The Cove, Punta de Mita

A break near the tip of the bay

The Cove sits among the cluster of surf breaks around Punta de Mita, the headland that closes Banderas Bay to the north-west. Every surf guide we read for this stretch of coast lists it. One of them also gives it the name La Bahia and notes that many surfers rate it the top wave around the point. We pass that on as a view held locally rather than a ranking of our own.

The wave

According to one guide, the wave peels to the right and can give a long, fast ride. Another advises going on a higher tide: when the tide is out there is little water between a surfer and the rock below, so a fuller tide is the safer choice. Each of those comes from a single source, but the rock underneath is reason enough to watch a few sets before paddling out. The same guide pitches it at surfers with some experience, so newer surfers may be happier at a softer wave nearby.

Getting there

Two ways in come up across the sources. The simpler is by boat: small local boats run surfers out from the Punta de Mita side. The other is on foot, a walk of roughly 30 to 40 minutes over rocks, depending on where you set off; one guide starts it from the beach at El Anclote. Another guide notes that the break is harder to reach for anyone not staying inside the gated resort development at the point. With boards to carry, the boat suits most people better.

We have not fixed a checked position for the break, so we give no distance in nautical miles from our boarding points. Of those, Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz is the closest, east along the north shore of the bay.

Planning a session

Swell, wind and tide decide whether the wave is worth the trip on a given day, so check the forecast close to the date. If a surf stop is part of your day on the water, tell us your level and your board when you book. We'll confirm the timing and the way in for your day.