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Bucketlist Bri

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Surfing in La Lancha, Nayarit: Ultimate Surf Guide

Last Updated: December 1, 2021 · Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

La Lancha is the perfect place to go surfing in Nayarit, Mexico. The state of Nayarit has nearly 200 miles of pristine coastline with sandy beaches and good waves ideal for surfing. Not to mention, the jungle and mountain backdrops make for a nice view while you surf!

As for La Lancha, it’s where both surfing pros and beginners go to ride the waves for hours on end under the Nayarit sun. Plus, according to all our local friends, La Lancha is the best place for beginner surfers (like me!).

Unlike some of Nayarit’s other surf spots, La Lancha is rarely crowded, but you can always expect to see other surfers here. The beach is generally family-friendly as well, with silky-soft sand and gentle-crashing waves.

After living in this part of Mexico for going on two years now, I can say with confidence that La Lancha is our favorite surfing destination in Nayarit.

RELATED: 50 Unforgettable Things to Do in Riviera Nayarit

Here’s everything you need to know about surfing in La Lancha!

Table of Contents show
La Lancha Surf Guide
Where Is Playa La Lancha & How to Get There?
Accessing the trail to Playa La Lancha
Beach Amenities
How to Rent a Surfboard for La Lancha
La Lancha Wave Report
Where to Get Food Near La Lancha

La Lancha Surf Guide

guy surfing waves in la lancha nayarit mexico

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Where Is Playa La Lancha & How to Get There?

La Lancha is the name of the beach which is located right outside Punta de Mita, a luxurious resort town on Nayarit’s southwestern tip.

How do you get there? To get to La Lancha from Puerto Vallarta it takes 45 minutes to drive. Take Highway 200 north and take the Punta de Mita exit.

  • PV to La Lancha: 45 minutes
  • From Sayulita: 25 minutes
  • Punta Mita: 10 minutes

Note: Driving is the fastest way to reach La Lancha. If you take the local bus, it might take longer. Look for the local green buses with the destination “Punta de Mita”. You can pop your head in and quickly ask the bus driver “La Lancha?” and they’ll either nod yes or say no and refer you to another bus or shuttle.

Accessing the trail to Playa La Lancha

There is no big sign on the highway pointing out La Lancha. But it’s pretty easy to find nonetheless. Just look for the WildMex surf shop and gas station right off the highway.

Park (it’s free) or hop off the bus and then carefully run across the highway directly in front of you. You’ll see the trailhead. Follow the walking path through the jungle (10-15 minute walk).

Beach Amenities

There are no amenities at La Lancha. So you must carry out everything you carry in, including your trash! The locals and surfers here do a great job of keeping La Lancha fairly clean. Let’s keep it that way! 🙂

On another note, there’s not much shade at La Lancha, except for some bushes at the back. The last time we went there were horrible black fuzzy worms that stung us and dropped from one tree. Some people bring a beach umbrella.

Theft normally isn’t a problem here, but just in case, be sure to secure any valuables in your bags and keep them in a visible location. Or leave them with a friend!

playa la lancha with people and umbrellas

How to Rent a Surfboard for La Lancha

If you’re just in town for vacation, it’s unlikely you’ll have your own surfboard to take with you to La Lancha. But no worries! You can rent one at the WildMex surf shop just in front of the trail. You can’t miss it. These guys rent out all types of boards for newbies or pros.

WildMex also has a board washing rack outside, a shower, and a spacious indoor shop with surf merch.

The handful of times we went surfing in La Lancha, we’ve either borrowed a board from a friend or rented a soft board at WildMex. The prices are decent and the boards are well-taken care of!

Tip: You can change into your surf gear inside the shop.

La Lancha Wave Report

From what I know from our experiences at La Lancha, and the advice from our friend who goes basically every day, there are two main places to surf:

  • Medium-bigger waves (main surf break) are front and center of the beach
  • Smaller waves for beginners is a little more off to the right

If you’re not sure where to put your board in, just watch what others are doing. There can be some wave hogs on a crowded day, but mostly everyone is super friendly.

You can also take surf lessons through WildMex or hire a local surfer. Every time we go we see trainers and their surf students.

Typical surf conditions in La Lancha

  • Mellow surf break
  • Good for both short and longboards
  • Light offshore wind
  • Low tide exposes rocks
  • Is warm but can get cold in winter
  • Check the current surf report

La Lancha is a gorgeous spot to surf in Nayarit and has the most consistent swells.

Where to Get Food Near La Lancha

Hungry? Remember, there are no facilities on La Lancha beach (no vendors, bathrooms, showers, etc). So make sure to pack a snack!

Otherwise, right next door to WildMex is the Makai seafood restaurant (Hours: 12-6 PM). We’ve eaten here once and it was super fresh and good! The prices are higher than local prices.

Next to WildMex is also a Pemex gas station where you have public restrooms and snacks/beverages.

Otherwise, if you have a car, use it to head toward the town of Sayulita. Along the way is the Kilometro 5 restaurant that is popular among locals and surfers. Everybody knows about it and loves it. They have awesome burgers and pizzas with a sweet outdoor and rooftop patio.

Have you ever been surfing in La Lancha in Nayarit, Mexico? Drop your questions below!

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By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

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Comments

  1. Rodrigo Ornelas Wildmex Team says

    June 2, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    Hola Bri!

    This is Rodrigo from Wildmex Adventures over at Sayulita and Punta Mita, Mexico. We read your blog about La Lancha Beach and it’s fantastic! We are sure it will help lots of people to enjoy this wonderful beach and fall in love with its beauty.

    At the same time, we would like to thank the Wildmex mention, our Surf and Adventure Company, which with effort has accomplished helping many people experience this incredible sport.

    As a token of appreciation for your keeping us in mind while writing your Blog, we would like to invite you to our location at La Lancha and offer you a Complimentary surfboard rental for one day so that you can continue surfing and enjoying this beautiful beach. Also, the next time you decide to visit us, don’t hesitate to use our facilities such as a bathroom, shower, dressing room, and more.

    Also, we noticed you are traveling on a van, if you are ever back here and needed, we would be happy to offer a spot behind our La Lancha shop, where we are building a Surf Camp, for you to park.

    On behalf of the entire Wildmex team, we appreciate your words.
    We hope to see you soon and share more waves together!

    Best wishes
    Wildmex Team

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 7, 2021 at 10:49 am

      Hola Rodrigo! Thank you so very much for your comment and for reaching out!! Happy to mention you guys and support local! We’d also love to take you up on our offer whenever we get back to Nayarit with our van in the future! I’ll be in touch! x

      Reply

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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