About

Playa Novillero, Nayarít, México

I love this place. I don't see why it hasn't taken off. It has arguably the best beach on the Pacific side of México – 80 km of wide, flat, powder sand. Pick your own peak. The five resident surfers see so few others they are happy to see you and may even show you a “secret spot” or two that isn't a beachbreak. Wintertime when I'm there isn't the best but there will be waves. They can be a little mushy but I still got the fastest section of my life and also the longest ride. The key is taking off right under the peak. From the shore you see the lip throwing and you think, “Cool, I might even get a little “tubito” but when you get out there you see more of a ramp than a wall. Mo' bettah in the summer when it gets bigger and wallier. Figure 1st of May to 1st of November as the best time. If you go to YouTube and search “rucosponger” you will see some HD videos I took of Paúl Castillo which show a so-so winter day. It also shows one of the “features” of having such a gently-sloping beach and bottom. You have 4 or 5 lines of breaking waves to duck your way through to get outside. Paddle-out will be 200-300 yards depending on swell. The break works on any tide but is best early in the morning when there is offshore or little wind. There is often a strong current set to the south. Again, my notes are for the winter. The basic swell direction in this part of México in winter is from the NW. Summer brings longer period swell from the SSW which is what both Mazatlán [where I live in the winter] and this area needs.

To get there: Playa Novillero is in the north of Nayarít, just south of the border with Sinaloa. Go to Acaponeta, then head makai.

To stay: My favorite place is the Hotel y Restaurant Miramar. Brenda and Omar will treat you like family. Camping is available.

To eat: Nothing wrong with the above but I like to spread the wealth around and eat at the neighboring Beto's Restaurant which is run by Paúl's family. He also has a variety of surfboards and other wave tools for rent.

If you can talk Spanish it will help a lot. They don't get a lot of gringo tourists. The whole town is geared up for making the year's money during the week of Semana Santa when hordes of national tourists descend here and virtually every other beach in the country.

Location

Access

To get there: Playa Novillero is in the north of Nayarít, just south of the border with Sinaloa. Go to Acaponeta, then head makai.

GPS coordinates: 22º22'42"N, 105º41'9"W

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

None

Videos

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