Overview
El Astillero is a sand-bottom beachbreak that turns on best up by the rivermouth, where the rights get hollow and pack real punch. Down at the protected south end of the beach the surf is usually a good deal smaller, so you can pick your intensity depending on where you paddle out.
When It Works
The rivermouth peaks throw both lefts and rights, with the punchy rights the standout. It draws swell from south through southwest, and southwest (SW) is the direction that lines things up best. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, giving it plenty of range from playful to serious. Expect moderately consistent surf, so there are reliable windows without it pumping every day.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind to clean up the faces. It can work across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an intermediate-friendly wave, and the lineup tends to stay fairly quiet, so you can usually find room to surf without much of a crowd.
Access
There's free roadside parking right by the beach. Watch your vehicle, though, as petty crime is an issue if you leave a car here, and it's a long walk from town. Once you're past the rivermouth, be mindful of the many rocks in the lineup.
