San Blas marks the northern frontier of Nayarit's S-swell window, roughly 80 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, where the coastline angles back into the Pacific and begins catching spring and summer pulses that bypass points further north. Beach peaks here are long and mellow, running 300-500m on a good day, best in S to SW swell from waist-high to double overhead with E or SE offshores. The area suits all skill levels: beginners log waves on the softer inside sections, while intermediates find room to work longer walls. Crowds are moderate and spread out during the week, heavier on weekends at the main breaks. Bottom: sand. Season: March-October. Consistency: sometimes, dependent on Southern Hemisphere swell. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and serious bug repellent as the no-see-ums near the estuary are genuinely punishing at dawn and dusk.
Weekday lineups are relaxed and spread thin along the beach. Weekends and spring break pull more surfers and a rowdy party crowd into town. The local vibe is welcoming and easy-going. Respect applies as anywhere: don't burn people, don't paddle straight to the peak, be friendly in the water.
Playa el Borrego (the main beach) is a short walk from town and easy to find. Public access. San Blas town has food, accommodation, and basic supplies. Water quality is clean except after heavy rain when estuary runoff is a factor. Hazards include submerged rocks, occasional shark presence (shallow estuary mouths), spring-break alcohol energy, and exceptional bug pressure at the mangrove edges at dawn and dusk.
When San Blas is flat or blown out, the points at Stoner's and Santa Cruz offer different angles and cleaner shape. Heading south toward Sayulita and Punta Mita opens up more consistent reef and point options with added power for surfers chasing performance waves.
Forecast by Windy.app
