How far is Cerritos Beach from Cabo San Lucas?

About 45 minutes to an hour by car, heading north on Highway 19 toward Todos Santos. The road is paved to a short dirt access track at the beach.

Is Cerritos good for beginner surfers?

Yes. It is a sandy beach break with several surf schools on the sand, and the smaller days, especially in summer, are well suited to first-timers. Take a lesson and stay in the white water until you are comfortable.

How much does a surf lesson cost at Cerritos?

West Side Baja Surf School publishes USD 70 for a private one-hour lesson or USD 60 per person for groups of four or more, with gear included. Board rentals at CRT Surf School start at MXN 400 per day.

Can you swim at Cerritos Beach?

Often, yes, especially at the calmer north end near the rocks. It is still the Pacific, so check the flags, swim near the lifeguards and ask locals about currents before going in.

Surfing Cerritos Beach: Lessons and Rentals

Surfing at Cerritos Beach

Playa Los Cerritos, in El Pescadero just south of Todos Santos, is the Pacific beach where most people in southern Baja learn to surf. It is a sandy beach break with a rocky headland at its north end, several surf schools set up right on the sand, and a relaxed beach-club scene. From Villa 1 it makes an easy half-day or full-day trip up Highway 19.

What to know

Getting there from Médano Beach

Cerritos is roughly 45 minutes to an hour north of Cabo San Lucas by car. From the villa, drive through town to the junction with Federal Highway 19 and follow it up the Pacific side toward Todos Santos. The turnoff is around kilometer 64 to 65, just before El Pescadero; the highway is paved the whole way, and only the last short stretch to the sand is dirt, which a normal rental car handles if you avoid the soft patches.

Parking is easy on weekdays but fills up on holidays and winter weekends. There is a paid lot behind Cerritos Beach Club (about USD 5 for the day). Cell coverage is patchy, so download a map before you leave. Our getting around guide covers car rental and drivers, and you can combine the surf session with lunch and a wander in town on a Todos Santos day trip.

Surf schools and board rentals

Several schools work directly on the beach and teach in English and Spanish. West Side Baja Surf School publishes one-hour lessons at USD 70 for a private session or USD 60 per person for groups of four or more: about 15 minutes of technique on the sand, then 45 minutes in the water, with board, rash guard or wetsuit and wax included and use of the board for the rest of the day.

CRT Surf School lists daily rentals of MXN 400 for a soft-top or regular board and MXN 200 for a boogie board, with wetsuits at USD 10 and discounts for longer rentals. Get Stoked Surf School also teaches private and group lessons on the beach; message it on WhatsApp for current rates. Bring cash: many vendors, restrooms and parking lots at Cerritos do not take cards.

West Side Baja Surf School: +52 612 199 4359
CRT Surf School: +52 612 147 9243
Get Stoked Surf School (WhatsApp): +52 624 235 2368

Best season and time of day

Cerritos gets surf all year. From roughly October through April, northwest swells bring the most consistent, well-shaped waves, with January to March usually the best stretch. Summer south swells can also be good near the headland, but the summer and early autumn days with smaller surf are often the easiest for complete beginners. Water temperatures run from the mid-70s to low 80s °F depending on the season, so most people surf in a rash guard or a thin wetsuit top.

Go early. The morning is typically glassier and less crowded, and the afternoon wind tends to make the waves choppy. Eastern Pacific hurricane season (mid-May to November) can send large, powerful swells; check the forecast and our hurricane season guide before you drive up.

Safety in the water

Cerritos is one of the few Pacific beaches in the area where swimming is often reasonable, but it is still open ocean. The north end, sheltered by the rocks, is the calmer side; the south end has stronger currents. Lifeguards and warning flags have been added as the town has grown, but they do not cover the whole beach, so swim near them and ask a surf instructor where the rips are running that day.

Beginners should take at least one lesson before renting a board, stay in the white water inside the main peak, and keep clear of the rocky headland. Wear reef-safe sunscreen, drink plenty of water and bring shade or rent an umbrella from a beach club.

What to bring

Pack cash in pesos, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a towel, lots of drinking water and a change of clothes. Beach clubs and restaurants on the sand serve food and drinks and let customers use their restrooms, sometimes for a small fee. If you are not driving yourself, the villa's 24/7 concierge can help arrange a private driver for the day.