7 Top Surfing Lessons in Puerto Vallarta w/Prices
Are you looking for the best surfing lessons in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is a marvelous surfing destination with clear water, a warm climate, and lots of beaches. It is no wonder that surf culture is such an important part of the local identity. The one thing to keep in mind is that the best beaches for learning to surf are not in Puerto Vallarta but nearby. The best surfing lessons in Puerto Vallarta usually include transportation to the beach.
There are great options when it comes to surfing lessons in Puerto Vallarta. Vallarta has a well-developed tourism industry with professional instructors who know the area and have lots of good quality equipment. They are genuinely excited to push you into your first wave and help you learn about the surf spots in the region.
Vallarta Surf Company
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A great surf tour operator offering surf lessons and day trips to regional classics.
I have lived in Jalisco since 2009 and my family spends a lot of time at the beach in Puerto Vallarta. Additionally, one of my best friends owns a surf school in LA and I have spent years working with him. Running a surf school is hard work and I respect organizations that operate professionally, show up on time, and adapt the lesson to the student’s skill level.
8 Top Surfing Lessons In Puerto Vallarta
While the city of Puerto Vallarta occasionally has surfable waves, the best waves for surfing lessons are near Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita. The neighboring state of Nayarit is less than an hour from Downtown Puerto Vallarta and an easy day trip. Most of these tours offer transportation to and from your accommodations and the beach.
If you are looking for an advanced surfing experience in the Puerto Vallarta area, I would recommend hiring a coach with local knowledge who can find the perfect waves for different levels of experience. Great instructors are going to find you more waves.
Plus, they have transportation. If you don’t want to rent a car and drive, take one of these tours.
Without further ado, these are the best surfing lessons in Puerto Vallarta.
1. Vallarta Surf Company
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 4 hours | Check Rates and Availability
A marvelous organization in a corner of Vallarta that may not be familiar to most visitors.
Vallarta Surf Company has been teaching people how to surf since 2018 but the founder and all of the instructors grew up in the area surfing this coastline their entire lives. They know this area like the back of their hands.
Vallarta Surf Company handles all of the transportation from wherever you are staying to the beach. They have a surf shop and restaurant in Nuevo Vallarta that is very close to a perfect beginners’ beach.
Nuevo Vallarta is much closer than Punta Mita and when there is surf, the shape of the wave is perfect for beginner’s surfing lessons. Depending on what the conditions look like, you could surf Nuevo Nayarit, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta de Mita, or beyond.
One of the cool things about Vallarta Surf Company is private trips. Intermediate and advanced surfers will score better waves with a surf guide than without. Whether you want to go to the Costa Alegre or rent a boat at Chacala, Vallarta Surf Company will set it up.
No matter what kind of surf trip you are planning, Vallarta Surf Company can help you make it a reality.
Bring a towel, sunscreen, and beach shoes or sandals. Your instructor will have a cooler with water and snacks.
From USD$90 per person for group (up to 3 people) lesson including transportation.
2. Vallarta Surf Lesson
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 4-5 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Vallarta Surf Lesson is run by Emilian Sitges who is an International Surfing Association (ISA) certified instructor. He speaks three languages and grew up Surfing in Puerto Vallarta. Besides being a friendly instructor, he knows all the most popular spots and genuinely wants to provide an unforgettable surfing experience.
Great experience. Emilian was patient and knowledgeable and I would definitely recommend. After surfing, we stopped for fish tacos and a beer and it was the perfect way to wrap up the day
David, Feb 2023 (Read more reviews)
Emilian offers half-day private surf lessons near Puerto Vallarta. He arranges transportation to and from the beach to your accommodations. He will choose an appropriate beach no matter if it is your first time in the water or you have a little more experience. There are great waves for all ability levels near Puerto Vallarta.
In addition to surf lessons, Emilian takes the time to talk about surf etiquette, reading the conditions, and identifying underwater dangers. It is a great first surfing excursion.
As you will notice while looking through his pictures, Emilian surfs big waves. He has been all over the world catching waves at famous surf spots. Intermediate surfers will thrive off of his mentorship and catch more waves as a result.
From USD$100 per person for private (1 instructor per student) including door-to-door transportation.
3. Okala Surf School
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 5 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Okala Surf School is one of the most popular surfing schools in Puerto Vallarta with a near-perfect rating on Viator with close to 100 reviews.
Check out these surf lessons Puerto Vallarta for All Levels and get ready to ride the waves like a pro.
Whether you’re getting on a surfboard for the first time or just looking to perfect your technique, you’ll be in good hands.
Okala favors the paradisiacal beach of La Lancha. Playa La Lancha is about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta a short distance away from Punta de Mita. You are guaranteed to have a great time surfing the mellow waves with kind surf guides.
Lots of people talk about the free photos in the reviews. Each surfer gets at least three free photos. It is a genius marking campaign. Everyone is stoked to see pictures of themselves riding waves and ends up promoting Okala when they post them online.
They include transportation, a surfboard, a leash, and awesome GoPro pictures.
From $110 for private (1 instructor per student) including door-to-door transportation.
4. Vallarta SUP & Surf
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 3 hours
Vallarta SUP & Surf focuses more on the SUP than the surf but Felix runs such an amazing organization that you need to follow them on Instagram. They organize tours of the Los Arcos National Underwater Park which has some of the clearest water in the area. I wouldn’t plan on surfing out here but know that it could happen under the right conditions.
Felix has over 700 five-star reviews on Airbnb Experiences with a 4.97/5 average. This is one of the most popular tours in Puerto Vallarta.
The Los Arcos National Park is one of the best places to snorkel Puerto Vallarta. For much of the year, the water is crystal clear and the abundant sea life seems to put on a show. It is not unheard of to see whales, sea turtles, rays, and lots of fish from a paddleboard.
The nice thing about stand-up paddleboarding is that you can practice even when the waves are completely flat.
Think about giving Vallarta SUP & Surf a call. They are a small surf school that knows the perfect location to match the conditions.
Most of the stand up paddleboard tours leave from Mismaloya and customers arrange transportation with Vallarta SUP & Surf or independently.
From USD$77 per person for a group class (up to 10 people) including transportation.
5. Xiutla Riders Ecoadventure
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 5 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Xiutla Riders Ecoadventure is a highly reputable and popular tour operator in the 5 de Febrero Neighborhood one block from the beach. They offer surfing lessons, ATV tours, waterfall hikes, boat trips, bike rides, and more.
They have over 100 5-star ratings on Viator with some seriously happy surf students.
6. WildMex Surf School
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 2 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Wildmex is my go-to surf shop for renting equipment. They have a surf shop across the street from the trailhead at La Lancha Beach. If you want to rent a nice board, this is the place to do it.
Considering how expensive it is to fly with surfboards these days, a lot of people prefer to just rent a board at the beach. It also gives you a chance to try some different equipment that might be better suited for the daily conditions.
You can arrange transportation through Wildmex but it is a shuttle that leaves from the Starbucks in the Marina. This is NOT door-to-door service. For those of you who are staying in the Marina or have your own transportation, Wild Mex is a great option.
7. Mita Aventuras
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🏄 Tour Length: 1.5 hours | Check Rates and Availability
Mita Aventuras is a local favorite surf school that works out of the La Cabaña Restaurant in Downtown Punta de Mita.
The beach out front is perfect for teaching kids how to surf. The shape of the wave is ideal for beginners.
Puerto Vallarta Surfing Lessons FAQ
These are the most common questions that I see asked in the online Puerto Vallarta forums.
Can you surf in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, but not very often. Puerto Vallarta sits at the back of a big bay and the swell window is very small. The waves need to be huge to make it to the back of the bay.
Those huge swells are usually hurricane swells which are dangerous for beginners.
It is best to travel to the front of the bay near Punta Mita to find consistent waves for beginners. Surf lessons in Puerto Vallarta are going to require a little bit of travel.
Where can I learn to surf in Puerto Vallarta?
The city of Puerto Vallarta is not a great place to take beginner surf lessons. Nuevo Vallarta is on the other side of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport and has fun waves for beginners from time to time.
Punta Mita and the entire north shore of Banderas Bay is lined with surf spots that are great for beginners and intermediate-level surfers.
Sayulita, Chacala, and San Blas are to the north of Puerto Vallarta and have waves for more advanced surfers.
Cabo Corrientes and the Costa Alegre are to the south of Puerto Vallarta.
What is the surfer town in Puerto Vallarta?
In my article about the best surf spots in Puerto Vallarta for advanced surfers, I attest that Puerto Vallarta is a surfer town.
However, I understand that most people refer to Sayulita as the surfer town near the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Sayulita is in the neighboring state of Nayarit but you can get there in an hour if the traffic is light.
Sayulita has the most surf scene but Punta Mita has more waves. There are plenty of surf schools shuttling surfers from Sayulita to La Lancha, and back several times a day.
Do you need a wetsuit for surfing lessons in Puerto Vallarta?
Usually, you don’t need a wetsuit for surfing in Puerto Vallarta. That being said, some years the temperature in Puerto Vallarta drops during a cold front.
It has been a few years, but in 2021 the water temperature in Puerto Vallarta dropped down to the mid 60s for almost a month. I had never seen so many full suits surfing in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit.
More important than a wetsuit is a UV protectant rash guard or surf shirt. The sun is really strong out here for most of the year. Plan on taking water if you are going to surf one of the virgin beaches with no services. The sun and surf takes it out of you.
Is Sayulita a good place to learn how to surf?
I don’t think that Sayulita is as good of a place to learn how to surf as Punta Mita. The inside sandbar where the surf schools push beginners into their first waves doesn’t have a great shape.
Secondly, Sayulita is really crowded on most days. Surfers looking to take lessons and actually learn how to catch waves on their own will be frustrated trying to catch waves with so many good surfers in the lineup.
Several of the surf schools operate a shuttle to La Lancha where there is more room to spread out and the wave is better for beginners.
I think that Punta Mita is a better wave for beginner surf lessons.
Final Thoughts On The Best Surfing Lessons In Puerto Vallarta
After spending a week surfing the warm waters of Banderas Bay you will love Puerto Vallarta and surfing in Mexico. This is one of the best destinations in North America to learn how to surf.
One of my favorite memories of surfing around Puerto Vallarta is seeing marine life. Sea turtles, big rays, and exotic birds are all just par for the course.
One of my best tips is to leverage your surf instructor’s knowledge to surf better waves. Take a private trip or do the private lesson when you want to surf a better wave. This area is full of spectacular waves for intermediate-level surfers. A surf guide will help you score.
And that goes for the food too. Surf guides know all the best food can be found.
I really hope that you find an amazing surfing experience and fall in love with the Puerto Vallarta Metropolitan Area. This is a special place.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING
- Sunscreen: The Best Biodegradable and Reef Safe Sunscreens for Mexico
- Hat: Barmah Wide-Brim Hat, Classic Panama Hat, Lifeguard Hat.
- Water Bottle: 40oz IRON °FLASK Sports Water Bottle
- Cooler: 3 Can TOURIT Cooler Backpack
- Shade: Pop-up Sun Shelter or Umbrella with Universal Clamp
- Long Sleeves: Rip Curl UV Long Sleeve Tee
- Shades: RAEN Optics sunglasses
- Car Rental: Discover Cars
