Surf spots in Troncones
4 spots within 13 km of Troncones: 1 beach break, 1 reef break, 2 point breaks.
Live forecasts for every spot →
Best spots today in Troncones
- Intermediate: La Saladita (Good, 1.5 m, offshore around 07:00), Troncones Point (Good, 1.6 m, cross-offshore around 07:00), The Ranch (El Rancho) (Fair, 1.6 m, cross-onshore around 18:00)
- Advanced: Troncones Point (Epic, 1.6 m, cross-offshore around 07:00), The Ranch (El Rancho) (Epic, 1.6 m, cross-onshore around 18:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 12:50 UTC.
The spots
- La Saladita · point break, intermediate, best on SSW/SW/WSW swell with NNE/NE/ENE wind, all tides. A long left-hand reef and point break near Troncones that works much of the year on southwest swell. It is popular with longboarders and intermediate surfers.
- Troncones Point · point break, intermediate, best on SW swell with NE wind, all tides. A relaxed left-hand rock point near the small village of Troncones, with fewer surfers than most Mexican point breaks. It peaks on south-west groundswell.
- Playa Troncones · beach break, intermediate, best on SW/S/WSW/NW swell with NE/ENE/E wind, mid tide. Peaks over sand and scattered reef along the main beach in front of Troncones village, south of the point. It picks up both the winter north-west and summer south-west…
- The Ranch (El Rancho) · reef break, advanced, best on S/SW swell with NE/E wind, low to mid tide. Boat-access right reef point northwest of La Saladita; long, powerful walls on south swells and usually only a few people out.
When to surf in Troncones
Good days per month for intermediate surfers; tap a month for where else to surf then.
Best months for intermediate surfers: April to November. For beginners: July to August, October to November. The water goes from about 28 °C in March (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 31 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest).
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | 1 | 6 | 28 °C |
| Feb | 10 | 1 | 8 | 28 °C |
| Mar | 17 | 6 | 12 | 28 °C |
| Apr | 25 | 8 | 11 | 28 °C |
| May | 27 | 7 | 5 | 30 °C |
| Jun | 26 | 12 | 5 | 31 °C |
| Jul | 25 | 16 | 14 | 31 °C |
| Aug | 26 | 15 | 14 | 31 °C |
| Sep | 28 | 18 | 13 | 31 °C |
| Oct | 24 | 14 | 17 | 30 °C |
| Nov | 22 | 7 | 19 | 30 °C |
| Dec | 10 | 2 | 11 | 29 °C |
Days per month at the best third of the 4 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Lessons and boards in Troncones
One or two surf schools, few places to rent a board. Lessons are mostly arranged through hotels, guesthouses and the town's surf shop rather than big schools; beginners usually start on the gentle beach-break days or at nearby La Saladita, and winter (smaller swell) is the easier learning season, while summer south swells can get big at the point.
Prices change; check with the school. Sources: Troncones – Wikivoyage, Surfing in Zihuatanejo – The Surf Atlas.
Staying in Troncones
- Car
- Helpful: The village is spread along one beach road; most things are walkable and colectivos run between Troncones, Majahua and the highway, but a car makes it far easier to reach La Saladita, groceries (the nearest proper supermarket is about 40 minutes away) and Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo.
- Remote work
- Poor: Wifi comes through hotels and rentals and works most of the time, but internet and power drop when storms pass through and there is no coworking; not a dependable base for call-heavy work.
- Travelling solo
- Small, quiet and friendly, with most places closing by about 8 pm; Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to Guerrero except Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo reached by air, which leaves the drive to Troncones outside that exception, and notes harassment and assaults against women at Mexican beach resorts.
- Vibe
- Laid-back, no-frills village of beach houses, small hotels, yoga retreats and taquerias along a long sandy beach, with longboard-friendly waves and a mostly North American winter crowd.
- Where to stay
- Stay along the main beach road in Troncones for walk-to-surf access near the point, or in quieter Majahua to the north; options are mostly guesthouses, bungalows and villa rentals rather than hotels.
- Getting there
- Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo airport (ZIH) is about 40–60 minutes by road; an airport taxi costs about USD 30, or take a northbound combi from Zihuatanejo to the Troncones turn-off and a colectivo in. Bring pesos, as the local ATM often runs dry.
- Budget
- $$ (mid-range)
- Busy and quiet months
- Peak season runs about December–February, with the dry season from roughly October to May; May–September has the biggest south swells and fewer visitors, with rain and humidity from about June, and May can be smoky from inland burning.
From travel guides, government travel advice and nomad sites (Troncones – Wikivoyage, Troncones travel guide – Bon Traveler, Mexico travel advice – Government of Canada, Surfing in Zihuatanejo – The Surf Atlas). Check current conditions before you travel.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Troncones?
The best-known are La Saladita, Troncones Point, The Ranch (El Rancho), Playa Troncones. In all, 4 spots lie within 13 km: 1 beach break, 1 reef break, 2 point breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Troncones?
Troncones is mostly for intermediate and advanced surfers: reefs, points or powerful beach breaks. Beginners should take a lesson and stay on the smallest days.
When is the best time to surf in Troncones?
For intermediate surfers April to November. For beginners July to August, October to November.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Troncones?
The sea goes from about 28 °C in March (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 31 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest).
Do I need a car to surf in Troncones?
Not for every spot, but it helps. The village is spread along one beach road; most things are walkable and colectivos run between Troncones, Majahua and the highway, but a car makes it far easier to reach La Saladita, groceries (the nearest proper supermarket is about 40 minutes away) and Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo.
Can I work remotely from Troncones?
Wifi comes through hotels and rentals and works most of the time, but internet and power drop when storms pass through and there is no coworking; not a dependable base for call-heavy work.
Are there surf schools and board rental in Troncones?
One or two surf schools, few places to rent a board.