Playa norte, Mexico
Also within 20 km of Veracruz
- Martí Surf spot · 3.6 km from Veracruz
- Destapador Surf spot · 6.1 km from Veracruz
- Tampi Surf spot · 11.4 km from Veracruz
- Costalitos Surf spot · 11.5 km from Veracruz
Watch this spot We email you when Playa norte is worth the trip.
About Playa norte
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (24°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (204°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 20.0 km out (1 in 2000). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 24°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and June, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Veracruz, 1.8 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 11 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to VER, changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
See flights MDW → VER · Skyscanner from about £210 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to Playa norte.
Accommodation.
Stay in VeracruzAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Veracruz (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Veracruz 3 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 139 places to stay · where Playa norte stays
Places to stay in Veracruz · Booking.com AdBoca del Río 18 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 78 places to stay
Places to stay in Boca del Río · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Veracruz · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Veracruz · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Playa norte on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 9, too small | 5 ft9 smushy | 362kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 25 knots | 25°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 5, too small | 4 ft7 smushy | 145kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 23 knots | 26°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 6, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 63kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 10 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 8, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 28kJ | wind from the west, 6 knots | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 3, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 46kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 26°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 20kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 11 knots | 26°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 14kJ | wind from the north, 8 knots | 26°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 19kJ | wind from the north, 10 knots | 26°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 3, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 35kJ | wind from the north, 14 knots | 27°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 5, too small | 3 ft7 smushy | 95kJ | wind from the north, 16 knots | 27°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to VER, changing at DFW, then 30 min by road. About 11h 35 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to VER, changing at DFW, then 30 min by road. About 11h 35 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Veracruz each day: Destapador, Martí, Playa norte.
Rough cost
About £635–£1,175 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to VER, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £210–£435 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £160–£265 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £150–£280 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £635–£1,175 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Veracruz
- Los PortalesMexican · in the centre
- JN Salón de EventosBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Los Farolitos del centroLatin american · 0.1 km from the centre
- Mariscos Villa Rica DiligenciasSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- Taquería CincoMexican · 0.1 km from the centre
- Burritos Los PonchosMexican · 0.3 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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