Learning to surf near Puerto Vallarta, MX

November 4, 2015 11:37 PM

I've got a week to myself in Mexico, starting in mid-December. I want to really learn how to surf, and maybe do some diving or snorkeling too. I don't have a very big budget, and I'm flying home out of Puerto Vallarta, but starting the trip in Guadalajara. I'm looking for recommendations on hostels, surf schools, and other things to do in the PV area.

I've had a couple of surfing lessons over the years and enjoyed it but never did it for long enough to really get past the first-day basics. I like it enough that I want to take a week and get vaguely competent at it. Cursory searching suggests that Sayulita would be a good place for this in mid-December. I'm looking for recommendations on:

- Places in or around Puerto Vallarta to do that, or confirmation that yeah, Sayulita is good.
- Surf schools and/or instructors.
- Reasonable cheap accommodations. A bed in a dorm at a hostel is fine, and it'd be nice to hang with other folks in the evenings.
- Any diving or snorkeling in the area? I figure I'll probably want to take a day or two off in the middle of the week from surfing to do something a little less energetic.
- Anything else in the Puerto Vallarta area, or on the bus ride there from Guadalajara, that you'd recommend?

Also: my Spanish is sadly very poor, so set the tourist difficulty level to "Easy" or "Moderate".

posted by hackwolf to Travel & Transportation around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (1 answer total)

I was in PV in May and was thrilled with Vallarta Surf Guide. We were picked up from our Airbnb in PV by our instructor, and driven up to a nice beach in Sayulita. It was a blast, and I'd definitely use them again if I were going back. My friend and I were the only two people working with our instructor so we got really personal attention. Highly recommended!
posted by cvp at 12:25 AM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]