Costa Azul vs. Cerritos: where should you surf?

If you're planning a surf trip to Baja California Sur, sooner or later the comparison will come up: Costa Azul or Cerritos?

The easy answer would be to say one is better than the other. The right answer is that they are very different experiences. Costa Azul and Cerritos receive swell differently, have different geographies, and offer experiences that can suit surfers with completely different goals. So the question shouldn't be which is better. It should be: which is better for you?

Costa Azul: variety in very little space

One of the great advantages of Costa Azul is the number of options concentrated in a relatively small stretch of coast. The area features several well-known breaks, including Old Man's, The Rock, and Zippers, each with very different characteristics.

That has an enormous consequence for a surf trip: you don't need everyone in your group to have the same level. While someone might be looking for a gentler wave to practice paddling, another might be looking for a faster wall to work on maneuvers. And it all happens within the same area.

Cerritos: a beach that changes with the swell

Cerritos has a different personality. Surfline describes the beach as a zone with different wave options that change depending on the swell. With large west or northwest swells, a right can appear next to the headland; with south swells, A-frames and good lefts can form. Additionally, the bottom is sandy, and Surfline's guide classifies Cerritos as suitable for all levels.

1. Water

For those accustomed to surfing in tropical waters, Costa Azul tends to feel especially gentle. If water temperature matters to you, Costa Azul has an advantage.

2. Wave variety

In a relatively small stretch you can find different types of waves and varying degrees of difficulty. Old Man's is a more rolling right, accessible for all levels. The Rock is a right reef break, more technical. Zippers is a much more demanding wave: a fast right over a rock and sand bottom. In other words: Costa Azul lets you progress without having to change territory completely.

3. For learning to paddle and carve

Learning to surf isn't just about standing up. Much of the learning happens before getting up: learning to read sets, choose the right position, paddle efficiently, identify a wall, enter the wave with speed, and hold the line. Once the surfer has those basics, another learning phase arrives: carving. Costa Azul offers different types of walls and conditions that allow continued work on those skills as the surfer progresses.

4. Access

Costa Azul has another advantage that has nothing to do with wave quality: it's incredibly convenient. It's on the Los Cabos tourist corridor, near San José del Cabo and the international airport. For a short trip, this changes the experience a lot. You can land, settle in, and be thinking about surfing practically the same day.

5. What about Cerritos?

Cerritos has something Costa Azul can't replicate: the experience of a Pacific beach integrated into a completely different environment. Its exposure allows it to receive different swell combinations, from south swells to west and northwest component swells.

So, which to choose?

Choose Costa Azul if:

• •you want to maximize time in the water
• •you want several wave options in a small area
• •you're learning or want to keep progressing
• •you want to work on your paddling and carving
• •you prefer warmer water
• •you're traveling for a few days
• •you want to be near San José del Cabo and the airport
• •or you're traveling with a group of surfers of different levels

Choose Cerritos if:

• •you want to explore the Pacific
• •you're interested in a beach with different peaks depending on the swell
• •you want to combine surf with a more relaxed beach experience
• •or you simply want to experience another personality of Baja California Sur

Costa Azul's real advantage

Perhaps the most interesting comparison isn't Costa Azul versus Cerritos. It's Costa Azul versus the idea of having to choose a single wave. One of the great virtues of this area is precisely the possibility of adapting the session to the ocean.

A good guide shouldn't take you to the same place every day. They should look at the swell, wind, tide, your level, and your goals, and then decide. Costa Azul doesn't necessarily have the best wave for everyone. It has something perhaps more valuable: many possibilities for finding the right wave.