Private Surf lessons at Cerritos

Cerritos gives you a proper beach day with a surf lesson attached, not a quick paddle in a hotel pool. After the drive from Cabo, you get open Pacific surf, mountain views, coaching, beach shade, and a Mexican lunch at a local surf-town restaurant.

I like the private format, which lets the coach adjust the lesson for first-timers, children, or experienced surfers. I also like that the price includes transport, board, wetsuit or rash guard, chairs, umbrellas, and lunch, so the $100 cost covers much more than instruction.

The main drawback is the long transfer. You spend about two hours on the road during this five- to six-hour outing, and the actual surf time may feel short if you are eager to keep riding. Conditions can also force a location change or cancellation.

Key points before you book

• Cerritos is a true Pacific beach break: It works for first-timers and stronger surfers, with northwest swells that can produce clean waves.
• The lesson is private: Your group alone participates, with one coach for every three people.
• The $100 price includes plenty: Transport, equipment, beach shade, water, lunch, and instruction are part of the package.
• The road trip is part of the day: You get Pacific and mountain views along the Transpeninsular Highway, but allow five to six hours overall.
• Season changes the surf location: Cerritos is used from November 15 to March 15; summer lessons move to Costa Azul.
• Families can join: The minimum age is six, and children should be identified when booking so extra supervision can be arranged when possible.

From Cabo to Cerritos on the Transpeninsular Highway

The day starts at 7:30 a.m., either with pickup from an eligible hotel or at the Plaza Gali meeting point in central Cabo San Lucas. The drive to Cerritos takes about an hour. That early start matters because it gives you a full morning at the beach and avoids turning the lesson into a rushed afternoon outing.

The Transpeninsular Highway is one of the pleasant parts of the trip. You pass Pacific views and mountains, with time to take photographs along the route. This is not a sightseeing tour with several formal stops, so the scenery works best as a bonus rather than the main event.

If you are arriving by cruise ship, the meeting point takes a little care. Walk from the tender pier through the security gate, turn right along the red sidewalk, and continue toward the cruise terminal building marked API. Exit into the parking lot and meet the guide near the Oxxo store. If you are driving, use the Plaza Gali parking lot in front of Sandos Finisterra and meet by the same store.

Hotel pickup covers much of San Jose del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. The pickup is usually about an hour before the 7:30 start, so your morning may begin quite early. Hotels outside the main tourist zone, including Hard Rock, Nobu, and Four Seasons, are not covered by the hotel transfer. Those passengers use Plaza Gali instead.

The ride back follows the same general route. It gives you another chance to enjoy the views, but it also confirms the tradeoff: this is a destination surf outing, not a lesson five minutes from your resort.

What Cerritos Beach offers surfers

Playa Los Cerritos is a broad Pacific surf spot with a beach break. It is exposed to northwest swells, which can bring clean conditions for several days. That makes Cerritos a better choice than a sheltered beach when you want a real ocean lesson and not simply a staged resort activity.

The break suits a wide range of ability. Beginners can learn how to handle the board, catch a small wave, and stand up with help. More experienced surfers can use the coaching to work on timing, positioning, or technique. The lesson is not limited to people who have never touched a board.

Your coach supplies a foam board as standard. Foam is a sensible choice for beginners because it is softer and more forgiving than fiberglass. If you already surf and prefer a fiberglass board, request one in advance. Do not wait until you arrive, since equipment needs to be arranged ahead of time.

A rash guard or wetsuit is also provided, but the operator needs your size in advance. Include accurate sizes for every participant, especially children. Poorly fitting gear can make a lesson uncomfortable and distract you from the basic work of reading a wave.

The beach setup includes chairs and umbrellas. Personal items can remain safely in the transportation, since there are no lockers on the beach. I would keep valuables to a minimum and bring only what you need for a morning outdoors.

How the private coaching works

The private setup is the strongest reason to choose this experience over a large group class. Only your party participates, and the ratio is one coach for every three people. That gives the instructor room to work with different levels within the same booking.

No previous surf experience is needed. The coaching is designed to help a beginner catch a wave, while stronger surfers can ask for more focused guidance. The goal is not only to get you standing once. It is to help you feel safe enough to keep trying.

That said, surfing is tiring. The physical requirement is rated moderate, and you should be comfortable getting in and out of the water, paddling, balancing, and repeating the effort. The operator allows you to stop before the full activity ends because this is a private outing. That flexibility helps if a child loses interest or the waves prove more demanding than expected.

Children from age six can participate. The price is the same for children and adults, which is worth considering for a family booking. Tell the operator when children are joining, since an extra guide is often arranged for supervision when possible.

The minimum group size is three and the maximum is ten. Solo guests cannot book this specific outing unless they are joining a qualifying group, so check the reservation requirements before making plans.

A realistic look at the surf time

The beach portion is listed at about three hours, while the entire outing lasts five to six hours. Those three hours cover instruction, getting equipped, time in the water, and the beach meal. Do not read that as three uninterrupted hours of surfing.

That is normal for a surf lesson. You need time for safety instruction, board handling, rest, and coaching between attempts. Still, if your main goal is to surf as long as possible, you may wish the water portion lasted longer. The private format lets you decide when to finish, but it does not turn the excursion into a full-day surf camp.

Conditions also control the pace. Rain, high swell, wind, or jellyfish may lead to a location change, a new date, or cancellation. Good weather is required, and a cancellation by the operator brings the choice of a different date or a full refund.

This flexibility is useful in Baja, where ocean conditions can change the day’s plan. It also means you should avoid booking the surf lesson immediately before an important flight or cruise departure if you need a guaranteed schedule.

Lunch at the Cerritos surf town

Lunch is included at a Cerritos beach restaurant and focuses on Mexican food. The usual choices include fish tacos, shrimp, chips, sauces, guacamole, and flavored water. Chicken and beef are also available, along with vegetarian dishes such as salads, quesadillas, beans, and rice.

The meal adds value because you do not need to pack a full lunch or search for a restaurant after the lesson. It also keeps the day tied to Cerritos rather than sending you straight back to Cabo after the last wave.

Lunch is optional, but there is no price reduction if you skip it. If you have dietary needs, mention them before the outing. Alcohol is not included, and alcoholic drinks are listed among the personal expenses you pay yourself.

The restaurant visit is described within the beach stop, although the schedule also gives it a separate hour. In practical terms, plan on a relaxed beach meal after surfing rather than a second tour activity. It is a good chance to dry off, sit under shade, and enjoy the setting before the drive back.

Is $100 a good value?

At $100 per person, this is not the cheapest way to rent a board for a few hours. It is priced as a complete private outing, though, and the included items add up quickly.

You receive round-trip transportation, a private guide, a foam surfboard, a rash guard or wetsuit, beach chairs, umbrellas, and lunch. The operator also handles the trip to Cerritos, which saves you from arranging a rental car and finding the beach on your own.

The value is strongest for first-timers, families, and small groups who want one organized day. You are paying for coaching and convenience, not simply beach access. The private structure is also useful when one person is nervous, another is experienced, and a child needs more attention.

The value is weaker if you already know Cerritos, have your own board and transport, and want several hours of uninterrupted surfing. In that case, the included lunch and transfer may not matter as much. The time on the road is another factor, especially if you are staying in Cabo San Lucas and prefer a short local activity.

The same price applies to children and adults. For a family, compare the total cost carefully, particularly if some people may only watch. An observer must book a non-surfer companion place on the transport. That fee includes transport, shaded camp space, bottled water, and snacks, but not the surf lesson.

Choosing the right season and beach

The surf location changes during the year. From November 15 to March 15, lessons take place at Cerritos Beach. During that winter period, Costa Azul does not usually have suitable waves for the lesson, so the longer drive to the Pacific side is necessary.

From March 15 to November 15, the lesson moves to Costa Azul. That means you should not assume a booking made in summer will visit Cerritos. If Cerritos itself is the reason you are booking, confirm the seasonal location before paying.

The supplied schedule describes the Cerritos version, with the one-hour drive from Cabo and the beach restaurant. Weather can still alter the plan at either time of year. High swell, wind, rain, and jellyfish are all listed as possible reasons for a change.

Who should book this surf day?

I would choose it for a small family or group of friends that wants a private introduction to surfing and does not want to handle the transport and equipment. The age minimum of six makes it workable for families, and the extra supervision option can help when children participate.

It also suits an experienced surfer who wants coaching rather than a basic rental. Request a fiberglass board ahead of time if that is important to you, and make your level clear during booking so the coach can tailor the session.

The outing is less suitable for someone with limited mobility or anyone seeking a short, easy activity near the hotel. You need a moderate fitness level, a full morning, and comfort with a long transfer. The beach has no lockers, and the ocean, not a pool, determines how demanding the lesson feels.

Cruise passengers can make it work, but the meeting instructions and timing deserve close attention. The excursion starts early, and the operator needs enough time to return you to Cabo. If your ship has a tight departure schedule, confirm that the timing fits before booking.

Booking details worth checking

Confirmation is provided at booking. Give the operator your hotel, participant ages, clothing sizes, surf ability, and any request for fiberglass equipment as early as possible.

Complimentary transport is optional, and the price does not change if you make your own way to Plaza Gali. Hotel pickup times should be confirmed one day before the tour. The listed pickup service does not cover hotels outside the main tourist area.

Cancellation terms in the supplied information are not fully consistent: one section says 48 hours for a full refund, while the cancellation details state 24 hours. Check the current rule at the time of booking and keep the local cutoff time in mind. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows are not refundable under the stated policy.

Should you book Private Surf Lessons at Cerritos?

Book it if you want a well-equipped, private surf day and value the ease of having transport, coaching, lunch, and beach shade handled together. The Pacific setting and real beach break give the experience more character than a short resort lesson, while the one-coach-for-three ratio keeps the instruction personal.

Skip it if you want maximum time in the water, dislike long drives, or already have easy access to a board and surf spot. The beach is beautiful and the coaching is flexible, but the day includes about two hours of road time and surf conditions can change the plan.

For most beginners and families, the combination of safety support, equipment, lunch, and a private group makes the $100 fare reasonable. Just pack patience for the drive, confirm the season and pickup point, and request every equipment size in advance.

FAQ

How long does the private surf experience last?

The full outing takes about five to six hours. The drive to Cerritos takes roughly one hour each way, and the beach stop is scheduled for about three hours, with lunch included.

Do I need previous surfing experience?

No. The lesson is designed for all ability levels. Beginners receive instruction aimed at helping them catch a wave, while experienced surfers can receive coaching suited to their level.

What equipment is included?

A foam surfboard, rash guard or wetsuit, chairs, and umbrellas are included. Request a fiberglass surfboard in advance if you prefer one.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Complimentary round-trip transport covers hotels in San Jose del Cabo, the corridor, and the Cabo San Lucas tourist area. Hotels outside that zone, including Hard Rock, Nobu, and Four Seasons, use the Plaza Gali meeting point instead.

Can children participate?

Yes. The minimum age is six. Prices are the same for children and adults, and you should identify children when booking so extra supervision can be arranged when possible.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Rain, high swell, wind, or jellyfish can lead to a location change, rescheduling, or cancellation. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.