Punta Mita

Surf Guide

The Punta Mita area is littered with fun waves, and most of them are right-hand pointbreaks. The trick is access. Budget surfers will either have to drive up from Puerto Vallarta -- which can be annoying due to traffic -- or they will have to stay in the town of Punta de Mita. The problem is the best waves -- like La Lancha -- are not anywhere near Mita. For surfers with a bit more money to spend, there is a plethora of resorts and condo complexes farther east, which is were La Lancha and others are. Nevertheless, if you have a rental car or hire a taxi and you know where to stop, there are trails down to the breaks. And if all of this isn't already confusing and frustrating enough, often trails are fenced off by landowners or patrolled by guards, who will probably let you pass on through but have a tendency to look the other direction when thieves have their way with your stuff on the beach. Anyway. La Lancha, as well as all the other breaks in the Punta Mita area are actually wintertime spots, despite the fact that they face southwest. This is because Cabo Corrientes blocks all significant South swell and most South-West swell, while Punta Mita is just small enough to wrap in moderate to large winter North-West swells. In a land of summertime and left-handers, Punta Mita is a welcomed anomaly for traveling American surfers looking to escape the frigid waters of their homebreaks. So expect crowds... and lots and lots of longboarders, as La Lancha and most other nearby breaks are consistently mellow, although really quite perfect and fun on the best swells. Like most towns on Mainland Mexico's Pacific coast, Punta de Mita is a relaxing and authentic spot to kick back for a short time -- the beer is cold and the tequila fresh and the seafood is some of the best in the world. Best of all, you're guaranteed some tropical waves in the fun range, which is certainly better than forcing your way through freezing, waist-high beachbreak.