Overview
La Lancha is a proper little pointbreak in the Punta Mita area, breaking both right and left over a rock and coral reef. Punta Mita is littered with fun waves, most of them righthand points, and La Lancha fits right in: consistently mellow, but really quite perfect on the best swells. In a land of summertime lefthanders, it is a welcome anomaly for traveling surfers. The water is usually pretty clean, though the reef is shallow enough that rocks are a real hazard.
When It Works
The spot draws swell from south-southwest through west-northwest, and it is northwest swell that makes it tick. That surprises people, since the point faces southwest, but Cabo Corrientes blocks all significant south swell and most south-southwest swell, while Punta Mita is just small enough to let moderate to large winter northwest swells wrap in. Very westerly southwest swells get good too, and it can turn fun on big southwest swells out of the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere.
That makes this a wintertime spot despite its orientation, with the season running November through March and spring holding on at the tail end. It works from 1.2 m / 4 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft, and waist to head high is where it shines.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind, with a workable window running from northwest around to northeast. Higher tides suit the shallow point, so mid to high tide is the call, and a rising tide is generally better.
Local Tips
Expect a moderately busy lineup when it is good, with plenty of longboarders in the mix, but the atmosphere is friendly. The mellow, forgiving nature of the wave opens it up to beginners through experts, and anything from a shortboard or fish to a funboard or longboard will find something to do. The paddle out is manageable unless it is really pumping.
Access
Ask around and you will be fine, or just hike the beach.
