Playas de Tijuana, United States
Also within 20 km of Tijuana
- Imperial Beach Surf spot · 8.9 km from Tijuana
- Sloughs Surf spot · 8.9 km from Tijuana
- Baja Malibu Surf spot · 13.6 km from Tijuana
- Gator Beach Surf spot · 19.8 km from Tijuana
Watch this spot We email you when Playas de Tijuana is worth the trip.

About Playas de Tijuana
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (258°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (78°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 450 m out (1 in 44). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 15°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually November, with about 5 good days in 7; in March, April and May, about 3. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Tijuana, 8.2 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 20°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 6 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN), direct.
See flights MDW → SAN · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAdGetting there. 45 min from the airport to Playas de Tijuana.
Accommodation.
Stay in TijuanaAd
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 Tijuana (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Imperial Beach 10 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 12 places to stay
Places to stay in Imperial Beach · Booking.com AdTijuana 14 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 136 places to stay · where Playas de Tijuana stays
Places to stay in Tijuana · Booking.com AdCoronado 32 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 43 places to stay
Places to stay in Coronado · Booking.com AdRosarito 35 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 41 places to stay
Places to stay in Rosarito · Booking.com AdSan Diego 36 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 185 places to stay
Places to stay in San Diego · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Tijuana · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Tijuana · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Playas de Tijuana on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 49, good | 3 ft13 scrumbling | 288kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 24°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 54, good | 3 ft14 scrumbling | 298kJ | offshorewind from the east, 3 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 52, good | 3 ft9 scrumbling | 172kJ | offshorewind from the east, 2 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 46, fair | 3 ft11 scrumbling | 231kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 6 knots | 21°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 38, fair | 3 ft10 scrumbling | 108kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 2 knots | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 55, good | 4 ft6 smushy | 95kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 8 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft6 smushy | 40kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 4 knots | 22°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft12 scrumbling | 81kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 3 knots | 23°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 19, too small | 2 ft11 scrumbling | 54kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 3 knots, offshore | 24°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 45, fair | 3 ft4 smushy | 31kJ | wind from the north, 3 knots | 24°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 intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SAN, then 45 min by road. About 6h 45 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Playas de Tijuana
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Playas de Tijuana
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 11 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Playas de Tijuana
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 3 ft at 10 s, wind 2 kn (5 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Playas de Tijuana
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Playas de Tijuana
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 6 s, wind 4 kn (8 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SAN, then 45 min by road. About 6h 45 door to door
Rough cost
About £935–£1,700 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 SAN, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £215–£445 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £40–£65 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £270–£455 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £115–£190 |
| Total | £935–£1,700 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Tijuana
- La TradiciónMexican · 0.1 km from the centre
- Domino's PizzaPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- Giuseppis RevolucionPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- Punto KomaJapanese · 0.2 km from the centre
- Bar BachanoBar and grill · 0.3 km from the centre
- Birria La MejorMexican · 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
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.