El Cañon is a surf spot located in a military zone, so surfers need to check in and leave their passports at security. The break produces mostly lefts that work best close to the bouldered shore. It can handle waves up to 8-10 ft (2.4-3.0 m) during larger swells, especially from the Southwest. This spot gets busy, so be prepared for some crowd action out there.

The optimal swell direction for El Cañon is from the Southwest, but it can also pick up swells from the North. You can catch waves here at sizes starting from about 3 ft (0.9 m), and things get interesting with the uneven reef beneath. The best conditions generally pop up with a Southeast wind, and the waves work well across low, mid, and high tides. This is an intermediate spot, so some experience is recommended before paddling out.

For those looking for more waves, the Outer Reefs, located about a kilometer offshore, offer good lefts and rights depending on the swell angle. If you’re planning to surf those, you’ll need access to a boat. When you're getting in and out of the water, keep an eye on the sets right in front of the cannon to avoid any mishaps.