Overview
Punta San Carlos is a long, mellow right-hand point on the remote Pacific side of Baja, breaking over rock and reef. It's a forgiving wave that rewards a patient approach, and it marks the northern end of a stretch of right point after right point running south toward Punta Rosarito and the Seven Sisters. The water here is clean, and the point has also become a well-known kiteboarding and windsurfing destination thanks to the strong northwesterlies that funnel down the coast.
When It Works
The point picks up swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW) and is usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, which covers everything from chest high to double overhead. It's a year-round setup, so there's no season you need to plan around, though clean sessions in this part of Baja can be few and far between. When it lines up, the ride is long and rolling rather than dramatic.
Wind and Tide
Look for north (N) offshore wind, with a workable wind window from north to north-northeast (N-NNE). Wind is the main variable here, since 20-knot-plus northwesterlies regularly compress against the plateaus along this coast. The point works on low and mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a wave beginners, intermediates, and experts can all get something out of, and it takes a longboard particularly well. A funboard or fish works too if you'd rather keep things loose. The lineup stays fairly quiet and tends to be a bit reserved, so read the vibe before you paddle for everything. Watch for urchins, exposed reef and rock, and rips.
Access
Getting here is difficult. This stretch of the Pacific coast sits a long way from the highway, so plan on carrying in everything you need, including all your water and gas. The paddle out itself is light once you're there.
