Why go
Los Cerritos and Costa Azul are two of the most consistent beginner-friendly breaks in Los Cabos — soft, sandy-bottom waves rather than reef — and a cluster of well-reviewed schools around both turn a first lesson into real instruction instead of a rental board and a shove toward the whitewater.
Choosing a surf lesson in Los Cabos
Group lessons, private lessons, and multi-day packages all solve a different problem. A group lesson is the cheapest way to try surfing once; a private lesson gets you more one-on-one correction in the same amount of time; a multi-day package is worth it the moment you know you want to keep surfing past a single session, since most schools discount three or more lessons together.
Los Cerritos and Costa Azul are both sandy-bottom, beginner-friendly breaks rather than reef — that is most of why the schools in this guide cluster around them. If you are staying in Cabo San Lucas itself, a guided trip is the more realistic option than a walk-up lesson, since the beginner-friendly breaks are a drive south.
Costa Azul Surf Shop – Best for a Structured Group Lesson
Place
Costa Azul Surf Shop
A longstanding surf shop in the Costa Azul area selling boards and gear and running group and private surf lessons.
A longstanding surf shop in San José del Cabo's Costa Azul area running group and private lessons at a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. Group lessons run $150 USD per person in spring/summer at Playa Costa Azul, or $95 USD per person in fall/winter when the shop shifts lessons to Los Cerritos; both are 1–2 hours with equipment included. A 2-hour private lesson ($150 USD) adds a soft board, leash, surf shoes, rash guard, and bottled water, and a 3-hour excursion for up to 12 people ($180 USD per person) includes round-trip transportation and two rental boards each.
Get Stoked Surf School – Best Based at Los Cerritos
Place
Get Stoked Surf School
Offers private and group surf lessons and multi-day packages at Playa Los Cerritos.
Based right at Playa Los Cerritos, a beach the school itself describes as having a soft, sandy bottom "perfect for surfers of all levels." Instructor Jibran runs private lessons in 1- or 2-hour blocks plus group lessons for friends and family, and multi-day packages of three or more lessons come with up to 25% off — a better structure than booking single lessons one at a time if you are around for more than a couple of days.
More Surf Schools Worth Knowing
Los Cabos surf schools cluster around three breaks — Los Cerritos in Pescadero, Costa Azul in San José del Cabo, and guided trips out of Cabo San Lucas to breaks further afield.
Place
Cabo Surf Tours
Surf school and guide service based in Punta Ballena/Cabo Bello running daily guided surf trips and lessons for all levels at secluded breaks around Los Cabos.
Place
CRT Surf School
Offers surf lessons for all levels plus board and beach-gear rentals at Playa Cerritos in El Pescadero.
Place
West Side Baja Surf School
Provides surf lessons, board rentals and surf guiding at Cerritos Beach in El Pescadero.
Place
Mario Surf School
Offers private and group surf lessons at Playa Los Cerritos along with SUP tours, kayak tours and whale-watching trips.
Place
Cabo Surf Supply
A Costa Azul-area surf outfitter offering guided surf lessons and excursions with hotel pickup, board delivery and photo/video add-ons.
Planning Notes
- Group lesson ratio
- 3 students per instructor at Costa Azul Surf Shop
- Seasonal beach change
- Costa Azul Surf Shop's winter group lessons run at Los Cerritos, not Costa Azul
- Multi-day discount
- Get Stoked Surf School: up to 25% off 3+ lesson packages
Pro Tip
Keep exploring
Best Snorkeling, Sport Fishing & Whale Watching in Los Cabos
From El Arco snorkeling trips to sport fishing charters and seasonal whale watching, the water-adventures worth booking.
The Sea of Cortez off Los Cabos is one of the richest marine environments in North America — Jacques Cousteau called it "the aquarium of the world." Snorkeling tours around El Arco, sport fishing charters, and (in season) whale watching are the highest-intent bookings a Los Cabos trip can include, and they're easy to get wrong without a good operator.
Family-Friendly Boat Tours & Snorkeling Cruises in Cabo San Lucas
Catamaran, zodiac, and private-yacht trips out of the marina — sized and paced for a group with kids, not just a honeymoon.
The Cabo San Lucas marina is the departure point for a whole fleet of catamaran, zodiac, and private-yacht operators, and the right one comes down to boat size and what is actually included — a real difference between a 6-guest boat and a 45-person catamaran when you are traveling with kids.
Nearby alternatives
Best Snorkeling, Sport Fishing & Whale Watching in Los Cabos
From El Arco snorkeling trips to sport fishing charters and seasonal whale watching, the water-adventures worth booking.
The Sea of Cortez off Los Cabos is one of the richest marine environments in North America — Jacques Cousteau called it "the aquarium of the world." Snorkeling tours around El Arco, sport fishing charters, and (in season) whale watching are the highest-intent bookings a Los Cabos trip can include, and they're easy to get wrong without a good operator.
Family-Friendly Boat Tours & Snorkeling Cruises in Cabo San Lucas
Catamaran, zodiac, and private-yacht trips out of the marina — sized and paced for a group with kids, not just a honeymoon.
The Cabo San Lucas marina is the departure point for a whole fleet of catamaran, zodiac, and private-yacht operators, and the right one comes down to boat size and what is actually included — a real difference between a 6-guest boat and a 45-person catamaran when you are traveling with kids.