The 12 Best Puerto Vallarta Surf Lessons

1.Surf lessons in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $110Our pick

Okala Surf School takes you from your hotel, home, or Puerto Vallarta cruise port to the beach with conditions best suited to your level. Diego, Kristhian, Jonathan, and Kalany provide private coaching, boards, rash guards, snacks, water, and photos during this four-hour lesson.

“I had an awesome time! My first time ever surfing and my instructors were friendly and helpful!! I felt encouraged and was in great hands the whole time!”

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2.Private Surf Lesson Experience at Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $94

Learn to surf with a private instructor from Xiutla Riders, then choose between more beach time or a visit to Sayulita. Morning departure, round-trip pickup from central Puerto Vallarta, and coaching for beginners through experienced surfers are included. Guides such as Edson, JC, Fernando, and Agustina have earned especially warm praise for patient instruction.

“Jean Carlo was a fantastic guide! We had great conversations on the two, 45-minute drives and great opportunities to practice our Spanish. Once we were at the beach, we were able to catch multiple waves and JC was a good coach and kept encouraging us to keep trying. We were totally exhausted by the end! One of the best days of our trip.”

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3.Fun 2 hr Surf Lessons in Punta de Mita

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Meet Alejandro, Alex Jr, or Diego at the beach in Punta de Mita for a private two-hour surf lesson. You begin with a balance test and pop-up practice, then learn safety, ocean reading, and board skills in the water. Boards and rash guards are included. Lessons start at 10am or 5pm.

“Alejandro was awesome the day we had planned our lessons there were no waves. So we rescheduled for a couple days later. I have been trying to surf for years, he had me up and surfing in 30 minutes. Very friendly respectful instructor.”

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4.Vallarta surf lesson with Pickup Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $120

You’ll get private instruction from guides such as Emilian, Andru, Joaquin, or Jonathan, with pickup and drop-off around Puerto Vallarta. The beach changes with the waves and your ability, and you can expect a short land lesson followed by about two hours in the water. Lunch at a local seafood spot is optional and not included.

“Emilian was an amazing teacher. We learned so much more than I expected given that it was our first time. My 13 yo son was doing a 360 on his board before our lesson was over. I would recommend this experience to anyone! Hands down so much fun and I'm so glad I participated in the lesson!”

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5.2 Hour Private Surfing Experience in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Spend a half-day learning to surf near Puerto Vallarta with Joaquin, Emi, Danny, or another Wave Surfing instructor. You’ll get hotel pickup, a short safety and technique lesson, boards, water, snacks, GoPro use, and about two hours in the waves at Punta de Mita or Nuevo Nayarit. It suits beginners, families, and surfers who want personal coaching.

“We wanted to take our 10 year old nephew surfing for the first time. Joaquin and Daniel were terrific instructors, were incredibly knowledgeable, patient and attentive, and went out of their way to find the perfect conditions for learning. We also had an opportunity to surf ourselves while Joaquin and Daniel took care of our nephew in the water.”

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6.Puerto Vallarta premier Surf Lessons VSCO

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $90

Spend about five hours learning to surf with Vallarta Surf Co at a quiet beach near Puerto Vallarta. Leo and his team teach board skills on the sand, then coach you through small waves over a sandy, shallow bottom. Pickup, snacks, shade, beach chairs, and activity photos are included.

“I had a great time going on this surfing lesson, would highly recommend! My coach and the location were both great”

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7.Private Surf Lesson in Punta Mita

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $105

Learn to surf at La Lancha with a private WildMex coach, gentle waves, and supplied boards, rash guards, booties, and towels. Families with children six and older can join. You will walk about 10 minutes through the jungle from the shop to the beach, then return for showers, changing rooms, and storage.

“Had some confusion about the meeting place but the team and communication skills were great. We ultimately missed our lesson but made it to the beach to go out on our own. The instructors seemed enthusiastic and it looked like pretty much everyone caught a wave or two.”

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8.Surf classes in Puerto Vallarta with local instructors

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $107

Meet your instructor in Puerto Vallarta, then ride to Villa Varadero beach in Nuevo Vallarta for a private surf lesson. Daniel has taught first-time surfers here, and your package includes a board, leash, rashguard, parasol, water, snack, and transportation. The 8:00 am outing lasts about four hours and is offered in English.

“I had such a great experience, surfing the for the first time. Everything was arranged perfect, got picked up at the hotel en we drove tho the beach where I got lessons from Daniel! Really recommend this one!!”

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9.Surfing Lessons La Lancha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $83Best value

Julio picks you up at your Puerto Vallarta hotel or Airbnb, drives you 20 to 30 minutes to Playa La Lancha, and has the boards ready for a private surf lesson. The experience lasts about two hours, runs in English, and includes equipment. Bring your own snacks, since food is not provided.

“Julio was helpful and patient. He made it so I could remember what to do in the moment. We were successful in getting me up on the surfboard and Julio is a kind person who has a deep connection to the ocean like me 🌊”

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10.Puerto vallarta and Nayarit: surf lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $112

Okala Surf School takes you from your hotel or home to a Banderas Bay surf spot such as Nuevo Nayarit, La Lancha, or Litibu. Kristhian and Jonathan tailor private lessons to your level, teach the pop-up and paddling basics on shore, then coach you in the water. Boards, rash guards, snacks, transport, and GoPro10 photos are included.

“La clase estuvo increíble, aprendimos mucho, súper bien explicada. Los instructores al pendiente en todo momento, muy amables y atentos. Definitivamente recomiendo la actividad.”

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11.Surf Lesson beginner & intermediate from Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $95

Meet Emilian at VIPS Pitillal near Galerías, then ride about 40 minutes to a surf beach outside Puerto Vallarta Bay. You’ll warm up on the sand, learn wave selection, and spend 2 to 2.5 hours in the water with Emilian or an expert cohost. Lunch is optional and not included.

“Excellent memorable experience. Highly recommended! The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about teaching surfing!”

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12.Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $89

Meet at Marina Vallarta and ride in a white surfboard-topped car to a beach suited to beginners. Your English-speaking instructor covers board parts, safety, and wave technique before about 90 minutes of practice. Rodrigo can tailor coaching to adults and teenagers, with pickup offered and the activity ending back at the marina.

“This was so fun! Rodrigo did a great job of getting me & my two teenagers on the right board at the right beach at the right time (a super important trifecta for novice surfers!) He even contacted us the morning of to ask to meet earlier to catch the conditions when they would be really good. He was able to customize the feedback he gave to each of us, and we all noticeably improved throughout the session. He's also a super intelligent guy, and fun to chat with to/from the beach. His English is perfect, the rental boards were in good condition and the transport to/from the wave really…”

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