An enchanting paradise where the desert meets the sea, Los Cabos is an iconic holiday destination lying at the southernmost tip of Baja California, Mexico. Affectionately known as ‘Cabo’, the region is a dual destination with two distinct towns San Jose and San Lucas del Cabo, sitting at either end of a 30-odd kilometre corridor hugging the coastline of the Sea of Cortes.
San Jose del Cabo is a quaint and cute Mexican town with cobblestone streets, Spanish-inspired architecture and boutique shops. Cabo San Lucas on the other hand, sits on ‘land’s edge’ with the recognisable arch dividing the Sea of Cortes from the Pacific Ocean and is the epicentre for play and party.
Woman carrying a surfboard on the beach, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico. Photo: Getty Images.
Blessed with endless sunshine, warm sparkling azure waters and plentiful marine life, there is a myriad of activities on offer for Cabo holiday goers – from relaxing and sipping tequila-inspired cocktails on the water’s edge to swimming with whale sharks. One of the differentiating characteristics of Cabo however, is its consistent variety of waves, rolling ashore like little perfectly wrapped presents from the Pacific Ocean. Órale!
Naturally, such perfect conditions have generated a prominent local surfing community and culture. Moreover, Cabo’s idyllic waves coupled with some of the greatest coastal scenery attracts surfers from across the globe to ride their little slice of heaven. The destination hosts major surfing events and competitions, such as recently held Los Cabos Open of Surf, and draws thousands of people to the region to both compete and spectate. But surfing in Cabo isn’t just for professionals or the experienced - there is miles of coastline for surfers of all skill levels. Local Cabo resident and surfer Luis Palacios, gives us an insider’s recommendations to surfing in Iconic Cabo.
Los Arcos in Cabo San Lucas. Photo: Getty Images.
When to Go
With 350 days of sunshine and air temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C, Cabo is a year-round destination. The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes both offer good surf breaks all year round, however from March to November is when you’ll find the best waves. The sea temperature hovers between a tepid 23°C to 28°C throughout the year, so you can leave your wetsuit at home!
Hot surfing spots for experienced surfers
Located off the main paved road of San Jose del Cabo, you’ll find Zippers and La Roca beach. Zippers beach is world famous and is the site of numerous surf competitions including Los Cabos Open of Surf. With easy access and great right hand breaks, it’s easy to see why both breaks are a favourite among locals and visitors. Strictly for the experienced, Monuments is a powerful point break with a decent size when all else is flat. And finally, north of legendary Todos Santos, lies La Pastora, an un-crowded point break with consistent left and right breaks.
Surfing spots for beginners
Acapulquito, also known as Old Man’s Beach, is one of the best beginner surfing beaches in Cabo and is located on the Costa Azul (Sea of Cortes). On the Pacific side south of Los Santos, you have Los Cerritos and Pescadero breaks. Los Cerritos is right point break, while Pescadero, a highly consistent reef break. If you’re new to the sport or wish to take lessons and really hone your surfing skills, there’s plenty of great surf school options in Cabo.
Final tips
Analyse the swell direction and look for the best breaking points and alternatives for that particular swell direction. In the whole Los Cabos region from Todos Santos to Los Cabos and East Cape, you’ll find points that break better depending on the swell direction. What’s truly amazing about surfing in Los Cabos is that you can surf two completely different oceans in one day – the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes. There’s nowhere on the planet quite like it.
