Surf Lessons at Cerritos

Cerritos Beach gives you a full Pacific coast day, not just an hour in the water. You ride west from Cabo along the Transpeninsular Highway, watching the mountains and ocean slide past, then spend time learning to surf with a small coach-to-student ratio. Foam boards and wetsuits are included, and guides such as Alan, Allan, Marco, Louis, and Mike are praised for patient, upbeat instruction.

I especially like the chance to learn at your own pace and the fact that parents or friends can join without surfing. They get transport, chairs, shade, water, snacks, and a good beach view. The Mexican lunch is another practical touch, with fish tacos, shrimp, chips, guacamole, and vegetarian choices. The main drawback is the long day and changing sea conditions. Waves, wind, rain, and jellyfish can force a location change or cancellation.

Key points to know before you book

• Cerritos is the winter surf location: From November 15 to March 15, lessons move here because Costa Azul has no suitable waves during that season.
• Small groups mean real coaching: One guide is assigned for every three people, with a maximum group size of 15.
• Your first wave is the goal: No prior experience is needed, and instruction can range from basic pop-up help to coaching for stronger surfers.
• Observers are welcome: Book a non-surfer companion place to use the shaded camp, chairs, water, and snacks while you watch.
• Lunch is part of the day: You stop at a Mexican restaurant for tacos, sides, sauces, guacamole, and a vegetarian meal option.
• Transport takes planning: Hotel pickup is offered in the main tourist areas, but some outlying resorts require you to meet at Plaza Gali.

A Pacific coast outing, not just a surf class

At $70 per person, this is a fairly useful package if you need transport and equipment. You are not paying only for time on a board. The price includes an instructor, foam board, rash guard or wetsuit, hotel or port transport, and lunch. That saves you from renting a car, finding Cerritos on your own, and arranging food after a tiring session.

The day lasts about six and a half hours including transport, commonly described as roughly seven hours overall. The scheduled start is 9:00 a.m., but hotel pickup can begin about an hour to an hour and a half earlier. That matters if you have a late morning plan, a spa appointment, or a cruise departure. This is a proper half-day outing with a scenic drive, not a quick activity squeezed between breakfast and lunch.

I like the way the trip combines a lesson with time outside Cabo San Lucas. Along the Transpeninsular Highway, you see the Pacific Ocean and the mountains. The drive provides a sense of the Baja setting that you miss if you stay around the marina. Bring a phone or camera for the road views, but keep valuables limited because there are no lockers at the beach.

Meeting at Plaza Gali or arranging hotel pickup

The main meeting point is Plaza Gali, at the parking lot OXXO on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 36, in central Cabo San Lucas. If you drive yourself, meet in front of the OXXO, across from the Sandos Finisterra hotel.

Cruise ship passengers have a more detailed walk. From the tender pier, pass through the pier security gate and turn right onto the red sidewalk beside the harbor. Walk about 20 yards to the Cruise Terminal building marked API in blue. Go through the building to the parking lot, then find the OXXO at the exit. Your guide waits there.

Complimentary round-trip transport covers hotels in San José del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. Give the operator your hotel when booking, then confirm the exact pickup time one day before the lesson. Resorts outside the main tourist zone, including Hard Rock, Nobu, and Four Seasons, are not included in hotel pickup. From those properties, you use the Plaza Gali meeting point instead.

The van has air conditioning, according to the experience details and direct accounts of the outing. Pickup is optional, and the price does not drop if you make your own way to Plaza Gali. For most people staying in the covered zones, the included transport is worth using. It removes a long drive from the day and lets you focus on the beach.

The drive along the Transpeninsular Highway

The first listed stop is the highway itself, which sounds odd until you understand the trip. The road is the link between Cabo’s resort center and the Pacific coast, and the views are part of the outing. You can expect wide mountain and ocean scenery rather than a guided sightseeing stop with a long walk.

This section also gives the guide time to explain the area and talk about surf spots. Louis, for example, is specifically praised for sharing information about local places to surf. Guides such as Mike and Marco also add useful conversation during the ride. Marco even showed one beginner Costa Azul on the return trip and offered extra advice about future sessions there.

The drawback is simple: driving takes up part of your six-and-a-half-hour day. If you only want a short lesson, this is not the right format. If you want a beach day beyond Cabo, the transport feels like part of the value.

Surfing at Playa Los Cerritos

Cerritos is the heart of the experience. The beach is described as broad and beautiful, with sand that can sparkle in the sun. The Pacific setting feels more open and less built-up than the marina area. You have room for a lesson, time on the sand, and a shaded base for anyone sitting out.

You do not need previous surf experience. The instruction is designed to get a beginner into the basic position, teach paddling and timing, and help you catch a wave. Stronger surfers can ask for coaching instead of starting with the very basics. The aim is not to rush everyone through the same script.

The small ratio is important. One coach for every three people gives the instructor time to watch your position, help choose waves, and adjust the lesson to your ability. In one particularly strong example, Marco worked one-on-one with a first-time surfer, first helping with positioning and wave choice, then reducing the spoken prompts as confidence improved. That progression is what you want from a first lesson: support at the beginning, then enough space to try on your own.

Families can benefit from the same approach. The minimum age is six, and the operator asks you to identify children when booking. When children participate, an extra guide may be assigned for supervision. A family group of four may receive several instructors, with coaching adjusted from smaller to larger waves as each person improves.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. Surfing involves paddling, getting up from a lying position, repeated attempts, and moving through the water. You do not need to be an athlete, and the experience is not restricted to strong swimmers, but you should be comfortable taking part in a physical beach activity.

Foam boards, wetsuits, and what to bring

The standard equipment is a foam surfboard. That is a sensible choice for beginners because it is designed with safety in mind and is easier to manage during early attempts. If you specifically want a fiberglass board, request one when booking. Do not assume it will be available at the beach without advance notice.

A rash guard or wetsuit is provided, but you need to give your size ahead of time. This small step helps avoid a poor fit on the day. Bring swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a change of clothes. Those items are not listed as included, so plan to supply them yourself.

There are no locker facilities at the beach. You can leave personal belongings safely in the transportation, but do not bring expensive items you do not need. Keep your phone and wallet together, and ask the guide about the best time to retrieve anything from the vehicle.

One piece of feedback points to surfboards that could use an upgrade. The instruction received strong praise, but equipment quality can vary by personal preference. If board performance matters greatly to you, ask in advance about available fiberglass boards and the condition of the equipment.

Lunch at a Mexican restaurant

Lunch helps turn the lesson into a full day. The meal includes Mexican dishes such as fish tacos, shrimp, chips, sauces, guacamole, and flavored water. Vegetarian food is available, including salads, quesadillas, beans, and rice.

The meal is included but optional. You do not receive a lower price if you skip it, so most people will find it sensible to join. After time in the water, a proper meal is more useful than trying to find a snack on your own.

Alcohol is not included. Personal expenses also remain your responsibility. Keep that in mind if you plan to buy extra drinks or other items at the restaurant.

A good setup for non-surfers

This outing works unusually well for mixed groups. A parent, partner, or friend does not have to sit in a hotel while you take a lesson. Instead, that person can book an observer or non-surfer companion spot.

The observer fee includes round-trip transport, a shaded camp with umbrellas and chairs, bottled water, and snacks. The observer can watch the lesson and enjoy Cerritos Beach without getting into the water. That makes this a practical choice for families with different interests or for someone recovering from an injury who still wants to join the day.

The observer place is not free, so it needs to be booked in advance as a non-surfer or companion spot. Do not simply arrive with an extra person and expect space in the vehicle or at the camp.

Guides who shape the day

The quality of the lesson depends heavily on the coach, and the strongest part of this experience is the human touch. Alan and Allan are praised for patience, encouragement, and a good sense of fun. Louis is noted for being attentive with children and for explaining local surf areas. Mike handles the day from pickup through lunch and return while also sharing his own surfing experience.

Marco is especially good for a first lesson that needs careful progression. He helped a complete beginner stand up, adjusted wave choice as confidence grew, and gave extra pointers at Costa Azul afterward. That kind of personal attention is not guaranteed on every departure, but the one-guide-for-three ratio gives you a reasonable chance of direct coaching.

English is the listed operating language. When you book, mention the ages and experience levels of everyone in your group. A six-year-old beginner, a nervous adult, and an experienced surfer need different instruction, and the operator can plan the coach mix more effectively with that information.

Weather, seasons, and changing beach conditions

The surf location changes by season. From March 15 through November 15, lessons are offered at Costa Azul. From November 15 through March 15, they move to Cerritos because Costa Azul does not have suitable waves in winter.

Conditions can still change. Rain, wind, high swell, tropical storms, and jellyfish may lead to a different location, a new date, or a cancellation. If the operator cancels because conditions are unsafe, you are offered a new date or a full refund. Safety comes before forcing a lesson into poor water conditions.

This is worth considering if your schedule is tight. A weather decision can affect your plans, so avoid booking the lesson immediately before an important flight or cruise departure. The tour can work well for a cruise passenger only if the timing leaves a generous buffer after returning to Cabo.

The cancellation information supplied with the experience gives a 24-hour cutoff for a full refund and says changes inside 24 hours are not accepted. Another tour note refers to 48 hours, so confirm the current cutoff when you book. No-shows and late cancellations are charged in full under the stated terms.

Who will get the most from this $70 outing

I would choose this for a first-time surfer, a family with children six and older, or anyone staying in Cabo who wants a full beach day without arranging a car. The included gear, lunch, transport, and close coaching make the price easier to justify than a bare lesson with separate rental and food costs.

It also suits a mixed group. Surfers receive instruction while non-surfers use the shaded camp and enjoy the beach. That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing over a short private lesson.

I would think twice if you want a high-end board, a short activity, or complete control over your schedule. Foam boards are standard, the drive takes time, and sea conditions can change the plan. Experienced surfers may prefer to arrange a board and surf session independently, though coaching is available for stronger riders who want help.

Should you book Surf Lessons at Cerritos?

Book it if you want a friendly, organized introduction to Pacific surfing and value having transport, equipment, lunch, and a guide handled in one price. Tell the operator about children, board preferences, food needs, and your hotel before the day arrives.

Skip it if you only have a few free hours, dislike group timing, or need guaranteed surf conditions. For everyone else, especially first-timers and families, the combination of patient instruction, a beautiful beach, and an easy day beyond Cabo makes this a strong choice at $70.

FAQ

Where does the surf lesson take place?

From November 15 to March 15, lessons take place at Cerritos Beach. From March 15 to November 15, the surf location is Costa Azul.

What time does the activity start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m. Hotel pickup can begin about one hour to one and a half hours before the activity, depending on your accommodation.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip transport is offered for hotels in San José del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. Hotels outside the tourist area, including Hard Rock, Nobu, and Four Seasons, use the Plaza Gali meeting point instead.

Where do cruise ship passengers meet the guide?

Cruise ship passengers meet in front of the OXXO at the exit of the Plaza Gali parking lot. The exact address is Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 36, Centro, Cabo San Lucas.

Is previous surfing experience required?

No. The class is designed for beginners and can also provide coaching for more experienced surfers.

What equipment is included?

A surfboard and a rash guard or wetsuit are included. Foam boards are used for safety. Request a fiberglass board in advance if you prefer one.

Can non-surfers join the outing?

Yes. Book an observer or non-surfer companion spot. It includes transport, shaded umbrellas and chairs, bottled water, and snacks.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Mexican food such as fish tacos, shrimp, chips, sauces, guacamole, and flavored water. Vegetarian choices include salads, quesadillas, beans, and rice.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The operator may change the location, reschedule, or cancel because of rain, wind, high swell, tropical storms, or jellyfish. If the operator cancels, you are offered another date or a full refund.