Cerritos Beach has a way of turning a simple plan into an all-day story. You come down for a quick swim or a surf check, then the Pacific starts doing its thing: warm sand, rolling waves, cold drinks, music in the distance, and a sunset that makes everyone stay a little longer. If you are looking for things to do at Cerritos Beach, plan for more than an hour or two.
Located on Baja California Sur’s Pacific side, near the laid-back communities of El Pescadero and Todos Santos, Cerritos is made for travelers who want a beach day with options. Bring your board, bring your friends, bring the kids, or show up solo with a good book. Here are 10 ways to make the most of it.
1. Catch a Surf Session
Surf is the heartbeat of Cerritos Beach. On gentler days, it can be a friendly place for first-timers to take a lesson, practice popping up, and get comfortable in the whitewater. When the swell arrives, more experienced surfers head out for longer rides and a little more Pacific energy.
Conditions shift with the season, tides, wind, and swell, so there is no one-size-fits-all surf plan. Check the water before paddling out, talk to a local instructor if you are new, and never treat a calm-looking ocean casually. A lesson is often the best call for beginners because it means more waves, less guesswork, and a better handle on currents and lineup etiquette.
2. Take a Long Barefoot Beach Walk
Cerritos is not the kind of beach you need to rush. A walk along the shoreline is one of the best low-key ways to settle into the day, especially early in the morning before the sand warms up or late in the afternoon when the light turns soft and golden.
Keep an eye on the tide and choose your route accordingly. The beach can feel wonderfully open, but rocky sections and changing water conditions mean it pays to watch where you are going. Bring water, wear a hat, and let the phone stay in your bag for a while. The best part is usually the part you did not schedule.
3. Swim, Float, and Cool Off Between Plans
A Pacific swim is the fastest reset button around. On mellow days, a dip can be the perfect break between sunbathing, lunch, and a volleyball game. On bigger surf days, though, swimming deserves more caution than confidence.
Stay aware of wave size, shore break, and rip currents. If the ocean looks powerful, enjoy it from the sand or keep close to shore where conditions allow. Families with young children should choose a calm moment, stay together, and make sun protection part of the plan. Baja sunshine is generous, but it does not play around.
4. Build Your Beach Day Around Food and Cold Drinks
Great beach days need fuel. After a morning surf or a few hours under the sun, nothing lands better than casual food you can actually relax over: fresh breakfast plates, tacos, burgers, shareable snacks, and something cold in your hand.
This is where a beach club day makes life easy. Instead of packing a cooler, driving elsewhere for lunch, and trying to coordinate everyone again, settle in somewhere with shade, a menu for different appetites, and a view that keeps the ocean in the picture. At Big Fun Beach Club, the whole idea is Sun • Sound • Sea: eat, sip, hang out, and keep your spot near the action.
5. Get a Volleyball Game Going
Beach volleyball is one of the most social things to do at Cerritos Beach. You do not need a full team or a serious game face. A casual rally is enough to get moving, meet other beach people, and earn that second round of fish tacos.
If you are traveling with friends, volleyball gives the group a reason to put their phones down. If you are on your own or traveling as a couple, it can be an easy conversation starter. Ask before joining a game, keep it light, and remember that sand makes every save look more impressive than it was.
6. Find Shade and Actually Relax
There is a difference between spending a day at the beach and enduring a day at the beach. A little shade changes everything, particularly between late morning and midafternoon, when the sun is high and the margaritas are working faster than expected.
Claim a comfortable spot, order some water alongside the fun stuff, and give yourself permission to slow down. Read a few chapters. Take a nap. Watch the surfers. People-watch with zero judgment. Cerritos has plenty of energy, but it also rewards doing absolutely nothing for a while.
7. Stay for the Sunset
The Pacific-facing coast delivers the main event at the end of the day. Cerritos sunsets are bright, dramatic, and different every time – sometimes a clean wash of orange, sometimes layers of pink and violet behind the waves.
Arrive early enough to get comfortable, especially on busy weekends or during peak travel periods. Bring a light layer for after sundown, since breezes can pick up once the sun drops. Then put the camera down for at least a few minutes. A photo is nice. Watching the whole sky change is better.
8. Catch Live Music or a Beach Event
A good Cerritos Beach day can shift gears after sunset. Depending on the night and the season, you may find live music, DJ sets, special gatherings, sports meetups, or other reasons for the crowd to linger. The best events feel social rather than formal: sandy feet, easy conversation, and no need to dress like you are headed to a nightclub.
Schedules change, so check what is happening before you arrive. If you are visiting for a holiday weekend or traveling with a group, planning around an event can turn dinner into the night everyone talks about after the trip.
9. Make a Mini Day Trip to Todos Santos
Cerritos is a beach destination, but it also makes a great base for seeing more of Baja California Sur. Todos Santos is close enough for an easy outing and brings a different rhythm: art galleries, local shops, historic streets, coffee stops, and restaurants worth building an appetite for.
Go early if you want to wander before the hottest part of the day, then head back toward the coast for a late-afternoon swim or sunset drinks. It is a smart balance for travelers who want culture and coastline without spending the whole day in the car.
10. Make It a Full-Day Plan, Not a Stopover
The best answer to what to do at Cerritos Beach is often simple: stay longer. Start with coffee and a surf check, follow it with a walk or swim, settle into lunch, join a game, cool off with a drink, and let sunset decide whether you are ready to leave.
That rhythm works for couples looking for an easy date day, friends chasing a lively beach scene, families who need food and activities in one place, and remote workers taking a deserved day away from the laptop. The trade-off is that you may not check off five separate attractions. Instead, you get one genuinely good day with room to breathe.
A Few Smart Cerritos Beach Tips
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a cover-up, and more water than you think you need. Keep cash or a card handy for food, rentals, and local vendors, but do not bring valuables you would hate to lose in the sand. If you plan to drink, sort out your ride before the second round.
Most of all, respect the ocean and the people sharing the beach with you. Give surfers space in the lineup, clean up after your crew, and ask about conditions when you are uncertain. Cerritos is relaxed because visitors and locals help keep it that way.
Pick one anchor for the day – a surf lesson, a long lunch, a volleyball game, or sunset music – and let everything else happen around it. That is how Cerritos Beach does its best work: no complicated itinerary, just good people, salt air, and plenty of room for big fun.