Surf Lessons at Cerritos

Cerritos Beach gives this surf lesson from Cabo San Lucas its real appeal. You get a full beach day on the Pacific side, with a scenic drive past mountains and ocean views, then a beginner-friendly lesson followed by Mexican food. Instructors including Marco, Allan, Alan, Louis, and Mike are praised for patient coaching and a relaxed manner.

I like the small-group format, which can mean close help in the water rather than a mass lesson. I also like the easy setup: boards, wetsuits or rash guards, lunch, and optional hotel transport are covered. The catch is the long day and changing ocean conditions. This is not a quick poolside activity, and foam boards may feel basic to experienced surfers.

Key details before you book

• Cerritos is the seasonal winter surf beach: From November 15 to March 15, lessons move here because Costa Azul usually lacks suitable waves.
• Your coach stays involved: One guide is assigned for every three people, with a maximum group size of 15.
• First-timers are welcome: The lesson teaches you how to catch a wave, stand up, and improve your position on the board.
• Lunch is part of the day: Expect fish tacos, shrimp, chips, sauces, guacamole, and Mexican dishes, with vegetarian choices available.
• Observers have their own option: Non-surfers can ride along, use shaded chairs and umbrellas, and watch from camp without taking a lesson.
• Plan for about six and a half to seven hours: That includes transportation, the beach session, lunch, and the return ride.

The road to Cerritos is part of the outing

The day starts around 9 a.m., though hotel pickup usually begins about an hour to an hour and a half earlier. From Cabo, you follow the Transpeninsular Highway toward Cerritos. The route runs past the Pacific Ocean and mountain country, giving you a nice change from the resort zone.

Bring a phone or camera for the drive if you like taking photos. You will not spend every minute surfing, and that is worth understanding before booking. This is a road trip, beach outing, lesson, and lunch in one package.

If you are driving yourself, meet the group at the Plaza Gali parking lot in front of the Sandos Finisterra hotel. The guide waits near the OXXO convenience store at the lot exit. Cruise ship passengers follow the red harbor sidewalk to the cruise terminal building, exit into the parking lot, and walk to the OXXO.

Complimentary transport covers hotels in San José del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. It does not cover properties outside that zone, including Hard Rock, Nobu, and Four Seasons. Those staying at such hotels need to use the standard meeting point instead.

The pickup service has real value, especially if you are not renting a car. Confirm your hotel and exact pickup time the day before. The ride is air-conditioned, and the drive gives the guide time to explain the area and talk about surfing conditions.

Arriving at Playa Los Cerritos

Cerritos is a Pacific beach with a broad sandy shoreline and surf that suits instruction when conditions cooperate. One of the memorable details here is the sand, which can sparkle with mica or a similar mineral in the sun. Parents and other non-surfers can enjoy the setting without needing to take part in the lesson.

The beach itself has fewer resort distractions than the main Cabo hotel areas. That helps the day feel like a proper outing rather than an activity squeezed between pool time and dinner. The tradeoff is that beach facilities are limited. There are no lockers, so leave valuables in the transportation and take only what you need.

The operator sets up shaded camp with umbrellas and chairs for observers. Non-surfers also receive bottled water and snacks. You must book an observer or companion place on the transport, however. An observer is not simply an extra person who can tag along at no cost.

The beach stop is also weather-dependent. Rain, high swell, strong wind, tropical storms, or jellyfish can lead to a location change, a new date, or cancellation. If the operator cancels, you are offered another date or a full refund.

What the surf lesson feels like for a beginner

You do not need prior surfing experience. The lesson is designed to get a beginner safely through the basic steps: board position, paddling, timing, standing up, and riding a small wave toward shore.

The coaching is adjusted to the person in front of the instructor. A first-timer may begin in shallow water with the coach helping position the board and choosing a manageable wave. As confidence grows, the coach can offer less physical help and more verbal cues about when to paddle and stand.

That personal attention is where the price makes sense. A lesson with three people per guide gives you a better chance of receiving useful feedback than a large beach class. The stated maximum is 15 people, but the guide-to-participant ratio is the more important detail.

Families should pay attention to the age rules. The minimum age is six, and the price is the same for children and adults. Tell the operator when children are joining. An extra guide may be added for supervision when children are present.

The experience can work for a mixed group, too. One family had three instructors helping four relatives at different levels, moving from smaller to larger waves as each person became ready. That kind of flexible coaching matters more than flashy equipment when some people are nervous and others are eager to progress.

You should have a moderate level of fitness. Surfing involves repeated paddling, pushing up from the board, balancing, and getting back on after falling. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable with a physically active beach session.

One useful detail for less confident swimmers: tell the guide about your comfort level. A 44-year-old beginner who was not a strong swimmer still managed to stand on the board with careful instruction. That does not remove the need for caution, but it shows why honest communication with the coach helps.

Foam boards, wetsuits, and what to bring

The standard boards are foam boards. They are forgiving, stable, and a sensible choice for teaching new surfers. They are not intended to give an experienced surfer the same feel as a fiberglass board.

If you specifically want fiberglass, request one in advance. Do not assume it will be waiting at the beach. The operator also provides a rash guard or wetsuit, but you need to provide your size ahead of time.

Pack swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, water-friendly footwear if you use it, and a change of clothes. The supplied information does not promise lockers, so keep jewelry and expensive electronics at home or secured in the vehicle.

The gear is handled for you, which cuts down on the usual beach-day fuss. You do not have to rent a board separately or work out how to transport it from Cabo. For a first lesson, that convenience is a strong part of the value.

Lunch at the end of the water session

Lunch is served at a Mexican restaurant and is included in the booking price. Typical choices include fish tacos, shrimp, chicken, beef, tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, beans, rice, salads, quesadillas, and flavored water.

The exact mix may vary, but this is more substantial than a snack handed over at the beach. It gives you a chance to sit down, eat, and talk through the morning before returning to Cabo.

Vegetarian food is available, so mention that need when booking. Lunch is optional in the sense that you do not have to eat, but skipping it does not reduce the cost. Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are not included.

For me, the meal helps justify the full-day format. You are paying for transport, instruction, equipment, supervision, beach time, and food rather than only for an hour in the water. If you want a short lesson with no meal or road trip, this may feel longer than necessary.

Why the guides make a difference

The instructor is the heart of this experience. Marco received especially strong praise for working one-on-one with a first-time surfer, gradually moving the student toward larger waves, and then reducing assistance as skills improved. He also offered extra local surf advice and showed the participant Costa Azul on the return route.

Allan and Alan are also named instructors who are described as upbeat, patient, and good at making the water feel less intimidating. Louis is noted for taking care of children and explaining where to find good surf in the area. Mike is praised for handling the day from pickup through lunch and for sharing his own surfing experience.

Names matter here because the quality of a beginner lesson depends heavily on the person giving the instruction. You are not simply handed a board and pointed toward the water. The best part of the format is the coaching: where to sit, which wave to try, when to paddle, and how to stand.

Still, no instructor controls the ocean. Conditions may be gentle one day and more demanding the next. A guide can choose a safer approach and move the lesson, but cannot promise that every participant will stand up or that the waves will match a particular skill level.

The summer and winter beach change

This experience is advertised at Cerritos during the winter season, from November 15 through March 15. During the summer season, from March 15 through November 15, lessons are offered at Costa Azul instead.

That seasonal change is practical, not random. Costa Azul may not have suitable waves in winter, so Cerritos becomes the better choice. Check your dates carefully if the beach name matters to you. The booking may describe the general surf lesson, while the actual beach depends on the time of year and ocean conditions.

The scenic drive and instruction remain central, but the location can change. If wind, swell, rain, or jellyfish affect the planned beach, the operator may offer a different location, another date, or a refund.

Is $70 a fair price?

At $70 per person, this is a reasonable value if you want a full outing rather than a stand-alone lesson. The price includes a professional instructor, foam board, rash guard or wetsuit, lunch, and round-trip hotel or port transport.

You also get the convenience of not arranging a rental car or finding a surf school at the beach. A family can share one organized day, while an observer can enjoy Cerritos without surfing. That broadens the value for groups with mixed interests.

The price is less compelling if you are an experienced surfer who only wants board time. Foam boards are standard, fiberglass equipment requires advance notice, and much of the day is spent in transport and lunch. In that case, a shorter rental or private coaching option might suit you better, if available.

The same price applies to children and adults. That is easy to understand, but families should calculate the total carefully. A parent who wants to surf while another adult watches still needs to pay for an observer place.

Who should book this beach day

I would point this experience toward first-time surfers, families, cruise ship passengers, and couples who want to get beyond Cabo’s resort strip for a day. It also suits a mixed group because observers can use the shaded camp while the surfers take their lesson.

It is a good match if you value help with every detail. Pickup, boards, wetsuits, lunch, and return transport are handled together. The activity also works well for people who want a gentle introduction instead of attempting to teach themselves from the sand.

I would be more cautious if you want a quiet beach day with no fixed schedule. The group leaves at a set time, the road trip takes several hours in total, and the ocean may force a change. You also need moderate fitness and a willingness to spend much of the day outdoors.

The experience has a maximum of 15 participants, with one coach for every three people. Ask for the exact group arrangement if personal attention is your main reason for booking. Children should be identified in advance so the team can plan supervision.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking. You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the start time under the stated cancellation policy. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows are charged in full, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

One separate note advises cancellation at least 48 hours ahead, so I would check the terms shown at checkout and on your confirmation. The local cutoff time applies.

The activity requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of rain, unsafe surf, wind, a tropical storm, or jellyfish, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The transport is complimentary and optional, so the price does not change if you meet at Plaza Gali instead of using pickup.

Should you book Surf Lessons at Cerritos?

Book it if you want a well-organized introduction to surfing with a real beach day attached. The strongest reasons are the small coach ratio, family-friendly instruction, included equipment, shaded observer setup, and Mexican lunch.

I would choose it for a first lesson, especially if Marco, Allan, Alan, Louis, or Mike is assigned and you want an instructor who will adjust the session to your pace. I would skip it only if you want a short activity, need guaranteed surf conditions, or already have your own board and prefer to surf independently.

For most beginners, the $70 price buys more than a lesson. It buys the ride to Cerritos, the Pacific views, the coaching, the gear, the meal, and a simpler day at the beach.

FAQ

How long does Surf Lessons at Cerritos last?

The activity lasts approximately six and a half to seven hours, including round-trip transportation, the beach lesson, and lunch.

What time does the experience start?

The listed start time is 9 a.m. Hotel pickup generally begins about one to one and a half hours before the activity, depending on your location.

Where is the meeting point in Cabo San Lucas?

The standard meeting point is the Plaza Gali parking lot at Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 36, near the OXXO convenience store and in front of the Sandos Finisterra hotel.

Are hotel and cruise port pickups available?

Yes. Complimentary round-trip transportation covers hotels in San José del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. Cruise ship passengers meet the guide near the OXXO at the Plaza Gali parking lot after exiting the cruise terminal.

Is previous surfing experience required?

No. The lesson is designed for all levels, including beginners who need help catching their first wave and more experienced surfers who want coaching.

What equipment is included?

A foam surfboard and a rash guard or wetsuit are included. Request a fiberglass board and provide your clothing size in advance if needed.

Can someone come along without surfing?

Yes. You can book an observer or companion place. This includes round-trip transportation, a shaded camp with chairs and umbrellas, bottled water, and snacks. The observer still needs a paid place on the transport.