworth@hotmail.com), where you can rent equipment or take surfing lessons with Patricia: $25 should get you to your feet (board included). Surf tours, gear included, cost $160 for four hours (up to four surfers). You can take lessons from Oscar's Rental (El Anclote beach, Punta de Mita. 329/291-6284), which has a stand right on the beach. The cost is a bit steep: $80 for two hours of instruction. Surfboard rentals go for $8 an hour, $30 a day, or $150 per week. Oscar's also runs surfing trips for up to eight people that last an average of three hours. If you're not up to surfing, try a boogie board, which rents for $20 a day.

Although there's not much surf at its beach, San Pancho Surf Shop (Av. Tercer Mundo 37, San Francisco. 311/258-4215) sells and rents boards (surfboard rentals go for $7 an hour, $28 a day) and other surfing equipment. Lessons ($30 per hour) are generally taught at Sayulita, 10 minutes south of town, where the shore break is gentle. The shop sells organic coffee as well as a small selection of bikinis, flip-flops, and board shorts. On the beach at Sayulita, Sininen (Calle Delfín 4-S, Sayulita. 329/291-3186) rents and sells surfboards and surf paraphernalia. In Barra look for South Swell Surf Shop (Hotel La Alondra, Suite 2, Calle Sinaloa 16, Barra de Navidad. 315/354-5497 cell) for all your ripping requirements.