Cerritos Beach is one of the premier surf spots in Baja Mexico. Known locally as Playa Los Cerritos, this quaint and off the grid beach has boomed into a surf oasis with an ever growing population of surfers. The good news, the vibe in the line-up is retaining its friendly and welcoming demeanor. This kindness in the line-up while surfing at Cerritos Beach makes for a fun time as well as a welcoming spot to beginner surfers.
The warm waters of Cerritos Beach, the sand bottom, and consistent waves makes Playa los Cerritos a perfect surf spot. With three distinct areas to surf, Cerritos Beach has a break for every level of surfer. Pack a long board or short board, or rent one once at the beach, for there is an area to surf every style at Playa los Cerritos. Almost everyday, there will be ridable waves and friendly faces. So, if you are looking to surf in while in Baja, come to Cerritos Beach to catch waves for yourself.
Read on to learn about where to surf at Cerritos Beach, wave size, where to get surf lessons, and answers to other frequently asked questions about surfing Cerritos Beach.
A motion blur photograph of a surfer catching a wave at Cerritos Beach. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Where can I surf in Cerritos Beach?
Playa los Cerritos has three distinct waves for surfing; the point, the inside, and beach break. If you are new, or learning, to surfing, the inside is the perfect spot for you. If you are searching to ride big waves, or favor long board surfing, the right off of the point will be your favorite spot. For short boarders and experienced surfers, the left at the beach break barrels consistently.
The inside is the area closest to the big yell hotel on the hill. The inside is for beginners.
The point is the area beyond the inside break where larger waves break for a long right hand ride. The point is for long boards and those seeking to ride big waves, I’ve seen and ridden double overhead waves off the point.
The beach break is located in the the middle Cerritos beach and has both a left and right barrel, the left is better. The beach break is for experienced surfers and short boarders alike.
One of the local pros, Luca, surfing a double overhead wave at Cerritos Beach. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
How big do the waves get at Cerritos Beach?
Wave size at Cerritos Beach changes on the daily and with the seasons, but you can expect waist high waves almost daily. With that said, the biggest waves at Cerritos Beach comes around Christmas time and can be as large as triple overhead. On the flip side, the smallest waves at Cerritos Beach come in late November and are at most waist high.
What is the upcoming surf forecast for Cerritos Beach?
You can check the upcoming surf forecast at Cerritos Beach BY CLICKING HERE
Where to get surf lessons in Cerritos Beach?
If you want to learn how to surf at Cerritos Beach, I suggest going to CRT and ask for Juan or Carlos. They are great surf instructors, offer fair prices, and have been around the longest. Additionally, if you tell them “DALTON sent me” they will most likely give you a discount on lessons or board rentals.
Two surfers enjoy barrels during a sunrise surf session at Cerritos Beach. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Are there nearby surfboard rentals at Cerritos Beach?
There are several surfboard rentals in the area that will do hourly, daily, and weekly rentals. Most of the places are located directly on the beach, but you can find a few a short walk from the main entrance of Cerritos. The main places to rent surfboards are:
CRT
Mario Surf School
West Side
Costa Azul
All of the board rental places also offer surf lessons.
Are there a lot of surfers at Cerritos Beach?
Cerritos Beach is growing in popularity, so there are several surfers in the line-up at every break. However, in comparison to surf breaks in the United States, there are not very many surfers. Additionally, if the waves are big, you can often surf alone as most surfers in the area are beginners. There are a few local professional surfers who are kind in the line up, but also catch a lot of the waves.
Do I need a wetsuit to surf Cerritos Beach?
To surf at Cerritos Beach, you do not need a wetsuit. The water is warm, roughly 70 degrees. This temperature does not warrant a wetsuit, however you will see several surfers wearing a 1mm suit, a spring suit, or just a thermal top. The people wearing the suits are most likely going to be locals who surf here often and have become accustomed to the warm water, but use a wetsuit to remain in the water to surf for several hours.
How to get to Cerritos Beach from Los Cabos Airport (SJD)?
If you are staying at one of the many AirBnB’s or VRBO’s in Cerritos Beach, getting there from the Cabo airport will take about an hour and half if you take the toll road. However, since Cerritos Beach has fewer amenities than Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, many visitors stop to grocery shop along the way, making the trip about a 2.5 hour journey.
Drive time Los Cabo airport to Cerritos Beach via toll road, without stops, is about an hour and 30 minutes
Drive time Los Cabo airport to Cerritos Beach via toll road, with stops, is about two hours and 30 minutes
One of the many perfect barrels you can find at Cerritos Beach. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
What Surfing is like at Cerritos Beach in Baja
In 2001, my parents, a local friend, my brother, and myself (at 8 years old) piled into a red rental car stacked with surfboards and headed to Cerritos Beach to surf. The toll road from San Jose del Cabo was not completed yet, so the commute across the peninsula was long. But, once we turned off Highway 1 and began bouncing down the dirt road to Cerritos Beach the excitement couldn’t be contained.
Peaking out the cracks between the window and the passenger’s shoulder, I looked for waves. I was astonished to see how big the waves were. I was just a beginner surfer and these waves seemed huge.
Arriving at the sandy beach, we parked just before the soft sand started. In 2001, the only building in the area was the big yellow one on the cliff. Jumping out of the car, we started to take off the boards and head to beach. My mom put sunscreen on me and Richar, our local friend, took me out to the point.
“Keep an eye out for the rocks,” Richar said as he pushed me into a wave.
At the time, there wasn’t a single person in the water. There weren’t any building, restaurants, bathrooms, condos, anything. At the time, Cerritos Beach was an oasis where people would come and hope to score waves. People would sleep on the beach in tents for weeks at a time and live without care. Now, that is a little bit different, but the waves haven’t changed.
Fast forward 20 years to today.
The wave is the same, but the crowds are different. As the influx of condos and restaurants boom, the line-up now consists of ex-pats who try to maintain the rules of the WSL meanwhile the locals surf circles around the old men who grumble. There are areas where beginner surfers go to ride the white water and stand on their first wave and receive surf lessons. A young group of surfers have also grown up and developed here, becoming the best surfers in the area. Yet, when the waves get big, almost nobody paddles out, even-though the point will break with faces ranging from 10-20 foot.
Regardless if you have surfed here in the past, or are new to the area, there are enough waves for everyone of every style.
Today, the key is to get out in the water and carry good vibes. Share waves and help each other out. Keep an eye on each other as you surf and respect the waves.
Surfer enjoying the sunset colors Cerritos Beach has to offer. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Now that you have learned about where to surf at Cerritos Beach, the wave size, where to get surf lessons, and answers to your frequently asked questions about surfing Cerritos Beach, it is time for you to hit the beach and catch some waves. Please, leave a comment below with any additional information you have around surfing Cerritos Beach to help others out!
