Zippers
San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Zippers is the last of the Costa Azul surf breaks, just south of San Jose del Cabo in Baja California Sur, Mexico, a shorter, faster right point break than Old Man's. It is popular with locals and can feel territorial in the water. Most visitors watch from the sand or the highway viewpoint.
A fast, respected wave that locals love, though it demands skill and respect in a tight line up.
How we score beachesTreat it as an experienced surfer's break and respect the local line up. Park at the viewpoint and walk down.
Park at the highway viewpoint near Costa Azul and walk down to the sand.
A short walk leads to a rocky shoreline, with uneven footing that is not suited to strollers.
South swells run roughly May through October. Hurricane season runs roughly June through November.
More Mexico & Central America beaches
Soliman Bay
Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico · Mexico & Central America
Soliman Bay sits about 20 minutes north of Tulum on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a quieter alternative to the beach clubs further south, with a coral reef sheltering the mouth of the bay and villas tucked right against the sand. Puffer fish, octopus, and the occasional manta ray turn up in the clear water, and a public access point at the north end of the coast road has kayak rentals and simple seafood.
Playa Xcacel
Xcacel-Xcacelito, Quintana Roo, Mexico · Mexico & Central America
Xcacel Beach sits along Mexico's Riviera Maya coast, protected since 1998 as a sea turtle sanctuary where green and loggerhead turtles nest from April through October, releasing more than 200,000 hatchlings most years. A cenote sits just inland from the sand, and the whole stretch has stayed undeveloped specifically because of its protected status.
Chacala
Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico · Mexico & Central America
Chacala sits in a small cove on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, about 90 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, a nearly mile long beach of soft, pale sand lined with palm trees and palapa restaurants. The town holds around 300 full time residents, though visitor numbers climb sharply during Semana Santa and Christmas, and jungle covered hills rise up on either side of the bay.