Summer out of LA is one of the better windows for a surf trip. The Pacific is active, short-haul flights to Mexico and Central America are easy to find, and a 2 to 6 hour flight gets you to warmer water and less crowded lineups. Here are five destinations worth considering if you're surfing at an intermediate level.
1. Mexico – Riviera Nayarit and Oaxaca
The Riviera Nayarit region is a 2-hour 30-minute flight and covers a range of wave types. For intermediates, the focus should shift south toward Puerto Escondido. The main Zicatela break is for experienced surfers only, but La Punta is a left-hand point break that works well at waist to head-high and is exactly the kind of wave that will reward surfers trying to dial in their positioning and timing. Sayulita is worth a session or two as a warm-up, but after a few days you'll want something with more push.
Our Mexico surf trip location guide
2. Costa Rica – Santa Teresa and Playa Grande
Costa Rica is a 5-hour flight and one of the most consistent surf destinations in the Americas. For intermediates, Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula is the pick. The beach break here is more powerful and faster than what you'll find at the popular tourist spots, and the sessions are better quality as a result. Playa Grande, just north of Tamarindo, is another strong option with bigger, cleaner sets than the main town break. Expect head-high surf on good swells and a lively crowd to match.
Our Costa Rica surf trip location guide
3. El Salvador – La Libertad
El Salvador is a 5-hour 30-minute flight and one of the most underrated surf destinations in Central America. For intermediates, Sunzal is the pick. It's a long, peeling right-hander that holds size well and rewards surfers who know how to read a wave and position themselves in the lineup. La Bocana is a quieter option worth checking when the swell is running, with a more secluded setup and a different angle on the same groundswell. El Tunco is right there too, but it tends to attract a beginner crowd.
Our El Salvador surf trip location guide
4. Nicaragua – Rivas
A 6-hour flight from LA gets you to one of the most underrated surf countries in Central America. Popoyo is the focal point for intermediate to advanced surfers, with a powerful reef setup that picks up swell consistently. Playa Maderas is a solid beach break option nearby and works well on smaller days when Popoyo is too heavy. Playa Hermosa near the Costa Rican border rounds out the options with a fast, powerful beach break that can deliver some of the best barrels in the country when conditions align.
Our Nicaragua surf trip location guide
5. Hawaii – Oahu and Kauai
Hawaii is a 6-hour 30-minute flight and a destination intermediates often underestimate. Waikiki Beach offers long, gentle rides that are useful for working on your footwork and timing, while Ala Moana Bowls is the step up: a powerful reef break that will challenge anyone progressing past the beginner stage. Hanalei Bay in Kauai is worth the extra island hop: a long, open-ocean bay with waves that are fast but not terrifying, and far less crowded than anything on Oahu.
Our Hawaii surf trip location guide
Any of these five destinations will give an intermediate surfer what they need: waves with enough size and shape to actually progress, warm water, and easy access from LA. The best pick depends on your budget and how much of a challenge you're after, but El Salvador and Nicaragua tend to be the most underrated for the money.
