A WORD FROM STEVE

I'm looking forward to you joining the calitrippin surf trip to Zihuatanejo / Ixtapa!

Our surf crew will consist of up to 6 people including myself. Our host Winter will be our transportation, he has a large truck and he owns La Siesta Troncones Villas that we'll be staying at; I rent all 4 Villas for the trip. He will pick us up from the airport and take us straight to a surf break- either Barra de Potosi or Las Escolleras depending on the surf report.


I also wanted to make it clear that this is my test run at operating regular surf trips. For the past 5 years (prior to COVID), I had made monthly personal surf trips all over the world to both surf and expand my surf photography business. Since COVID started, I've continued to travel throughout Mexico (the only country that hasnt closed its border) and spent over a month down there when I came up with the idea to start organizing group surf trips to share the stoke. I would love any feedback you could provide about the whole process and trip itself so i can improve anything possible.


Also any questions you have please feel free to reach out to me- my cell is 858-831-8535. I will create a WhatsApp group chat before the trip so everyone can communicate with each other.

This 48 hour trip is going to fly by but let's enjoy every minute of it! In the future I plan on making this trip 5 days. I'm also planning regular trips to Playa Los Cerritos, outside of Todos Santos on the Baja.


My mission with these surf trips is to show everyone an amazing and unforgettable experience. I personally love immersing myself in different cultures to get the true experience of traveling and learning about the local culture and customs. I expect my guests to share the same love for surfing and being open-minded and respectful of others.


Below is information I'm working on putting together for everyone and future trips. Again, please let me know if you have any questions at all. -Steve

Winter (our host)

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

MEETING UP

We will meet at Cross Border Xpress (CBX) at midnight, 12am Friday morning/Thursday Night. CBX is an exclusive pedestrian bridge for passengers to cross the US/Mexico border to the Tijuana International Airport.


I recommend either taking an Uber/Lyft there or parking in their secured lot ($15/day). There is also a shuttle that runs hourly from the San Diego Airport Rental Car Center but i don't believe they run overnight.


In order to cross you must have the following documents -

  • Passport (book or card)
  • FMM Form (Forma Migratoria Múltiple)
  • Airline Boarding pass
  • CBX ticket


I will provide the CBX ticket, boarding pass and FMM form, you must have your valid passport.

CROSSING THE BORDER

Entering CBX we will need to scan our boarding pass and CBX ticket and then proceed to walk approximately 15 minutes over the US/Mexico border.

When we arrive on the Mexico side, we will be at a customs station where you will need to provide your passport and FMM form.


After customs we are in the Tijuana International Airport. We will check our surfboards into Volaris Airlines and proceed through security and to the boarding gate area.

FLIGHT INFO

Tijuana to Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo | Sept 25, 3:08 AM - Sept 25, 8:25 AM

Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo to Tijuana | Sept 27, 8:55 AM - Sept 27, 10:19AM


Time zone is 2 hours behind California.

ZIHUATANEJO / IXTAPA

...are sister cities on mainland Mexico's pacific coast, in the state of Guerrero. There are 15+ notable surf breaks in the region with consistent year round swell.

This trip is recommended for intermediate to advanced surfers.


ACCOMMODATIONS

We will occupy all the villas offered at La Siesta Troncones.

La Siesta is an environment of easy open air living, with a connection and respect for the natural environment. Each Villa has 2 beds that may be separate sizes.


Troncones is about 20 miles north of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Mexican Riviera. It's a surf village where visitors find the easy pace and welcoming spirit of a classic Mexican hideaway. Travelers are drawn to Troncones for the unspoiled and barefoot beach vibe that has diminished elsewhere along Mexico's coast. It still has tasty local restaurants and interesting activities to keep visitors comfortable.

TRONCONES

Most importantly Troncones offers a diverse selection of year round warm water surf. Located in the tropics, you never need more than your boardshorts and a rashguard. The Sierra Madre Del Sur in the backdrop produces off shore winds almost every morning. Troncones sits toward the middle of an open ocean bay and receives swell energy from both the northern and southern hemispheres.


Directly across the street from the Villas is the mile long stretch of Tronones beach break made up of sandbars nestled up against various rock clusters. It takes on swell year round from all directions. The best sandbars have waves that break top to bottom and offer a chance for a cover up or two.


On the north end of Troncones is Manzanillo Bay, some of the heaviest surf in the area when the conditions are right. A left hand rock/reef that empties into deep water so it almost never closes out. The drop is steep and exciting but the face really lies down once you leave the reef and hit deeper water. Take off as deep as you can to get a good ride over the reef and kick out once it lays down for you. 

SURF GUIDE(s)

This is a tricky one- I have 3 guides that all know the area very well wanting to take us around. With us only having Saturday to really go on a road trip I may have Winter take us up to The Ranch, the area's most popular surf break and then La Saladita on the way back if you want to attempt to break your longest wave record. Many surfers can top a 1+ minute ride on a longboard.


WHAT TO BRING


  • Passport
  • Surfboard (rentals are also available)
  • Clothing (less is more, it is a tropical climate)
  • I do not recommend a wetsuit, water temp is in the 80's
  • I will have a calitrippin tank top & hat for you
  • Cash/Pesos
  • You will need cash for food. There are ATM's in the cities but in the smaller towns they often run out. Also smaller towns are less likely to take credit cards. 


TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Friday -

  • Land in Zihuatanejo
  • Grab a quick bite to eat, surf Ixtapa
  • Relax at our Villas
  • Sunset surf in Troncones

Saturday

  • Dawn patrol in Troncones
  • Trip up the coast to surf a few spots
  • Many restaurants have live music at night

Sunday

  • Dawn patrol in Troncones
  • Fly home

POPULAR SURF BREAKS

LAS GATAS

Located in the mouth of Zihuatanejo Bay and accessible only by boat or a rocky hike. It's a left point break on reef of rock and coral and produces strong waves and tubes in the summertime.

IXTAPA

Located south of Marina Ixtapa. A strong right beach break at a breakwater of rocks with a sandy bottom, some tubes; breaks 3/4 of the year.

LA SALADITA

A long-boarders paradise. Rides of over a minute are common with the best surfers able to pull off 30 second nose rides when conditions are right, which is often.

THE RANCH

By far the most remote and popular. River mouth lefts and rights. The left point is the best area in the zone. There's a decent-sized long, strong break most of the year.