Troncones Surf Guide
A quiet little town in Guerrero, full of solid waves for all skill levels
Quick Facts
Waves for every skill level and desire
Relatively quiet waves for this part of Mexico
Tons of different breaks to explore
Mellow vibes, relaxing town
Introduction to Troncones
Sitting north of Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero, Troncones has a long stretch of shoreline with waves year round. It’s been growing in the last decade as far as surf travel goes, with new surf shops and surf camps popping up every year. There are tons of beginner spots, some intermediate beach breaks, and an intense point. You’ll also find a mellow point break for loggers or midlength boards. The town and vibe is a little smaller and mellower than in Zihua, with less resorts and more casitas.
Troncones Surf Season
The surf season in Troncones really depends on skill level. Advanced surfers will find the biggest swells coming from the south in the summer. It’s much bigger during this time, and the lineupw ill be slightly more crowded. In the winter months, the NW swells and lighter winds will give more chest-high days. The bigger waves will shut off but many of the beginner and intermediate waves will be found every day. You can also try a shoulder season to get the best of both worlds. In October or May, you’ll find a mix of waves and swells, and lesser crowds.
Where to Surf in Troncones
There are several breaks here in Troncones, as well as boats and guides that can take you out to many of the other spots. Here we’ll talk about Playa Troncones, with more coverage of the other spots below. It’s a 2+ mile beach with waves basically all the time. It can get peaky, and there are some rock formations to watch out for below the surface.
Crowds - Some, but a huge beach
Surfer Level - Beginners/Intermediates
Ideal Swell - NW/W/SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE/SE
Break Type - Beach
Consistency - 90%
Be Aware: Rocky bottom, avoid low tide
Surf Camps, Classes, and Lessons in Troncones
If you’re just looking for rentals, head to the beach and look around. There are stands up and down the beach offering board rentals. If you want classes or a surf camp, we have you covered!
Troncones Point Hostel - Located right at the ends of the main point, Troncones Point is walking distance to the main break in town. They have dorm rooms, kids rooms, suites, and accommodations for everyone. There are hammocks out in their garden, and they can organize trips to some super secluded and empty spots! Troncones Point offers 5 day surf camps and 7 day camps.
Tsunami Surf - One of the main schools in town, Tsunami offers both rentals and classes for the whole family. They have surf guides to take you to the breaks by land or by boat, and have been working in the area for nearly 20 years.
From the Store
Nearby Surf Spots
La Saladita
A future hotspot in our opinion, probably my favorite left in Mexico. Super mellow, good for loggers or midlengths, beginner-friendly. Can get bigger in summer months. Check out our Playa La Saladita Surf Guide for more info.
Crowds - Quiet
Surfer Level - Intermediate
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE, Low
Break Type - Rivermouth sandbank
Consistency - 90%
Be Aware: Not much
Troncones Point (Manzanillo Bay)
Big lefts that works only on certain days. Really only a summer spot with the SW swells. Needs to be well overhead to really work.
Crowds - Not much
Surfer Level - Advanced
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Point
Consistency - 40%
Be Aware: Reef, punchy wave
Zihuatanejo
Just south, a bunch of other breaks to be found. Super accessible, but not quite as good as Troncones if you ask us! Check out Zihuatanejo Surf Guide for more info.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Beginner, Intermediote
Ideal Swell - S/SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Beach, point
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Lots of beginners
Other Things to Do in Troncones
Troncones isn’t a huge tourist hub, so you won’t find the things to do that you might find in other parts of Mexico. However, there are still plenty of activities for those times you’re not in the water.
Release Sea Turtles - Much of the Pacific Coast of Mexico is home to turtle nesting grounds. Eco Ixzi Travel offers the opportunity to go help release the baby sea turtles and watch them make their way into the sea. It’s a great activity for anyone, but kids and families will especially love the experience.
Visit Ixtapa and Zihua - The nearby towns of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are absolutely worth investigating in our opinion. They’re a bit more resorty, and you’ll likely fly into the area when arriving. If you have a free day or afternoon, head down south to check out the towns. We prefer Zihuatanejo to Ixtapa for what it’s worth!
Kayak the Estuary - There’s a beautiful little estuary in town where you might see egrets and herons as well as many other birds, iguanas, and turtles. Costa Nativa offers tours for a reasonable price on kayaks.
Go Hiking - The Sierra Madres are right here and accessible from Troncones. Again, Costa Nativa offers nice guided tours. You can swim in El Salto, hike along the river, and visit a local village.
Meditate and Do Yoga - If you’re looking to practice some mindfulness or meditation, check out Present Moment Retreat. They offer drop-in yoga and meditation classes for a great way to start your day!
Snorkel - If you have gear, you can bring it yourself. If not, you can visit TronconesTours.com to find a guide to take you out snorkeling to some reefs, caves, and more!
Where to Stay in Troncones
If you don’t want to stay at one of the many surf camps in Jacó, don’t worry! We have you covered. There are seriously a ton of hotels in town. The town can get rather rowdy with parties at night. This may be what you’re looking for, or not, so keep that in mind.
Quinta Feliz
Small wavefront hotel in town
Located right on the main beach, Quinta Feliz is a 13+ hotel with small bungalows. They have fans, WiFi, a kitchenette, and a lovely infinity pool on the beach. It’s right downtown so you can get into town. You also can check the surf from your room!
Troncones Point Hostel
Surf hostel and camp at the point
Already mentioned in our section on surf camps, the Troncones Point Hostel is right at the point. Dorm rooms are around $20/night, and they also have private rooms. Super fun place with a lot of social life going on.
Present Moment Retreat
Wellness-oriented boutique hotel
Present Moment is a small hotel and yoga retreat sitting right on the beach. They have beautifulg rounds, yoga and meditation classes, spa and wellness centers, and healthy food. If you’re looking for a natural, healthy vacation, stay here! They also offer horseback riding, eco tours, and surf lessons on site!
NEREA
Modern oceanfront condos
Available for both short-term and long-term stays, NEREA is a group of beautiful condos right on the sea in Troncones. They have some big condos on offer with ocean views and all you could need for a relaxing, private stay.
Firefly Beach Bungalows
Reasonable private beach bungalows
The pet-friendly Firefly Beach Bungalows is an awesome little place that honestly is underpriced in our opinion. They have lovely little palapa bungalows, a pool, shared kitchen to use, and a wood fired barbecue on site.
Getting to Troncones
If you’re flying into the area, you’ll want to land at ZIH, the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport. From there, you’ll be headed about 45 minutes to the north to get to Troncones.
Public Transportation - You can’t get a bus straight from the aiport to Troncones, so it may not be the best way to go. You can get a bus from the Zihuatanejo stop to the road into Troncones if public transport is the route you want to go.
Taxi/Uber - The taxis from the airport will charge about $40 and it takes around 45 minutes. It’s a relatively easy way to go. If you have boards, you may have to pay a little more for a bigger taxi to take you.
Private Transfer - You can get a private transfer from the airport to your accommodation into Troncones for around $100 each way. This is the way to go if you’re traveling with a group or a family.
Car Rental - Finally, you can of course rent a car. This is what we personally do. I like the control I think. It’s a relatively easy and safe 40 minute drive into Troncones from the airport.
Restaurants in Troncones
Mi Jardin - Located up north of town at the Mi Jardin hotel, this restaurant is a changing menu that uses delicious local ingredients. They often have wood-fired pizzas, delicious pastas, as well as a variety of other seasonal food. It’s a fun, casually romantic place we recommend for couples for sure!
Lobo de Mar - A reasonable little cafe restaurant, Lobo de Mar is a great place to get healthy vegan eats, a delicious cocktail or mocktail, and soffees. Their foccaccia bread is awesome, and you’ll also find plenty of dogs in this pet friendly spot!
Present Moment - Already mentioned twice (in our section on surf camps and hotels), Present Moment has a beautiful outdoor restaurant sitting on a patio overlooking the beach. They have healthy food and vegetarian options, and their menu includes local Mexico dishes as well as some Asian food. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but it is a great spot to grab a filling a nutritious meal!
Cenaduria Rufi - A local spot with local food! You’ll likely spend under $10 a person here on tacos, papa rellena, or quesadillas. They have delicious fresh limonadas and a mellow local vibe. They also offer cooking classes, which we seriously recommend!
La Cevicheria Troncones - As the name suggests, this is the place to get fresh local ceviche! They have a ton of different fish ceviches, shrimp ceviche, and more. A fun outdoor place good for groups or families!
Brisas Mexicana - Located up north in La Majahua, Brisas is popular spot for drinks and all kinds of local Mexican food. Definitely worth checking out, and gives you an excuse to adventure north to see another town.
Travel Tips
Things to Do
Troncones isn’t a huge tourist spot. You won’t find a ton of things to do or tourist activities right here. You can head down to Ixtapa and Zihua if you’re looking for more of those things. Otherwise, Troncones has more of a laid-back surf and chill vibe. If you’re looking for a relaxing, surf-centric vacation, this is a good spot. If you are looking for a place to have tons of activities and things for your family to do, you might want to look south in Zihuatanejo.
Getting Around Troncones
You definitely do not need a car to get around this tiny little town. It’s about a quarter of a square mile, with a year-round population of 700. It’s more of a pueblito. However, a car can be useful to explore up north in La Saladita or to head down into Zihuatanejo for more action.
Spending Money and ATMS
This isn’t a huge tourist town, so it’s not full of ATMs like more touristy places. However, there are an ATM Multiva and a few other ATMs in town. A lot of places will take cards as well. Don’t carry around too much cash (as usual in most places you travel). But you will find some cash-only places, especially with surf lessons and rentals.
Doctors and Hospitals
If you need a doctor or hospital, your best bet is to head south to Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa. There is a pharmacy right in the middle of town that can help with small things.
Be sure to check out our Resources page for tips on traveling, spending money, support, and more.
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