Surfing Zippers (Los Cabos): The Complete Guide

Zippers (Los Cabos) is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Los Cabos, Mexico, offering both lefts and rights along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. Zippers is Los Cabos' most famous wave, a powerful beach break with reef influence that delivers consistent surf within easy reach of the resort corridor. Rated as advanced difficulty with 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: Zippers (Los Cabos) needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.4m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the NNW (337°). The full offshore range spans NW to N (315°–360°). 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 Zippers (Los Cabos) 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: Works year-round. More consistent in summer.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 25°C / 77°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SJD, roughly 20 minutes by car.

Access: Costa Azul beach. Easy access from Los Cabos.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents
👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded

Powerful beach break. Popular spot.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically crowded (7/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Zippers (Los Cabos)? 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 Zippers (Los Cabos) is firing.

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