Playa La Pastora

Playa La Pastora is the long, quiet beach 8 to 9 km north of Todos Santos, the one surfers head to when the water in front of town is too rough. To get there, look for the road heading north just east of Hotel California, turn left at the foot of the hill and keep going a few kilometres, watching for a small Pastora sign; the pavement gives way to a rough dirt track, so a high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle is advised.

The wave is an exposed point break, mostly rights, fairly consistent and able to work any time of year; it takes distant groundswells best from the southwest with the wind offshore from the northeast, and it never gets crowded. High season is November to March, when foreign surfers arrive for the winter swells. The same power that makes the surf makes the beach unsuitable for swimming: strong currents and a heavy undertow. Shore fishing, camping and long sunset walks are the other things people do here.

There is no mobile signal and nothing on the sand, so bring shade, water and food. The Green Room restaurant sits a short distance away, with a reservation needed for a bar table at sunset, and whales can be spotted from there in season.

Sources: La Paz tourism office · Go La Paz · Surf-Forecast · Discover Baja · Outside, Baja guide · Outside, Todos Santos