Pablo Narvaez’s Oaxaca
Sand beneath your toes, the water is as warm as the equatorial air. Out front, a set of flawless set waves peel around granite rocks.
Why surf Oaxaca?
From Barra de la Cruz to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca is the land of picture perfect right-hand point breaks. And while a bunch of right-handers may not sound like a whole lot of “variety,” you’d be surprised. There’s even a secret beach break or two with fun and consistent lefts… but, we’ll let Pablo show you those.
The O.G. (Original Guide) of Oaxaca
Born and raised in wave-rich Barra de la Cruz, surf guide Pablo Narvaez urges his guests to roll down the windows. No, he’s not trying to save gas by cutting off the A/C, but rather, he wants his guests to get a true sense of his home – its tastes, scents, rhythms and people. Bubbly and wise, Pablo is one of the most veteran surf guides in Southern Oaxaca. From introducing the first foreign surfers to the various waves in the region, to negotiating the first deal with the WSL, Pablo has been an instrumental figure in the evolution of Barra de la Cruz as a world-famous wave.
“Everyone in Huatulco and Barra knows Pablo—he's the best guy and clearly loved by all of the locals in the area. We scored with the surf and with Pablo and I could not recommend this trip more.”
—Tess, United States
Your private adventure
Who’s it for
Surfers hunting for uncrowded point breaks, especially those craving nature, stunning scenery and unique local traditions.
When to go
March through October is peak season with the most consistent head high swell, while the rest of the year is more mellow.
Make it yours
With no set itinerary, Pablo’s adventures are one-of-a-kind. Let your interests lead you to rural mezcal producers, jungle hikes and more.
Pablo's Picks
Experience sensory overload in the traditional heart of Mexico with its incredible surf, pristine nature, and rich cultural traditions.
Peeling Point After Point
Famous waves like Barra de la Cruz are just the tip of the iceberg, with many amazing, lesser-known spots to be explored.
Mole, Memelas & Mezcal
The cuisine in Oaxaca is world-famous, with some of the best to be found at hole-in-the-wall taco joints and roadside stands.
Chill Out
Explore Cascadas Magicas de Copalitilla. This lush national park offers transparent pools of crystal clear water and cascading falls.
How the Other Half Lives
Pablo’s familiarity with the whole stretch of Oaxacan coastline provides endless options for longer stays.
Turtle Power
Witness “arribadas,” a natural spectacle where thousands of sea turtles come to nest at the same time along the local beaches.
Where you'll sleep
Stay in hidden homes and boutique hotels matched to your needs—from lux digs with a private chef to bohemian bungalows right on the beach, your spot is guaranteed to be dialed.
Villa Escondida
Offering the comfort and privacy of home with the amenities and service of a 5-star hotel. The ‘last house’ in Huatulco and uniquely located on the beautiful Bocana beach on the Southern Coast of Oaxaca, bordering the Copalita eco-archeological park.
Casa Bocana
Huatulco’s first “design hotel.” Textures and colors harmonize and the natural environment and modern amenities ensure total relaxation day and night. Each room is unique, with furniture, fabrics, and decor created by local artisans. All suites include a balcony—complete with hammock.
These are just a few of the special digs available. We need to know a bit about you to match the perfect spot for you and yours.
Take a deeper look
Recent departures
Rodolfo
Friends - Duration 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation La Quinta Bella Surf ability Casual surfers
Oaxaca was the best surf trip I ever had, the waves are absolutely incredible, you can have rides of almost 2min long…hot water, sunny, no crowds, fish and turtles everywhere, good people, great food, great adventure. And our guides the best, Pablo and Joaquin were amazing, they showed us the true spirit of oaxaca and took us to surf perfect waves with no crowds.
Yasmine
Couple - Duration 6 days, 5 nights Accommodation Hotel Mojon Surf ability Avid surfers
Tess
Family - Duration 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation La Crucecita Surf ability Casual surfers
Pablo was the best possible guide we could have asked for when traveling to Oaxaca. We were a group of 5 and we were more than thrilled with everything Pablo did for us. He was committed to fostering the best experience possible and we had nonstop activities lined up every day. The surfing was amazing, especially at Barra and we all caught some of the best waves of our lives. Everyone in Huatulco and Barra knows Pablo — he’s the best guy and clearly loved by all of the locals in the area. He showed us the best spots for food and we loved hanging out with him and his son. Pablo was timely, organized, energetic, and positive. Everything you could ever ask for on a trip like this!! We scored with the surf and with Pablo and I could not recommend this trip more. We stayed in the Huatulco area and transportation was super easy thanks to Pablo. He even set up a party for one of my buddies on his birthday at his house with a local band, along with a sick boat another day. Thank you Pablo!!
David
Friends - Duration 4 days, 3 nights Accommodation Bayside Huatulco Surf ability Casual surfers
Where do I start. What an incredible experience! The waves down there are perfect. Some of the longest and most fun rides of my life. They are truly remote so it is absolutely essential to have a guide who knows the locals. Speaking of guides, Pablo is AMAZING! He knows absolutely everyone in all the small villages in the area, and he extremely dedicated to the providing the best experience for his guests. He is humble, gracious and kind, and if you’re lucky he’ll bring his son along for some help. He cooked us dinner on the beach while we surfed, provided pointers on the specifics of each wave, and also provided us tons of history on the area. Once we were gassed from surfing , he took us to great restaurants for experience the local cuisine and other adventures like snorkeling. He even battled through a migraine one day to take us out! In our 4 days, we made such a great friendship with Pablo and will certainly return many times in the future. Thank you Pablo!!
Tyler
Friends - Duration 3 days, 2 nights Accommodation Villa Escondida Surf ability Avid surfers
Pablo is a respected member of the Barra community and took us to restaurants and stops that we otherwise wouldn’t have found. He does a stellar job of getting you to the best available waves and for those that want to do something outside of surfing he can definitely manage the excursions – we were just 3 guys trying to spend our entire time in the water so we just went back and forth to surf and get al pastor tacos. We plan to return and would book Villa Escondida with Pablo again in the future, likely with our significant others. The size of the Villa should allow for 3-4 couples to comfortably stay.
Chad
Friends - Duration 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation Villa Escondida Surf ability Avid surfers
RAD! Pablo was a great guide. Took us to a few different spots and knew the conditions. Not only a great surf guide, but as a local of the area was full of knowledge about the wildlife, history, and overall story of the place. Ended up bieng so much more than great surf! Nature, great food, and good people. I highly highly recommend Pablo and the Thermal crew. Gracias!
What makes a Thermal adventure different?
Surfing with the best local guide and staying in the perfect place is a unique and powerful combo. Go with a local to uncrowded spots and explore a new region of the world embedded in the local community.
How many surfers is this ideally for?
This adventure is designed for 2-8 travelers, but with its uncrowded points, solo travelers on a strike mission will dig this one as well.
How well do I need to surf?
You don’t need to rip, but the breaks in Oaxaca are best suited for surfers comfortable paddling, catching and riding waves on their own. If you rip, you know Oaxaca lights up with ridiculous rights.
What’s included?
This adventure includes surf guiding, accommodations, and hosting for your entire trip which means you can focus on the waves.
What’s not included?
We’ve got you covered for just about everything except flights, boards, and meals. That said, Pablo is an excellent chef and has been known to cook for guests.