Located just up from La Union, the Ranch’s main attraction is the left point break directly in front of the Los Amigos restaurant. Breaks best on south and southwest swells and is best on a low tide. Can hold shape up to double overhead.

Some surfers compare the Ranch to Trestles in San Diego, CA. Bring a longboard and a short board if you can swing it, since the face changes pitch with the tide.

The bottom is mostly loose cobblestone but can be sharp with marine invertebrates. Booties aren’t a bad idea.

Take Mex 200 north past La Union, cross the bridge and exit toward “El Chico local traffic only.” Before El Chico, turn left on “Juan Maciel.” Follow the road up and over the highway into the town of Roble. At the end of Roble, there’s a fork in the road. Go left and follow the road all the way to the beach. Take the road all the way to Los Amigos and you’re there.

Sweet, slow-breaking left-hand point break near the town of Los Llanos. Has been nicknamed “the wave machine: and Ubilam (cuz it’s like a reverse Malibu). Best on south and southwest swells at low tide. Begins to lose shape at head and a half.

Longboarders dominate the break enjoying long mellow rides from the top of the point all the way to the beach, sometimes over a minute long. The bottom is a mix of rock, loose stones, and sand depending on where you are. Booties aren’t a terrible idea, but most don’t wear them.

Take Mex 200 north to Los Llanos. Exit left and follow signs to the beach. (About 30 minutes)

Manzanillo Bay in Troncones is a rock/reef point with a steep drop that empties into a deepwater cove. Breaks best on southwest and west swells.

On the best days, Manzanillo offers a steep drop, fast wall over a shallow reef with maybe even a barrel before dying down in the channel. Needs a significant swell with good direction to really perform. Because of the deep water and reef bottom set up, Manzanillo can maintain shape well into double overhead plus while other spots are just closing out.

There’s a public access between Casa Las Tejas and Casa Manzanillo (after the big hill, take the left turn off the beach road towards Troncones Point Hostel), but if you play your cards right, one of the many boutique hotels on the beach may provide access if you make an effort to view their properties or eat at their restaurants.

Head up the Troncones beach road toward Majahua. You’ll see the Inn at Manzanillo Bay (closest to the break)/ Public Access is about 1/4 mile beyond.

South of Troncones and into Ixtapa is Playa Linda, a rivermouth beach break that can produce long lefts breaking toward the lagoon. Nice little wave to incorporate with a run to the ATM machine or a shopping trip to Zihuatanejo. Breaks on all swells but best with a little west in it.

Take Mex 200 south toward Zihuatanejo. Follow the signs into Ixtapa then toward Playa Linda. Park at the RV campground and walk toward the estuary.

The surf spot is an outstanding long tubing left point break at the river mouth, with rides up to 200 yards when the sections connect. When the surf doesn’t connect Nexpa has about 5 peaks. There is also a good beach break south of the

river mouth. Rio Nexpa gets its largest swells in the summer, some times huge, June – September, but surf can be expected year round.

Rio Nexpa is a classic left-hand point break, but there is opportunity for breaks on the right swell. We caught a perfect A-Frame on the south side of the point, just perfect. heard stories of this place peeling so long you have to take a car back to the line-up. Worth the trip.

To Get to Rio Nexpa take route 200 N to Lazaro Cardenas

Between the village of Troncones to Manzanillo, there’s a 5 km (3 mile) stretch of crowd-free beach marked with rocky outcrops that encourage sandbars. These bars create consistent peaks when the conditions are right. These breaks happen on all swell directions and tides, for short, punchy rides over sand. Watch out for rocks. (Not for beginners) There are several bars up and down the beach so keep your eyes peeled for the bar of the week, or get the scoop from Bruce Grimes, local board shaper and beach break master. (His shop is on the land side of the beach road, just north of the bridge.)