Surfing Cerritos: The Complete Guide

Cerritos is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Todos Santos, Mexico, offering both lefts and rights along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. Cerritos is the go-to beginner and intermediate beach in the Todos Santos area, offering consistent, forgiving waves that are perfect for learning and progressing. Rated as beginner-friendly difficulty with moderately crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (200°), with workable conditions from S to SW (180°–220°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Cerritos needs a minimum of 0.6m / 2ft to start working and handles swells up to 1.8m / 6ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 13 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the N (0°). The full offshore range spans NNW to NNE (330°–30°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Cerritos runs May, June, July, August, September, October (May–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February, March, April (Nov–Apr). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round waves. Consistent and forgiving.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 24°C / 75°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SJD, roughly 60 minutes by car.

Access: Popular beach with surf schools and rentals.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Generally safe beginner-friendly beach.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy

Skill Level: This spot is rated beginner-friendly (3/10). Crowd Level: Typically moderately crowded (6/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Cerritos? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Cerritos is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*