Think about this: the sun is salty on your cheeks, wax is under your feet, and a Pacific surf is pushing you up off the beach. Surfing in Mexico is not a boring trip. You should do it with a smile and a lot of sunblock. Hundreds of kilometers of shoreline are waiting for someone who is brave enough to drop in. Want to know more? For a bit of inspiration, see https://www.latamsurfing.com/mexico/.

Let’s start in the north, where Baja California looks like an old man’s bony finger. In the blink of an eye, the terrain goes from a hot desert to a cold mist. In the summer, you’ll hear names like Scorpion Bay and Todos Santos whispered like gospel. It’s not the best place for newbies, either. But if you’re ready to take a few hits, you’ll get more than just a t-shirt.

As you slide down the Pacific coast, Sinaloa’s river mouths call. The beat changes out here. The pelicans keep watch, the sunsets turn orange, and the mangoes hum in the branches. The mood is sluggish. The waves are a little deceptive. Keep an eye on the tides, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get perfect rights with a few strangers-turned-friends cheering you on from the sand.

Now, Oaxaca. Oh, lovely Oaxaca. This is where surfing becomes pure poetry. Have you ever witnessed a wave consume an entire surfboard? The famed “Mexican Pipeline,” Zicatela, does just that. She weighs a lot. She’ll tell the difference between people who are only looking and people who are made of rubber. People from the area come by with the bravery that only a childhood in the whitewash can provide. But look farther south. The coastline is full of calm pointbreaks surrounded by palm trees, which are great for relaxing. If you spend a day in a hammock there, you might think twice about buying a return ticket.

Also, don’t miss Nayarit. Sayulita isn’t the only place with peeling, playful waves that draw in beginners like moths to a porch light. Puerto Vallarta is full of right-handed people and fun beach breaks. Get a longboard, some tacos, and let yourself roll like a sand dollar in the shorebreak.

Before you wax your board, talk to the people who live in these areas. Being polite can get you a long way. You may bring new wax. You don’t have to rush to every top you see. An empty lineup has stories that are older than the tide from yesterday.

Things like gear are important, but feelings are much more important. Board bags are ripped, leashes break, and wipeouts remind you not to take yourself too seriously. But after a session at an open-air cantina, how about some laughs and a cold beer? That’s a memory worth going after. And don’t freak out if you mess up on your first paddle-out. Everyone consumes sand on their first day. Makes you a better person.

The coast of Mexico has more than simply rides; it has moments that stay with you, no matter what time of year it is or where you are. If you ask someone who has done that first drop with a pelican flying overhead, their eyes will light up. After all, saltwater has a way of making people tell stories.