Bajada de los Palitos
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Bajada de los Palitos (also known as Playa Belvedere) is an exposed beach-and-reef break on the Chubut coast with quite consistent surf. The spot is primarily known for surfing, where an east to east-southeast swell paired with west winds (often offshore for the lineup) can produce clean, rideable waves. Wave conditions are described as exposed and rugged, with beach-and-reef characteristics. High tide is generally preferred because submerged reef sections can become shallow and more hazardous at low tide. Rides can extend from roughly 50–150 meters depending on swell consistency and which sections you connect with, and the shorebreak can become heavy on larger swells. Water temperatures are cold year-round, so a thick wetsuit is essential; boots and gloves (and often a hood) are commonly recommended to make sessions manageable. Strong offshore winds and submerged rocks/reef sections are key hazards, especially with the spot’s isolation and the lack of on-site rescue or lifeguards. Kitesurfing is possible but limited, with only a few kiteable days per week depending on specific southerly/se-frontal or morning north/east-driven wind windows. Windsurfing and wingfoiling are more niche and tend to require advanced experience, especially given the nearshore rocky reef constraints that make higher tide preferable.
- Exposed but consistent surf (beach-and-reef)
- Offshore west winds can groom faces
- Reef hazards increase at low tide
- Cold Atlantic water year-round; thick wetsuit required
- Consistent, well-regarded surf for the Comodoro Rivadavia community
- Offshore westerlies can strongly groom the surf for better faces
- Works as a beach-and-reef break, giving options depending on swell
- Cold water year-round
- Reef/rocks especially hazardous at low tide
- Strong offshore winds can be tricky; wind shadows close to shore
- Kite/wind sessions are comparatively infrequent for most visitors
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, SW
- Offshore directions
- W, WNW
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Patagonian westerlies-frontal pattern dominates; described as strong and cold-water compatible.
- Reliability
- High
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gustiness reported.
- Best Months
- September, October, November, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs bordering the beach can create wind shadows very close to the shore with offshore winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Mixed
- Beach
- Sand — Sand-based beach; also described as mixed sand and pebbles in the launch area.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Surf described as consistent; wave size commonly characterized as medium by available summaries.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach launch with a mix of sand and pebbles.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty; exposed rocks and reef sections increase complexity.
Through the year
Can be busy with locals on weekends and during peak summer months, but generally quiet during weekdays.
Winter months see frequent frontal systems and high winds.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible but limited. Reported ~2–3 kiteable days per week depending on SE/S/NE wind patterns; winter favors SE/S frontal systems. Conditions can be challenging with cold water and potentially gusty offshore winds; more suitable for experienced riders.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Wave sailing opportunities when southerly winds coincide with easterly swells; challenging due to cold water and rugged environment.
- Sail Sizes
- 4–5.3 m²
Foiling is limited by rocky reef sections near shore; best practiced during higher tides to ensure sufficient depth over submerged hazards.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited by nearshore reef sections.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–5 m²
Exposed beach-and-reef break with consistent surf that works when an east (or east-southeast) swell meets west-northwest/offshore wind.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide preferred (reef sections become shallow at low tide).
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open, exposed coastline; no significant shelter—conditions depend strongly on wind+swell alignment.
- Wind Effect
- West winds are perfectly offshore, grooming the swell for clean faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well, but the shorebreak can become heavy and difficult to negotiate.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as good when wind is offshore.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported; also described as quite consistent.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rides reported in the ~50–150 m range depending on section/swell consistency.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long rides when the swell is right; reported typical rides around ~100 m, with occasional variation by section and consistency.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bajada de los Palitos in the full forecast view.
Bajada de los Palitos wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–15 ktsGusts 33 kts
- Direction
- ENE57°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2915 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.8 m6s period
- Temperature
- 6–20 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bajada de los Palitos is forecast for daytime winds of 3–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 33 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.4–1.8 m with a period of about 6s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Cold water
- Submerged rocks and reef sections (especially at low tide)
- Strong offshore winds
- Isolation / distance from services
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence indicated for this spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Dedicated kitesurf/windsurf rescue may be limited; maritime safety is managed broadly by Prefectura Naval Argentina.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Comodoro Rivadavia, approximately 20–30 km north. Emergency numbers: 107 (medical), 106 (naval prefecture), 101 (police), 100 (fire).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Primarily a local destination for the nearby community.
Rules of the spot
Follow general surfing etiquette; respect the local surfing community.
- Always wear a thick wetsuit even in summer.
- Check the tide before heading out as reef sections can become shallow and dangerous at low tide.
- For cold-water riding, boots/gloves/hood are commonly needed year-round.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Comodoro Rivadavia
- Nearest Town
- Rada Tilly
- Nearest Airport
- General Enrique Mosconi International Airport (CRD) / Comodoro Rivadavia Airport (CRD) roughly 15–25 km from coastal spots.
- Parking
- Unpaved parking area available at the top of the cliffs/beach access point.
- Public Transport
- Limited public bus services connect Comodoro Rivadavia with nearby Rada Tilly; coastal access typically requires a private vehicle.
- Access
- Locate ~20 km south of Comodoro Rivadavia via Ruta Nacional 3; beach is at Playa Bajada de los Palitos (also known as Playa Belvedere / Refugio de Lobos). Access via dirt-road turnoff; 4x4 recommended after heavy rain; unpaved parking at the top of the cliffs/beach access point.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation available in Rada Tilly or Comodoro Rivadavia.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on-site; visitors must bring their own water and supplies.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is described as limited; if available, it’s from shops in Comodoro Rivadavia rather than on-site at the beach.
- Gear Storage
- No dedicated gear storage indicated.
- Gear Repair
- No on-site gear repair indicated.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Bajada de los Palitos?
The best overall months at Bajada de los Palitos are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. The best wind months are September, October, November, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Bajada de los Palitos?
Bajada de los Palitos works with W, SW winds. Offshore directions are W, WNW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Bajada de los Palitos?
Recommended equipment sizes at Bajada de los Palitos: Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Windsurfing: 4–5.3 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–30 kts.
What skill level is Bajada de los Palitos suitable for?
Bajada de los Palitos suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.