La Lancha surf forecast
La Lancha is a south-facing rocky reef near Punta de Mita that picks up swell from south to west. Surf guides describe it as an exposed point with lefts and rights and very reliable surf.
La Lancha surf report, hour by hour
The table shows swell, wind and tide for each hour at La Lancha. The break faces south and takes swell from about south to west, between 180° and 280°. Swell from outside that window will mostly pass it by. The nearest tide readings come from Bahia, about 5 km away.
Updated 01:58next run 06:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
10:00–11:00 · glassy
Today 3 Nov
Go 10-11, clean head-high, glassy.
Kiwi's best shot: 10:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 05:52
- Low
- 11:47
- High
- 17:23
- Low
- 23:48
- Sunrise
- 07:05
- Sunset
- 18:25
Every hour, 05–21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Worth it 09-11, clean head-high, glassy.
Best window: 09:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 06:08
- Low
- 12:19
- High
- 18:18
- Sunrise
- 07:05
- Sunset
- 18:25
Every hour, 05–21
Thursday 5 Nov
Worth it 10-11, clean head-high, glassy.
Best window: 10:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 00:19
- High
- 06:30
- Low
- 12:55
- High
- 19:00
- Sunrise
- 07:06
- Sunset
- 18:24
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Worth it 10-11, clean head-high, offshore NE.
Best window: 10:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 00:50
- High
- 06:51
- Low
- 13:25
- High
- 19:40
- Sunrise
- 07:06
- Sunset
- 18:24
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: La Lancha (20.761, -105.492). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the wind column first. Wind from the north-east blows offshore here and grooms the faces. In the forecast tables the wind can swing to a different direction within a single day. Pick the hours when it sits offshore or goes glassy.
Surf spots at and around La Lancha
La Lancha sits in a cluster of reefs and points around Punta de Mita in Nayarit. A part-time local says many visitors surf the wrong wave: the busy break at the trail exit is a separate reef, and the real point lies further west. Several other reefs and points are within a few kilometres.
La Lancha (the point)
Point / reefIntermediate+This is the main wave. It breaks over rocky reef and offers both lefts and rights. A local reviewer says the point is to the west of where the path comes out.
It works best at mid tide in waves of about 1 to 2.5 m. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com · surf-forecast.com
Inside reef at the trail exit
Reef breakBusyRight in front of where the path reaches the beach there is a different break. The same reviewer says it fills with tourists and surf lessons, breaks over an outside reef he calls risky, and has a clear left. Sources: surf-forecast.com
Punta De Mita
Point break2 km awayThis point lies about 2 km from La Lancha and is listed as fairly consistent. Sources: surf-forecast.com
El Anclote
Reef break3 km awayEl Anclote is a reef about 3 km away, listed as very consistent. Sources: surf-forecast.com
El Faro
Reef and point4 km awayEl Faro mixes reef and point. It sits about 4 km away and is rated very consistent. Sources: surf-forecast.com
Burros
Reef break4 km awayBurros is another reef about 4 km away, listed as consistent. Sources: surf-forecast.com
What La Lancha needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
South to west swells
La Lancha faces south at about 200° and opens to swell from 180° to 280°.
Wind
North-east is offshore
The cleanest surf comes with wind from the north-east, which blows offshore. Last December, 97% of days had offshore wind at some point.
Tide
Mid tide works best
Aim for the middle of the tide. The bottom is rocky reef.
Size
Ideal from 1 to 2.5 m
Below about 0.6 m it is usually too small to bother. It runs best between 1 and 2.5 m, and above about 3.5 m it gets too big.
Shortcut: a 1–2.5 m swell from inside the 180°–280° window, a north-east breeze and a mid tide is the classic La Lancha day.
The best months to surf La Lancha
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often La Lancha's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
Jun–JulPeak season
This is the most reliable stretch. About 70% of days rate 4+ in June and 68% in July, and 83–94% rate 3+. Typical size is around 1.7–1.8 m. It falls inside the eastern Pacific hurricane season, which by convention runs from 15 May to 30 November.
Mar–MaySolid and steady
Roughly 29–39% of days rate 4+ and 63–68% rate 3+. Typical size is about 1.1–1.6 m.
Aug–NovMixed but often surfable
Good days are less frequent: 20–39% rate 4+, and 50–71% rate 3+. October tends to carry the biggest average size, near 1.9 m. From August to October 2025, several storms brought strong winds, heavy rain or flooding to parts of Mexico.
Dec–FebQuietest months
In our modelled year, December and January had no 4+ days, and February had only 7%. Some guides call winter the best time here, so check the forecast rather than the calendar.
Before you go
Hazards
The bottom is rocky reef. Guides also warn about urchins, rocks and localism.
Our sources say nothing about lifeguards, so plan to look after yourself and your friends. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
Getting there
The closest airport is Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 26 km away in a straight line. Tepic (TPQ) is next, at about 99 km. Sources: surf-forecast.com
Access
You reach the break on foot along a jungle trail. Guides flag a private beach here, so respect the access rules you find on the day. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
Crowds and etiquette
One guide says the location keeps it uncrowded. A local adds that the wave at the path exit gets busy with tourists and lessons, while the point is a separate spot.
Localism is listed as a hazard, so wait your turn and keep a low profile. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com · surf-forecast.com
Water temperature and what to wear
The water stays warm all year. It ranges from about 25.7°C in March to 32.1°C in August, and sits near 27°C in December.
One guide suggests wearing at least a rash vest to keep the UV off. Sources: surf-forecast.com
Tides
The tide range is modest. Recent tables show highs of about 1.0–1.5 m and lows of about 0.1–0.9 m. Mid tide is the sweet spot at La Lancha. Sources: surf-forecast.com
Hurricane season
The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from 15 May to 30 November by convention. In 2025, storms such as Alvin, Erick and Flossie affected western and south-western Mexico. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, Météo-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off La Lancha. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for Mexico, so 4 stars at La Lancha is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
La Lancha surf questions
Is La Lancha good for beginners?
Not really. It is a rocky reef suited to intermediate surfers and up, and guides warn about urchins and rocks.
When is the best time to surf La Lancha?
In our modelled year, June and July were best, with about 70% of days rated 4+. March to May was also solid, and December to February was quietest.
How cold is the water at La Lancha in December?
The water is about 27°C in December. One guide suggests at least a rash vest to keep the UV off.
What wind is offshore at La Lancha?
Wind from the north-east blows offshore at La Lancha.
Does La Lancha get crowded?
One guide says the point rarely gets crowded. A local notes that the wave right at the path exit is busy with lessons, but it is a different break from the point.
What is the nearest airport to La Lancha?
Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR) is closest, about 26 km away in a straight line.
Check La Lancha before you walk the trail
Use the hourly La Lancha surf forecast to find a swell from the south to west, a north-east breeze and a mid tide, then go and enjoy the warm water.