The Cove Location: Punta de Mita Point, southern most bay Quality: Guides say it’s the best break around. Access: Ponga from Punta de Mita, or 40 minute rocky walk. Tide: High, gets shallow on low tide Notes: Tourists competing for the ride of their trip. Go early. More: Exposed and not protected from wind, gets junky.
El Anclote Location: In front of condos Type: Longboard, right Quality: Good beginner break. Mellow pitch, slow, and long. Tide: Most, inside gets shallow. Be sure to find best path out. More: Usually 2-4 ft, right
La Lancha 1.5 miles south of El Anclote Type: Longboard, most rights, few lefts Quality: Good longboard wave Access: Ponga or 40 minute beach walk from Punta de Mita, Tide: Best on incoming tide, then outgoing tide. Shallow on low tide More: Goes when everything else is flat. Watch out for Coral heads, especially near the take off.
Punta Burros Location: 10 minutes south of El Anclote at Palladium Vallarta Resort Type: Longboard, shortboard Quality: Great, favorite break in the area Access: Stay at resort or park outside the resort gate on the left, near the taxis. Find path along the fence line to the left. Tide: High is best, but works on most anything Note: Can get busy on weekends with locals and resorters More: Left is steeper and throws a bit. Right is longer with a mellower pitch. Because Burros has easy access, ponga drivers push The Cove and La Lanca. But don’t let them steer you away, don’t miss this wave.
Sayulita Location: 20 minute north of El Anclote type: Longboard, shortboard. Mostly rights Quality: Decent wave that goes without much swell. Tide: works on most any tide Notes: Crowded with locals and tourists More: Has become crowded and very busy.
Los Veneros: Also known as Dinosaurs, this is a classic reef break with a long right It is a great short board wave, but long boarders enjoy it too. The wave is very much like Malibu Point, only more hollow.
Swimming Pools: Just north of Los Veneros is another point (you can see it break from the line up at Los Veneros) This is a fast hollow right that pitches big time Long boarders will like Los Veneros much better. The easiest way to get to the break is to simply paddle over to it. Note that the reef is razor sharp and there are urchins, as well so wear hard sole booties and try not to hit the reef.
The Beach Break: About 200 yards to the left from Los Veneros (looking at the ocean) is an excellent beach break with an outstanding wide open left that is perfect for getting barreled. It breaks over a sand bottom and has all the juice you need to do some hard core tube riding. Starting $675/week /1 bedroom condo Airport pickup, be surfing the same day! 818 879 7955ask for Trish info@mexicosurfresorts.com
Punta Burros break
Punta Mita point sunset
La Lancha beach
Other Breaks La Caleta: A short panga ride from the village of Chacala puts you onto the perfect left point known as La Caleta. This is a deep water peak that unwinds down a perfect left point. Long rides on steep and perfect walls follow a stimulating drop and bottom turn on the peak. This is another break that is frequented by Costa Azul Adventure Resort and when they show up, it is an instant crowd. Santa Cruz: further north is the village of Santa Cruz and the break with the same name. Santa Cruz is actually two separate left points in one. It is a beautiful point with the jungle as a backdrop and an excellent wave. You can park right on the beach and paddle out. Be careful here though, as the reef is razor sharp and there have been known shark attacks in the line-up. Aticama: A perfect left point just north of Santa Cruz and you can see it right from the road as you head towards San Blas. Exercise caution here though, as the point used to be a cannery and the area is frequented by sharks. Pay attention! Matenchen Bay: Reputed to be the longest rideable wave in the world, Matenchen Bay offers an excellent long right point over a cobblestone and sand bottom. It takes a focused swell to get it to break, but when it does, it is legendary. Rides of over a mile are possible on the right swell and don't mistake a long ride to mean a crappy wave. This wave pitches and peels all the way. Beware the mosquito population, which is a major problem if you are in the water after sunset. Stoners: The outer point of Matenchen Bay breaks more frequently and offers a wonderful right point with hollow sections. This is a high quality wave worth the wait. Lolas: An excellent left point north of San Blas. One can negotiate for a panga to take you to the point and you will find a long and sometimes hollow left that you will always remember as epic. No crowds, remote jungle, regional class surf and barrels. What more could anyone ever want?
And so it goes. These are just some of the more recognized breaks and with a good swell and a little luck, who knows what else there is to find in Nayarit?
