This secluded surf break in Punta Mita is as good as it gets if you’re searching for a place to surf for a group of varying skill levels. La Lancha is located just off of the Punta de Mita – La Cruz de Huanaxtle freeway and has parking on the ocean side as well as across the street where there is a gas station, an Oxxo, a newer sit-down restaurant, and WildMex, which is a great place to rent boards for the day. The drive will take you about 35 minutes from the PV Marina and closer to an hour from the romantic zone, but the beach is incredible and well worth it. You can access the beach with a 7-10 min walk through a little jungle pass that is pretty easy to walk in during the dry season. Rain season can fill up and get a little tricky as you may find yourself trekking through shin-deep muddy water.
You can load up on snacks at Oxxo; just make sure to bring all of your trash back with you as they have garbage cans where you can throw out any of your waste in the parking lot. Bring some blankets and or umbrellas to post up along the tree line of the beach, which will help provide some shade and help keep your boards out of the sand. Grab your boards and cross the freeway and enter the path near the chainlink fence. There are a bunch of signs, so you won’t miss them. As mentioned before, Wildmex makes it super easy to rent a board (about $25/ day) and return it on your way out. https://wildmex.com/location/
The water is very clear and always seems to be super warm. There are several breaks here, and they fit all types of skill levels on most days. There is a shoreline line break which is s excellent for beginners, and you will often see surf lessons being given here. A break further out tends to be a tad bigger and, on smaller days, is perfect for longboards but can have some bigger, more powerful surf as well. Typically you will have surf heights around 1.5 – 2 meters (5-6.5 feet), but on occasion, you will see larger swells that can reach 3 meters (9-feet). Overall this is one of the area’s most versatile and beautiful surf spots and beaches in the area. If you’re curious about the surf report for any day or week, I always use Surfline. They have a great app and website, and many of the breaks even have cameras you can checkout to see what the surf looks like that day. https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/la-lancha/584204204e65fad6a77091f2
If you’re looking for a post-surf beer + meal, there are two places we love to hit after a great session in the water. KM 5 Surf Bar & Restaraunt is a short 5-6 min drive further North into Punta Mita and has excellent food and beers and usually some great live music to go with it. If you get out of the water early and get here for sunset, you will not be disappointed with the incredible views. https://www.facebook.com/km5surfbar/
Our other favorite post-surf stop is La Negra in Bucerias. La Negra is no secret as it has become a Bucerias staple, but the location and the vibe are perfect for a beer and burger after an amazing day in the water. They typically have live music or a DJ upstairs, and the food and drink never disappoint. Highly recommended! https://lanegracerveceria.com/en/