Best surf spots in Mexico for beginners
The beaches in Mexico where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in Mexico →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playa Linda Ixtapa · Guerrero | ~232 (42 good) | March to April, July to November | 27–31 °C |
| 2 | Stone Island (Isla de la Piedra) Mazatlán · Sinaloa | ~220 (16 good) | April to May, July to October | 23–32 °C |
| 3 | El Borrego San Blas · Nayarit | ~202 (56 good) | May to October | 25–32 °C |
| 4 | San Agustinillo San Agustinillo · Oaxaca | ~200 (24 good) | October to November | 28–31 °C |
| 5 | Old Man's (Acapulquito) San Jose del Cabo · Baja California Sur | ~194 (17 good) | April to October | 22–31 °C |
| 6 | Rosarito Beach Rosarito · Baja California | ~167 (38 good) | October to February | 15–21 °C |
| 7 | El Anclote Sayulita · Nayarit | ~166 (72 good) | June to September | 25–32 °C |
| 8 | Las Islitas San Blas · Nayarit | ~123 (23 good) | June, August to September | 25–32 °C |
| 9 | San Pancho Sayulita · Nayarit | ~118 (10 good) | June to September | 24–32 °C |
| 10 | Los Cerritos Todos Santos · Baja California Sur | ~109 (42 good) | January to February | 21–30 °C |
| 11 | Sayulita Sayulita · Nayarit | ~92 (14 good) | June to September | 24–32 °C |
| 12 | Punta Morena Cozumel · Quintana Roo | ~27 (1 good) | November to January | 27–30 °C |
| 13 | Playa Delfines Cancun · Quintana Roo | ~20 | October to November | 27–30 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across Mexico's beginner spots, the best months are July to November. November has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 18 a month at the best spots), May the fewest (about 10). Water: 23–29 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in Mexico?
On our numbers, Playa Linda (Ixtapa, about 232 beginner days a year), Stone Island (Isla de la Piedra) (Mazatlan, about 220 beginner days a year), El Borrego (San Blas, about 202 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in Mexico?
July to November: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in May.
Is Mexico good for beginner surfers?
13 of the 72 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 18 surfable days in November and 10 in May. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in Mexico · best time to surf in Mexico.