Cerritos Beach (Playa Cerritos)

Is it swimmable?

Yes, with some nuance. Cerritos has a designated area toward the south end of the beach where the break softens and the water is calm enough for comfortable swimming. The north end tends to see stronger shore break from the Pacific swell, which is what makes it good for surfing but less ideal for casual swimming.

Check the flag system on the day you visit. Green means calm and safe across most of the beach; yellow means proceed with caution and stick to the designated swim zone; red means conditions are rough enough that only experienced surfers should be in the water. This is the Pacific, not the protected Sea of Cortez, so conditions can shift. If you see red flags, plan to watch from the sand or wait it out.

The beach is one of the recommended options on any list of best beaches in Los Cabos precisely because it offers this dual-use setup. Most beaches on the Pacific side around Todos Santos are surf-only or genuinely hazardous for non-swimmers, so Cerritos stands out.

What to expect

Playa Cerritos stretches roughly a mile of wide, light-gold sand. The beach faces southwest, which means afternoon light is good and sunsets can be exceptional when the sky clears. The Pacific swell here runs predominantly from the northwest in fall and winter and from the south in summer, creating wave faces that tend to be clean, slow-rolling, and forgiving, which is exactly why Surfing instructors bring beginners here.

A beach club and surf school operate on the beach. You can rent surfboards for approximately $15 to $25 per hour, and surf lessons with an instructor typically run $50 to $80 for a 90-minute group session. Bodyboards are available for rent as well, usually in the $10 to $15 range per hour. Paddleboards are sometimes available depending on conditions.

The beach club has a restaurant and bar serving food and drinks on-site. Expect a simple menu: fish tacos, quesadillas, cold beer, and agua fresca. Prices are reasonable by Los Cabos standards, usually $5 to $15 per plate. You'll find lounge chairs and umbrellas available for rent, which is worth doing if you plan to spend a few hours.

The crowd on a typical day skews toward 20s and 30s, a mix of tourists from Cabo, people staying in Todos Santos for several days, and expats who have migrated to the area. Cerritos gets noticeably busier on weekends and during US holiday periods. On a Tuesday in February, you might have a long stretch of beach to yourself outside the surf break area.

Outside the beach club, the beach is undeveloped. No vendor gauntlet, no jet ski rentals, and no one hawking timeshares. If you want food or drinks beyond what the club offers, bring your own cooler.

Getting there and parking

From Cabo San Lucas, take Mexico Federal Highway 19 north toward Todos Santos. The drive is approximately 60 miles and takes about 60 to 75 minutes depending on traffic through Cabo. The turnoff for Cerritos is well-marked on Highway 19 at roughly kilometer 64, before you reach the center of Todos Santos. A short dirt road leads from the highway to the beach.

Parking is free and available directly at the beach. The lot is unpaved but generally accessible by standard rental car. A 4x4 is not required. During peak weekends in winter, the lot fills up by mid-morning, so arriving by 9 or 10 a.m. ensures you get a spot close to the beach.

There is no reliable public bus service that runs directly to Cerritos. If you don't have a rental car, your best option is hiring a private driver or taxi from Cabo San Lucas for a half-day excursion. Expect to pay $80 to $130 each way by private transfer; some drivers will wait for you at the beach for an additional hourly fee. Renting a car for the day and driving Highway 19 yourself is the most practical option and opens up Todos Santos for lunch or shopping on the way back.

Best time to go

October through April is when Cerritos is at its best for most visitors. The Pacific northwest swell is consistent and well-shaped during this window, humidity is low, and daytime temperatures at this latitude run a few degrees cooler than Cabo San Lucas, typically 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also when the surf is most textbook for beginners: shoulder-high waves that break evenly.

November through February brings the largest northwest swells and therefore the most powerful surf. Experienced surfers come for exactly this. Beginners should still be fine in the designated swim zone, but the overall wave energy on the north end of the beach is higher.

May and June are hot and dry with lighter swell. The water is warm and the beach is less crowded. July through September is hurricane season: swells can become unpredictable and the weather can be muggy. South swells generated by Pacific storms can produce surprisingly large surf at Cerritos during summer, sometimes more than 6 feet. Check surf reports before making the drive in August or September.

Cerritos faces the Pacific, which means it catches direct afternoon sun and the breeze picks up in the afternoon most days. Morning visits are slightly calmer for swimming; afternoon visits have better light for photography and cooler air from the sea breeze.

Good to know

Cerritos sits in Baja California Sur, so the usual Mexico travel basics apply. Cell coverage along Highway 19 between Cabo and Todos Santos is intermittent in spots; download an offline map before you leave. The road itself is a well-maintained two-lane federal highway and perfectly driveable in a standard rental.

Bring sunscreen and apply it before you get to the beach. The Pacific UV index is high year-round, especially on clear winter days when there is no humidity haze to diffuse the sun. A rash guard is useful if you plan to surf for more than an hour.

The surf break at Cerritos produces a short, rolling left and right that breaks over a sandy bottom, which is friendlier than reef breaks. Even so, beginners should not go out without instruction the first time. The beach club's surf school is legitimately good for first-timers.

If you plan to combine Cerritos with a visit to Todos Santos, the town is about 8 miles further north on Highway 19. It's worth an hour or two for lunch, the galleries on Centenario street, and the Hotel California if you're curious. The drive from Cerritos to the town center takes under 15 minutes.

Bring more cash than you think you need. The beach club takes cards, but the nearest ATM is in Todos Santos. Paying in pesos gets you better value on food and rentals.