Leaving for Puerto Vallarta in two weeks and wondering if anyone knows some good surf breaks, or someone local that would like to share a couple of sessions on their local turf. I heard that Sayulita, north of Puerto Vallarta has waves, but that you are just as likely to get hit by an 8 ft soft top as you are to get some decent waves. I have surfed Puerto Escondido and the breaks further south, and could trade knowledge of those breaks for some info on Puerto Vallarta. Thanks. Valentin
You’re going to Pta. Mita zone. Are you staying in Vallarta or is that still open? Sayulita, facing north, is a good base camp area, wave is lame but fun enouph for being right out front if that’s where you are, the right is lame and over crowded forget it, the left is OK and the beach at the left is way more open and fun, park and pay at El Cameron camping park one steet north of the stinky river or at the upscale RV park one property north of El Cameron, Cameron is more fun, upscale is more clean. Pta Mita mostly only gets south swell, you’re a little early but could get it, the hotels own the whole place now but day trips are fine, too bad about the longish walk to the breaks from outside the hotel grounds parking, daytime locals, gringo and Mex, are totally friendly so just get in close to the surf and all the other surfers will lead you in to the good spots. North side Pta Mita has great surf I hear but access is touph, I don’t know details. The hiway from Vallarta to Sayulita is thick with cops making money off the turi, stay in speed limit and on own side off road, bus from Vallarta to Sayulita is just fine 1 hour, 2$, pick it up at the regional, northerly stop in front of WalMart, north edge of city, check bus shut down time if you need to get back, bus makes its final rest stop right in front of El Cameron Park. If you’re in the region for awhile, you could trek south one whole long day drive but you’ll need to be there awhile for that trek to be worth it. Take booties mandatory, I like thin wetsuit, red sex wax, not blue, expect heat, bugs not bad this season unless you’re sleeping on the ground, Target repellent works fine, you could need a thin smear of it now and then on legs, no bug spray avail in Mex?, Sandals mandatory 24 hours. ATM’s work for cash but not in Sayulita, no gas there either, American Express Checks have 2 offices in Vallarta, airport and central, nice. There are monster department stores in Vallarta with familiar stuff but takes too much time to roller skate around in those places. I had a really great trip to that area last year, great fun and warm.
Thank you for the response, killer. We are staying near pta mita the first four days and then doing it up in one of those ridiculous hotels in Nuevo Vallarta. So stoked for warm water. I’ll make sure to bring booties.
Nuevo Vallarta is probably only a good sleeping spot, dedicated tourist, mucho concrete, far outskirts of town, but it will still be ok because you’ll get the transportation thing figured out fast.
i was there last year.
just an interesting bit of info , ,
a few of the locals at sayulita are instructors at the local surf schools AND nationally ranked kickboxers one guys the state champ for his weight. they can be a little posessive of their wave (the right) sooo,
take it for what its worth.
Pravda, The hotel, big $ interests kicked out the historical fishermen local landowners all over Pta. Mita in the usual ruthless manner so be very kind to local folks, you’ll hear the story. The Grampa doing the yard and the Mom doing the rooms might have been living paradise in a grass shack right in front of that beautiful surf break you’re trying to get to only a few years ago. Step lightly, be sweet, the warm zone will embrace you, I loved it. Sayulita will be the meeting place for more low key hanging around, but it is heavily tourist gringoized, beware the pushy, big shot gringo.