Surfing Cerritos & San Pedrito: Todos Santos Surf Guide

If you want to learn to surf near Todos Santos, book your Cerritos surf lessons at Playa Los Cerritos, about 15 minutes south of town near El Pescadero. It is the one beach on this stretch of the Pacific where a rocky point takes the edge off the swell, the bottom is sand and surf schools work right on the beach. The other famous names, San Pedrito and La Pastora, are for surfers who can already paddle out, sit in a lineup and get out of trouble on their own.

Todos Santos faces the open Pacific on the southern tip of Baja California Sur. That exposure is what brings the waves, and it is also why most beaches near town are not safe for swimming or for learning. Below is how a lesson at Cerritos works, which months suit which surfer, what changes when you move up to San Pedrito, and the safety habits that matter on this coast.

Cerritos surf lessons: what to expect

Cerritos is a long, wide beach with a rocky headland at its northern end. The point shelters that corner from part of the swell, so waves there are usually smaller and slower than anywhere else nearby, and they break over sand instead of rock. That is the combination you want for a first lesson: a fall means landing in water over a soft bottom, and you can stand in the whitewater a short walk from your towel.

How a lesson works

Most lessons follow the same pattern. You start on the sand with the basics: how to lie on the board, how to paddle, and the pop-up, the move from lying down to standing in one motion. Then you go into waist-deep water with the instructor, who picks the waves and gives you a push at the right moment so you can focus on standing up. A board and usually a rash guard come with the lesson. Expect to spend about an hour and a half to two hours in total, and to be tired at the end of it: paddling uses muscles most people do not train.

Group or private lesson?

A group lesson is the cheaper way to try surfing and works well for friends or families learning together. A private lesson gives you all of the instructor’s attention, which speeds things up if you have surfed a little before, or if you are nervous in the water. Children can usually join from the age at which they swim confidently; ask the school before you book. Whatever you choose, tell the instructor honestly how well you swim.

Two things improve a lesson more than any choice of school. Go early in the day, because on this coast the wind often rises in the afternoon and turns the waves choppy. And book more than one session if you can: almost everyone stands up at some point in the first lesson, but the second and third are where it starts to feel like surfing.

When to surf near Todos Santos

There are waves here all year, but the season changes which beaches work, how warm the water is and how crowded the lineups get.

Winter and spring (November to April)

From late autumn, storms in the North Pacific send long swells from the northwest down the Baja coast. This is the season for the points: San Pedrito and La Pastora come to life, and on big days they are serious waves. It is also high season for visitors, so Cerritos is busier, especially around Christmas and Easter. The water is at its coolest, and most surfers wear a full wetsuit. A bonus of winter: from about December to April humpback whales pass along this coast, and you may see them breaching from the lineup.

Summer and autumn (May to October)

In summer the swell swings around and arrives from the south, generated by storms in the Southern Hemisphere and, later in the season, by tropical systems off mainland Mexico. The water is warm enough for boardshorts or a short wetsuit, the town is quieter and Cerritos can get bigger and more powerful than in winter. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season peaks from August to October; a passing storm can bring dangerous surf for days, so follow the forecasts and the advice of local surfers.

San Pedrito and La Pastora: the next step

Once you can catch unbroken waves on your own, turn along the face and paddle back out through the whitewater without help, the breaks closer to Todos Santos start to make sense. Until then, they are places to watch from the sand.

San Pedrito

Playa San Pedrito lies between Todos Santos and El Pescadero, a beach backed by a palm grove. At its end is a right-hand point break over rocks that lines up best on winter northwest swells, and in front of the palms a beach break that dumps hard onto steep sand. Paddling out and getting back in means timing the sets and picking your way around rocks, and the currents are strong. It is a wave for intermediate and advanced surfers, not for a first week. If you are unsure, watch a few sets, see where the locals paddle out, and ask before you go in.

La Pastora

La Pastora, north of Todos Santos, is another right-hand point that needs a solid winter swell to work well. It is reached by a dirt track, there are no services, and you are far from help if something goes wrong. Go with someone who knows it, and never alone.

Surf safety on the Todos Santos coast

This is open ocean with no reef or island to protect it, and people drown on these beaches every year. A few habits keep a surf trip a good memory:

• Know what a rip current looks like. A darker, calmer channel between breaking waves, often carrying foam or sand out to sea. If one pulls you out, do not fight it: stay on your board or float, and paddle or swim parallel to the beach until you are out of it. The rip current entry explains why this works.
• Never let go of your board. A loose board in the whitewater is the most common cause of injuries to other surfers. Wear the leash, and keep the board beside you, not between you and an incoming wave.
• Respect the lineup. The surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave has priority. Do not paddle into a wave someone is already riding, and as a beginner stay on the inside, away from the main peak.
• Shuffle your feet when you walk in the shallows, to warn off stingrays resting in the sand, and watch for sea urchins on the rocks around the points.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a rash guard, a hat on the beach and a water-resistant sunscreen, and reapply it between sessions.
• Check the conditions every day. The same beach can be gentle on Monday and dangerous on Wednesday. Follow the flags, the lifeguards where there are any and the advice of the surf schools.

Planning a surf trip to Todos Santos

Where you sleep shapes a surf trip more than anything else. Staying at Cerritos means you can walk to the waves before breakfast; staying in El Pescadero puts you between Cerritos and San Pedrito; staying in Todos Santos gives you the restaurants and galleries but a short drive to the surf every morning. Our guide on where to stay in Todos Santos compares the four areas, and the list of things to do in Todos Santos covers the days when the ocean is flat or too big. You will need a car or a driver for the beaches: see how to get to Todos Santos, and compare surf lessons and other outings on our Todos Santos tours page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cerritos good for beginner surfers?

Yes. It is the best beach in the Todos Santos area to learn: the point softens the swell, the bottom is sand and surf schools rent boards and give lessons on the beach. On big days, stay in the whitewater close to shore or wait for a smaller day.

Can you surf San Pedrito as a beginner?

Not safely. San Pedrito is a point break over rocks with a heavy shore break and strong currents. Learn at Cerritos first and come back when you can paddle out and catch waves on your own.

Do I need a wetsuit to surf in Todos Santos?

In winter and spring most surfers wear a full wetsuit, because the Pacific off Baja is cooler than many visitors expect. From about July to October the water is warm enough for boardshorts or a short wetsuit. Lessons usually include a rash guard; ask about a wetsuit when you book.

What is the best time of year for surf lessons at Cerritos?

You can learn at Cerritos in any month, as long as you pick a calm day. Winter has cooler water and more people; late spring and early summer often bring smaller, friendlier days. Whatever the month, go in the morning, before the wind picks up.