Baja Surf Report

Surf Camp in the dunes at Punta Conejo

Northern Baja














We bypassed the known breaks in the semi developed area just south of the US Border, but as we drove south along the coast saw plenty to whet the appetite. 3-4ft and bright silvery blue in the afternoon sunshine, a surprisingly light afternoon onshore breeze doing little to damage the face. Just to the north of Ensenada Punta Miguel looked good, and not too spoilt.

Our first proper surf check was Punta San Thomas, just South of Ensenada.

Punta/ Puerto/ Boca San Thomas



The effort of driving out here was greater than the reward, not enough swell to get the breaks really going; but the potential was clear and the scenery fantastic. The fish camp was a little intimidating for Suzanne here- no families, just tough men. We prefferred the beach break at the Boca (rivermouth) on the way to the Puerto. There was a pod of pilot whales cruising the surf line here.

Punta Camalu

This was a good longboard wave and the reef runs for hundreds of metres down the point. Camping on the cliff overlooking the break was a little scary, but fun. Access to the beach was a bit of a climb, but no-one else was out so the break was empty. Beach just pebbles here so no sandcastles.

Punta San Jacinto (Freighters)

A classic spot, not to be missed; and although there are more buildings here than at most of the remote point breaks in Baja, there was still easy access to reasonable beach side camping. The freighter gives the break a twist. Great right longboard/learning wave on a small swell and a firing, screaming ride on a big day. There were waves for everyone here.

Punta/Puerto Santa Rosalita

Lovely little fishing town with a number of really good breaks in this area. The beach inside the point is protected from the bigger swells and this makes it a good option when the swells are unrideably huge in midwinter. This is also a good access point for the other breaks of the “seven sisters” further north. There is a dirt road running north and south along the coast from here but four wheel drive is essential. Provisions are available in town.


Punta Rosarito (The Wall)

The best of the best of Baja. Mad drive in, great fishing, great surfing, great camping overlooking the break, great scenery, incredible wildlife, great people, we loved it! My previous blog about the campsites of Baja was inspired by this place. One of the most consistent swell magnets due to it's exposed location with South, North and West swells all getting in here, but particularly the winter swells. One day I'm going to live here in a hovel for six months.

Juncalito (Sea of Cortez)

We caught the wind swell from a gale in the north of the sea of Cortez, right in this little cove, deep in the bay of Conception. In theory no swell at all should get in here, but it was very popular with the kids who all found rideable 1-2ft waves here. Lovely Palapa camping right by the water's edge.

Punta Conejo

This was another classic Baja destination. Long and uncomfortable access route through wild and dramatic cactus forest, leading to a beautiful free camping area in sand dunes with low bushes to provide some shelter from the wind. The best wave here is a long, steep left which runs for three hundred metres into the cove to the north of the point. The rights off the reef work well too, especially in winter, on the north swells. The reef off the point is quite wide so it is easy to get out of position and get caught inside the bigger sets. Take a bit of care here that you don't end up washing over the urchin infested rocks! Water is warm enough for most to be in trunks, although I was still in my summer suit here. Spearfishing inside the reef was good and the other campers and local fishermen friendly. Whales cruising by every day.




Punta San Pedrito

The campsite for this break overlooks the boulder strewn break. It's not really a beginners wave this- odd boulders just below the surface in the impact zone, but it is a really excellent and uncrowded wave. Yet another right point. The glassy morning conditions smooth out the steep take off so that the boulders are a bit less intimidating; and once on this wave it is possible to skirt the rocks all the way down to the sandy beach. A good option this if Cerritos is crowded out.

Cerritos

We had our first taste of serious North Pacific winter swell here- triple overhead sets booming around the point for two days and double overhead for most of the rest of the time. Despite this the angle of the point breaks the swell enough to give the learners a chance here- and its a sandy bottom too so no nasty rocks to fall on. All the children caught waves here, as did Suzanne. This is a great beach break as well as a long point, so the crowds from nearby Cabo are spread out reasonably well. Warm water, Free camping on the beach and taco/cerveza stand by the car park. We loved it.

Zippers

This was the only one of the South facing Baja breaks we surfed- May through September swells from the roaring forties are the best wave generators for these breaks, so we didn't spend a lot of time here. It's also the most crowded area in Baja. Still we caught Zippers on a rare day when it was just about rideable and so Tas & I surfed it just to say we had...