Surfing La Pastora: The Complete Guide

La Pastora is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Todos Santos, Mexico, offering both lefts and rights along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. La Pastora is a Todos Santos beach break that gets powerful when size fills in, offering more challenge than the mellow waves at nearby Cerritos. Rated as advanced difficulty with lightly 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: La Pastora 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 12 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 NNE (22°). The full offshore range spans N to NE (0°–45°). 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 La Pastora 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 April, November (Apr–Nov). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Summer south swells. Powerful beach break.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 24°C / 75°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SJD, approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes by road.

Access: Todos Santos area. Beach access.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents
😮‍💨 Hold-downs — Long hold-downs possible

Powerful when big. Strong currents.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Build your breath-hold confidence before tackling bigger days here

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at La Pastora? 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 La Pastora is firing.

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