Surfing La Ticla

LET’S GET PREPARED

Understanding everyone has different time and monetary restraints, we have put together some recommendations to hopefully assist you getting to La Ticla and starting your surf trip.

La Ticla is about a 1.5 hour drive south from the city of Tecomán (refer below for getting to Tecomán). From Tecomán there is really only the one main coast road out of town to head towards La Ticla in the south. Keep following this main road until you come to the sign for La Ticla that turns off to the beach road. This is a paved road and is a short (5min) drive through local farms, papaya fiels and palm trees. Follow this road until you come to the small township and then turn right to continue along the paving, past the restaurants and finally onto the beach. Local buses and collectivos run between these towns also but less regularly.

By Air – The closest airports to Tecomàn are at Manzanillo (1 hour drive south), Guadalaraja (5.5 hour drive south west) and Zihuatanejo (6.5 hour drive north). Flights can be found on Skycanner direct from Mexico City to either of these destinations for around US $150 round trip for travel in 3 months – from the major cities of the United States, direct flight round trip are around US $300. Detailed information about flights and flying to/from Mexico coming soon.

By Bus – The bus trip to Tecomàn is a long and slow journey depending on where you are leaving from. Buses run all up and down the coastline and leave from each of the major cities mentioned above (By Air) to Tecomàn. Durations vary depending on origin. Detailed information about buses in Mexico coming soon.

By Car – If you are keeping the #vanlife dream alive then keep following the main highway that runs parallel with the coast north-south, depending on the direction you are coming from and look out for the signs to Tecomàn. If you are in no rush the drive along the coastline (not the highway) is a little slower but far more scenic. We have driven the coast from Zihuatanejo to La Ticla a number of times and find it easy and breathtaking. Be respectful when passing through smaller villages on the coast and try to NEVER drive at night or early before sunrise.
Once in the Tecomàn Area, the following options may be considered for easier and more efficient means of getting around. Additional information about driving in Mexico coming soon.

By Rental – If you want to make the most of your surf trip and Mexican experience then you’re going to need a car. This gives you more flexibility and allows you to surf the breaks you want and on your own time. From our experience as much as the local bus is a great adventure, sometimes it’s difficult to access all the spots you want to go via bus. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico Coming Soon to learn all there is to know about car rental and connect now to Skycanner to compare all the rental company available and get the best price.

By Ferry – If you are coming from Baja California (Ferry Port in La Paz) to the main land (Ferry Ports in Mazaltan and Los Mochis), there are a number of ferries available daily. Ferry times will vary depending on the service and can take anywhere from 3 hours up to 18 hours each way. Visit ferrytmc.com for the timetable and pricing.

By Taxi – Taxis are familiar to picking up surfers in these areas and most come equipped with roof racks and tie downs – beware you might want to handle your precious sled as some taxi drivers will have little care for your surfboard. If you can speak a little Spanish this will also go a long way to negotiating a good price which we recommend you do upfront as no meters are available. Generally speaking in comparison to most major countries, the taxis here in Mexico are reasonably priced and it’s not uncommon for your taxi driver to wait at the break while you surf then drop you back home after.

By Local Bus – For those on a tight budget or even just looking for a good local adventure, the local buses are for you. The local bus operates between Manzanillo and Zihuatanejo and all other major destinations. Unfortunately the services are limited and will simply not allow you to see everything there is to see on this incredible coast line.

The waters temperature in this area of Mexico is generally warm all year round except for two months from late March to May when you may need a wetsuit top or spring suit. Other than this the water is always warm and boardshorts or a swimsuit is all that is needed.
Weather wise the area has a pleasant, temperate climate for most of the year. The later winter months of March to May see cooler warm temperatures. The summer months of June to August are hot and can be wet with August receiving the highest average rainfall throughout the year.

We suggest you follow the link here to check out the swell and current conditions for La Ticla and any other of your favourite spots.

Travelling with a surfboard: If you are weighing up the cost of flying with your surfboard vs purchasing or even renting a board once you arrive in Mexico, then this may assist with your decision. Most airlines will charge anywhere from $25 to $150 per flight for a surfboard. It also depends on your mode of transport once you arrive in Mexico. If you have your own car or van then it may be worth taking your favourite surfboards from home. However, if your main mode of transport is going to be bus, keep in mind most bus lines will more than likely treat your precious quiver like any other baggage item, so be prepared fro dings, and plenty of them. It may be worthwhile buying some cheaper local boards. Most surf shops in coastal towns sell second hand boards and keep an eye out on Facebook groups also. Also if you happen to have a layover in LA you may even have time to pickup a fresh board in California for a decent price before starting the surf trip.

Telephone: Mexico’s telephone network is well-developed in comparison to other Latin American countries. Mexico offers a whole range of telephone services from simple land-line telephone services to high-speed internet services. Prepay cell phones are a simple way to communicate and have no lock in contract. Telcel, AT&T, Movistar and Virgin Mobile SIM cards each cost between $50 and $150 pesos and sometimes include some data within that.

Internet: Just about every town and city in Mexico has at least one Internet Cafe. Look for signs reading “Acceso a Internet” or “Cibernautica” or “Cibercafe.” Charges range from approx. US$1 an hour to US$3 an hour, depending on the location. Most restaurants and hotels offer free Wi-Fi.

Exchanging Currency: Mexico has plenty ATMs which dispense usually both pesos and US dollars. Many of the restaurants, hotels and shops in Mexico accept credit cards. During business hours, banks and Casas de Cambio will buy traveler’s checks and foreign cash from you as well, although it does take time, so you’re better off using ATMs.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you take out adequate travel insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Health services and treatment normally covered under other countries medical system are not available in Mexico. Generally, travel insurance MUST be purchased within the country where you are a resident BEFORE prior to travelling.

Medical Attention: Most larger towns and popular tourist locations have local, government-run, health centers. Private clinics can also be found, both with English-speaking staff available.