SURFING ON THE BAJA HA-HA AND BEYONDFrom time to time, we get questions about board surfing during the Baja Ha-Ha. As all surfers know, catching good waves is always a hit-and-miss thing. It's even more so when there is limited time, such as during the Ha-Ha. So there are no guarantees.
However, over the years, Ha-Ha participants have sometimes caught excellent surf at the point at Bahia Santa Maria, the sometimes home of a fly-in surf camp. In some years, there has also been interesting surf at the bar on the way into the mangroves at BSM.
Not nearly as often sailor-surfers have met up with other surfers in Turtle Bay to drive up to a break a few miles up the coast.
Isla Natividad, just north of Turtle Bay, is known to have great surf, but we're not sure how one would approach that.
Scorpion Bay, on the Middle Reach of Baja, is probably the best-known and most reliable break along the Baja Coast. But in order to hit that, a Ha-Ha-er would have to either leave Turtle Bay a day earlier than the rest of the fleet or arrive in Bahia Santa Maria a day later than most of the fleet.
There are also well-known surf spots once the fleet gets to Cabo.
After the Ha-Ha, there are many fine breaks on the mainland. There is fine surf at a number of places in Mazatlan. And San Blas is known not just for mosquitos but also for long, mellow, beginner rides.
Sayulita is an international surfing mecca, and you can paddle in to the break. The downsides are that it's often crowded with beginners and locals, and it's an open roadstead anchorage.
The sailor/surfer's paradise on mainland Mexico is just inside the northwest corner of Banderas Bay, where in the space of just a couple of miles there are five or six great breaks, from El Faro to Burros.
El Faro, aka The Point, can be a fabulous Rincon-like point break with some sizzling sections. And it's common for boats to anchor just outside the surf line. In fact, the number of boats anchored there is a good indicator of how good the surf is.
Lucky is the surfer who can lie around on his boat and then paddle in when he/she can have El Faro to himself/herself. It's surprising how often a sailor/surfer can be the only one out, as it's a long walk to the break for those without a boat.
For beginners, there is the whole Mexican Malibu/panga marina/Stinky's/Rosewater complex, all of which are easy spots to paddle into. In fact, they are just in front of the massive main anchorage. Mexican Malibu and Stinkys are excellent for beginner surfers, but over the years we've also seen epic overhead barrels with long, long rides.
A little bit further to the east is the La Launcha break, another paddle-in spot we often had to ourselves back in the day. Except for early in the morning and late in the afternoon, it's now often overpopulated with surf-schoolers and others. But if there is any surf in the bay, La Launcha usually has it.
Even further to the east, and yet another paddle in-break, is Burro's, which many think is the best break in the bay. Before the sun is up, there is often a crew paddling out.
Given a big enough swell, there is also an excellent break just to the east of the Nayarit Riviera Marina and the main La Cruz anchorage.
Lest I forget, just around the corner and outside the northwest point of Banderas is a break known as Bahia. It's best in the morning before the wind comes up. You get there by dinghy from just inside the bay — or from your home in the Four Seasons complex.
There used to be a guy with about a 45-ft wood motorsailor who used to run a liveaboard surf camp between The Point and Burro's. It would be a perfect gig for Profligate, which can sleep 12.
There are a couple of more breaks elsewhere in Banderas Bay, but we don't know enough to comment on them. It's the same for further down the coast.
We'd love to get additional Mexico surf break information from surfers, so feel free to weigh in. Email Richard at ha-harally@gmail.com.
Some year members of the Ha-Ha have gotten good surf at the point at Bahia Santa Maria. No wetsuit, baby!
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There can be interest board & boogie board surf at the bar on the way to the mangroves at Bahia Santa Maria.
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San Juanico / Scorpion Bay is probably the gold standard of breaks on the Baja coast.
It's between Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria.
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These are just a few of the main breaks at Punta Mita.
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The Poobah about to hit the Mexico Malibu back in the day.
There's nothing quite like paddling in to a break from your boat.
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When it comes to surfing Banderas Bay, it's best to be part of the dawn patrol.
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This is from a video of a great ride at Stinky.
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