Overview
Arenillas Negras is a wide, exposed beachbreak that breaks over sand but is still scattered with rocks, so it rarely lines up for much beyond short slides. The water here isn't the cleanest either, with pollution flowing in from the commercial sector, including waste from a nearby fish processing factory.
When It Works
The beach draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with a southwest (SW) swell the best match. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft, and picks up both lefts and rights. It's moderately consistent, so worthwhile windows do come around when the setup lines up.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind. The beach is best around mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a forgiving spot for beginners, with calmer inside whitewash to practise on, and the lineup usually stays fairly quiet. Just to the south, El Rancio is a serious right-hand bodyboarding slab where thick, below-sea-level tubes fire in southwest to west swells up to 12 ft with any east wind. It's a very different proposition from this mellow beachbreak.
