Category: Surf

I have frequented the Southern part of the Baja several times since I moved to the West Coast 7 years ago always for the same reasons: beautiful empty beaches, delicious farm to table organic food, legendary mezcal and tequila selection , and most importantly; two major swell directions within an hour drive from each other including one allowing you to surf in a bikini (I love you wetsuit, but not really).

Last August I brought Jim for his very first time down to San José Del Cabo and dug up my “Baja’s most loved” list guarantying a good adventure. If you have any spots that were not listed to recommend, please share in the comment section bellow.

Clearly ready for an adventure here

Getting There: Fly into SJD Los Cabo Mexico International Airport, Daily International flights in and out, modern and easy to navigate airport. You can usually find flights with surfboard friendly Alaska Airlines for around $350 from Vancouver round trip.

Getting Around: Fox Car Rental are helpful and will rent you a gas friendly vehicle that will carry surfboard and navigate through the East Cape like a charm. *Trick Tip*: Don’t ever mention to the car rental place you are planning on driving to the East Cape, not only they get jealous that you are heading to magical beaches, they also don’t like reckless gringos driving on that road, but you’re not a reckless gringo, and you will be just fine, right? Just plan on giving the rental car a good hose down prior to return to erase any dust and evidence. DO BUY INSURANCE, GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT INSURANCE WILL LEND YOU IN JAIL, MEXICAN JAIL.

This little beauty held through the typically bad roads of the East Cape

Expect to make friends with several donkeys, they love bananas

 

Spot to rest your head: San José Del Cabo is a lovely town that is directly next to the roads leading to the surf on the East Cape, right on the highway to drive to the West coast towards Todo Santos and La Paz for day trips and minutes away from the airport, and most importantly away from very busy Cabo San Lucas. Found through airbnb : DRIFT San José is the dreamiest accommodation option, private basic rooms with shared kitchen and public spaces, including the perfect after surf salt water pool. The super friendly staff, especially Angel and Clara the hotel dog, know everything about the Baja and love sharing it with people staying for a couple days. The convenience of the location, the staff and the general ambiance makes Drift a place I am planing on recommending over and over again.

Green kitchen at Drift

Being able to watch the sunrise from the rooftop at Drift was amazing…and cozy

EAT

Best place to get breakfast: Café de Lolita. Two blocks away from Drift in San José’s art district, big shaded yard, Inexpensive and delicious breakfast options, amazing coffee. Open from 8-4 Tuesday to Sunday. *Trick Tip*: Try the Lolita coffee: you will never drink anything else

Best place for lunch: 7 Seas Seafood Grille at Cabo Surf Hotel. On a big patio overlooking Acapulquito beach known as “Old Man’s” and home of the Los Cabo Open of Surf every June, the restaurant has tasty ceviche and will serve you a couple cold Modello Negros in between sets. If you are a beginner surfer or love having a good time on a longboard I suggest surfing the break in the little cove in front of the hotel: expect long rides and very little crowd. *Trick Tip: Let the guard at the entrance of the hotel know that you are coming for lunch and they will  let you park in the safe gated area.

From fish tacos to soft top mellow rides a couple feet away

Best place for dinner: La Lupita Taco & Mezcal. Located right behind Drift. The best tacos ever consumed in my existence. They have 20+ tacos on the menu which can be overwhelming, ask your server to surprise you with a selection of his favorites, it’s the ebst way to get the good stuff. Great place to sit at the bar and learn more about mezca. Make sure to go on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening where they have live bands playing.

SURF

Surf Shop/Rental/ Where to find friends, or a rashguard: Costa Azul Surf Shop. Convenient location, friendly staff, they offer lessons and multiple-day surfboard rentals with the option of trading board sizes and shapes throughout your stay, ideal if you are planning on surfing different breaks around the Baja. The staff will let you know where to go depending on the current forecast and your surfing abilities. They are awesome.

San José Del Cabo: Old Man’s, Zippers, The Rock, and Estuary, All paddling distance away from each other, they are the only spots you can surf at in San José, Old Man’s is rocky and known as the no gringos zones, the locals are very protective of that spot, but we simply need to remember that we are visitors to in their home turf, both Old Man’s and Zippers right next to it have more challenging waves, Estuary at the east end of the beach is longboarders paradise with lots of long and mellow waves. The Rock, right in front of the big cliff is the ideal spot for a sunset surf, just sit behind the big rocks and wait for the one. All spots are accessible right off the highway, you can park underneath the overpass and paddle from one spot to the other very easily.

Local spots in SJD have tons of viewpoints overlooking the surf

East Cape: Most of the EC is a different world, expect very bad roads, but general knowledge of how not to get stuck in snow skills translated into driving in sand can’t overcome. Those who decide to make the drive can expect beautiful isolated beaches with great surfing from March through August. The main surf spots are about 40 minutes away from San José, you might want to consider camping on the beach if waves are pumping. 9 palms, La Fortuna, Shipwreck are the three breaks, all located minutes away from each other.

The first wave you will come across is shipwreck, a beautiful right hander wave, there is a left in the middle of the beach too, you know you are at the right spot when you see the Virgin Mary library on the side of the road, watch out for deep sand spots when pulling over, yes, your rental car will get stuck.

(You will see these dudes hanging out around shipwreck/la Fortuna lots)

Fortuna is the next break a couple minutes down the road, I haven’t personally spent much time there but from what I gathered, the locals say it’s a fast right-handed wave.

(Pack accordingly they said..)

About 15 minutes down the road from shipwreck is 9 Palms: a favourite on the Sea of Cortez. Long lefts, mellow enough to be able to get several turns in and if the swell is hitting the right way you can expect barrels mid waves. *Trick Tip*: Pack up for a full day out with lots of gas and ice in a cooler, there is nothing close to any of these spots.

Expect miles of empty beach at 9 Palms

Do you see it? The break behind, not the donut in Jim’s hand

A little bit of R&R at 9 Palms because it’s so quiet

Todo Santos (Cerritos) : Cerritos is a super long beach about an hour and fifteen away from SJD, it’s on the Pacific Ocean which means that unless you are going at the end of the summer, expect cold water and wetsuits. Cerritos is a lot busier than adventuring anywhere out on the East Cape but when the surf isn’t happening on the Sea of Cortez you can usually expect the swell to pick up in the Pacific. Cerritos has a very consistent, mellow right hander good for everyone to have fun on. Expect locals only when big swells pick up. *Trick Tip*: Make sure to drive up the cliff to Haciendas Cerritos, the big orange castle overlooking the break and order a margarita from Gregorio at the pool bar, he makes a mean one, and the view is breathtaking.

A good view of what Cerritos has to offer.

Hacienda Cerritos not only have killer margaritas and hospitality, they also have the must beautiful views.

TO DO

Fishing: The Blue Marlin Sport Fishing. Sea fishing is the ultimate down day activity if you are travelling with a group. Yes, the 4am wakeup call is rough, but your freshly caught fish tacos post adventure is going to be delicious at the end of the day. Pack lots of water and snacks, 6 hours on a boat is a long time to go without any ammo.

Pretty views early in the am looking at the Arco in Cabo San Lucas

We caught a Blue Marlin that ended in our fish tacos, it was unreal

Scuba Diving: Cabo Pulmo National Park. Quiet secluded marine park on the Sea of Cortez strictly dedicated to snorkelling/scuba diving, kayaking and fishing with living coral reef and millions of tropical fish. About a 40 miles drive out of San José Del Cabo on the East Cape road which is mainly unpaved but absolutely stunning. Bring your own gear or rent from one of the two small scuba diving shops in the village of Cabo Pulmo.

Small hikes will take you to secluded snorkelling areas

Making friends on the way to snorkelling 😉

Bottom line, the Southern Baja has so much to offer, be safe and enjoy the surf.

Don’t forget to follow my blog.

Fred

@frederiquejoncas