WSL Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos Returns to Baja California Sur

Surf’s Up in the Baja! The only World Surf League (WSL) competition to be held in Mexico this year will be staged November 19 – 22 at Playa Los Cerritos in El Pescadero, a sleepy town located 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas.

This premier men’s event will bring 120 surfers from around the globe to the magnificent beach and surf breaks at Cerritos. The World Surf League, the governing body for professional surfers, is dedicated to showcasing the planet’s best talent in a variety of progressive formats.

“This event represents an opportunity to showcase the state as a premier destination for sports tourism and to share its natural beauty with the world,” said Fernando Ojeda Aguilar, a sub-secretary for Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism and Economy (SETUE).

Following a two-year hiatus, the WSL Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos is expected to spur regional tourism, drawing surf fans as well as those interested in beach culture. The competition will be highlighted by a four-day festival featuring live music and community events.

Young Mexican surf stars are expected to shine. Already confirmed is Alan Cleland Jr., the 24-year-old Colima native who became an International Surfing Association (ISA) world champion at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador. Jhony Corzo of Puerto Escondido, another former world champion, will also be competing at Cerritos. Lucas Cassity of La Paz, who finished third in this event in 2024, will likely draw strong local support.

Surfers, a dedicated bunch who will go anywhere to catch a wave, have been exploring the Baja for decades. Around the time deep-sea fishing enthusiasts were reeling in trophy marlin in the 1950s, surfing pioneers from California were exploring both sides of the Baja Peninsula for waves to ride. Balmy weather, friendly vibes and fun onshore activities were a big part of the region’s appeal.

The variety of surf breaks spans a wide swath of the municipality’s 100-plus miles of coastline, from the Sea of Cortez north of San José del Cabo to the Pacific Ocean beaches near Todos Santos. Ideal waves are available year-round; the surf breaks of choice vary with the seasons.

For example, May to October is traditionally the best time to surf the Sea of Cortez (a.k.a. the Gulf of California) along the East Cape due to seasonal southerly swells. The action shifts to the Pacific side from November to April, notably at beaches like Cerritos, one of the Mexico’s finest surf spots. Head to the right coast, and surfing is good year-round in the Baja.

Bigger waves and “gnarly” breaks are best left to experienced surfers. However, there are beginner-friendly surf spots too, along with reputable schools and instructors eager to introduce novices to the joys of surfing. The region boasts a handful of surf spots with ideal conditions for newbies, enabling beginners to gain confidence in a safe environment. Warm, clear waters and gentle swells provide an enjoyable setting for gremlins to develop their skills.

Cerritos, for example, has three distinct areas to surf. Offering placid waves at the north end of the beach below a scenic headland, Cerritos is the only safe swimming and surfing beach on the Pacific side for miles around. Much like the beaches in Southern California, the sand at Cerritos is finer, darker and firmer underfoot than the beaches in Los Cabos. For non-surfers, the majestic three-mile-long, crescent-shaped beach, framed by tall mountains, is ideal for a fitness walk or a carefree stroll.

For beginner lessons, check out CRT Surf School in El Pescadero. According to the school’s website, many of the bilingual instructors on staff are certified lifeguards in the U.S. “By hiring them to learn this beautiful sport, you can be completely calm and relaxed…and (capture) that feeling of riding a wave for the first time.” Intermediate and advanced lessons are available for surfers who want to refine their technique.

If you’re planning to attend the WSL Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos, our Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Cabo Saun Lucas offer wonderful and inviting options for a home base from which to explore the region. From the adults-only luxury of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort to the family-friendly amenities of Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort, guests can enjoy oceanfront accommodations, exceptional dining and a variety of resort activities between excursions to Cerritos Beach. For those who prefer to stay closer to downtown Cabo San Lucas, Pueblo Bonito Rosé Resort & Spa and Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort offer convenient locations on El Médano Beach.

Book your stay today!