A long right-hand point in remote Baja California, Punta San Carlos rewards the effort of a two-hour dirt road drive with uncrowded waves stretching 150 to 500m on a good day. SW, SSW, S, W, and WNW swells all find this stretch of coast, working chest-high to double overhead at mid to low tide. The prevailing NW winds are the same ones that have turned the area into a kite and windsurf destination, so clean surf sessions can be scarce. NE and N winds are your friends here. Intermediate and advanced surfers will get the most from it, though the wave is forgiving enough for strong beginners on the right day. Bottom: reef and rock. Season: year-round, best in winter swell season. Consistency: moderate, limited by onshore NW winds. Bring a 4WD, carry all your water, gas, and food in, and check the swell forecast before committing to the drive.
Punta San Carlos draws a moderate crowd by Baja standards but is rarely genuinely packed. Kiters and windsurfers outnumber surfers on strong NW days. The local fishermen are welcoming and the vibe in the water is mellow. Dawn sessions before the wind fills in offer the best combination of clean conditions and elbow room.
Reach the area via Mexico 1, turning off past El Rosario toward Punta Baja and continuing roughly 22km to the unmarked dirt track. Expect two hours of rough road, a 4WD is strongly recommended in the rainy season as routes change after rain. There are no facilities whatsoever: camping only. The small fishing village at the base of the point has no supplies. Carry all water, fuel, and food. Hazards include urchins, exposed reef and rock, and rip currents.
The Seven Sisters points stretch south toward Punta Rosarito and offer more right-hand setups in the same swell window, though access deteriorates further south. The Punta Canoas area provides more wind protection below tall bluffs when the NW is howling at San Carlos.
Forecast by Windy.app
