Shipwrecks is a punchy right-hand reef break on the desert edge of the Sea of Cortez, out past Costa Azul where the hotels give way to open desert. It's a major landmark among a string of right pointbreaks reached by a wild trail through the desert. The right walls have plenty of punch but rarely barrel, though the adjacent beachbreak left can. Nine Palms, just along the coast, is often a better bet and sits well sheltered from the wind.
When It Works
The wave peels right over a mix of uneven reef and sand. It draws swell from southwest through southeast (SW-SE), with a south swell the best match, and is usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft. It's moderately consistent, and the further east you drive the less reliable it gets, so it pays to time a trip with a big cyclone swell.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northwest offshore wind. The reef works on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This one suits intermediate surfers. Expect a busy lineup when it's working, with plenty of people camped up to ride the right walls.
Access
There's camping right at the spot and free parking, which is why so many surfers post up here to wait for the swell.
