Caplina
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Empty
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Caplina is a high-intensity, very consistent point-break surf spot near La Herradura / Salto del Fraile in Lima. It’s known for hollow, fast, ledgey barrels and quick, short rides that often require an immediate exit before the rocks. The wave primarily starts working around 3 to 3.5 meters of swell and can hold well into the 5 meters and above range. It breaks in both directions (right and left) and is described as ledgey/ledgey with a heavy, hollow character, especially as swell increases beyond roughly 3 meters. Wind-wise, SouthEast and East winds are reported as optimal because they provide offshore conditions that help groom the wave. Spot-level wind reliability is described as low, and a wind shadow effect is noted due to nearby Morro Solar cliffs. Safety is a major concern: rocks and water pollution are explicitly listed hazards, with strong currents and heavy shore impact reported. The spot-level guidance emphasizes that it is for expert-level surfers only, with local priority and careful shore-to-entry/exit planning before paddling out.
- Very consistent (about 150 days/year).
- Hollow, fast, powerful, ledgey point-break barrels.
- Works on 3m+ NW/W/SW swells and holds up to 5m+.
- Very consistent point-break wave (around 150 days/year).
- Hollow, fast, powerful, ledgey barrels with both left and right directions.
- Works on large NW/W/SW swells and can hold size up to 5m+.
- Very advanced/high-stakes wave with a shallow rocky bottom and heavy impact.
- Pollution is reported as a hazard.
- Crowds are generally low due to extreme difficulty and danger.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, SE
- Offshore directions
- E, SE
- Wind Range
- 5–12 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sources describe strong East/SouthEast wind influence with offshore grooming; group context also indicates thermal/sea-breeze type patterns in summer.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Described as steady; Gemini does not quantify gustiness beyond this.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- Heavy wind shadow caused by the Morro Solar cliffs.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sources conflict slightly: sand/flat rocks with sand shelf are both mentioned.
- Waves
- Big — Starts around 3-3.5m and can hold up to 5m+.
- Launch
- Rocky shoreline near the Salto del Fraile landmark area.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Expert-only due to wave intensity and hazards.
- Shore Break
- Dangerous — Heavy shorebreak is reported.
Through the year
Usually uncrowded or empty due to extreme difficulty and danger.
Garúa (heavy mist/drizzle) is common from June to October.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A powerful, hollow point break known for fast, ledgey barrels and a heavy exit over a rocky/sandy shelf.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W, SW
- Swell Height
- 3–5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Favorable at low and mid tide; falling tide is also mentioned.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed at this coastal location.
- Wind Effect
- East and SouthEast winds are best and provide offshore conditions that groom the wave.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size; becomes increasingly dangerous and hollow as swell increases beyond ~3 meters (and continues holding up to 5m+).
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional classic wave quality.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Also described as very-powerful on larger swells.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow, fast, ledgey/ledgey barrels.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, intense bursts; typically <50m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 0–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short, intense bursts; immediate exit before the rocks is often required.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Caplina in the full forecast view.
Caplina wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–9 ktsGusts 20 kts
- Direction
- S180°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 249 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–2.3 m10s period
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Caplina is forecast for daytime winds of 3–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 1.3–2.3 m with a period of about 10s. 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
- rocks
- sharp rocks
- water pollution
- strong currents
- heavy wave impact
- shallow bottom
- very heavy, thick lip
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No spot-specific lifeguard presence; municipal lifeguards are mentioned for popular beaches in the wider area.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level rescue availability is described as no.
- Emergency Info
- National emergency number: 105 (Police), 116 (Fire/Ambulance).
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Local priority and respect are emphasized.
Rules of the spot
Local priority and respect are essential due to the high-stakes nature of the wave.
- Not recommended for non-experts due to intensity, shallow rocky bottom, and pollution.
- Only for pros or highly experienced surfers; the wave intensity and hazards make it unsuitable for most.
- Watch the entry and exit points carefully from shore before paddling out.
- Enter near Salto del Fraile where the peak has the heaviest lip of Lima.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Lima
- Nearest Town
- San Bartolo
- Parking
- Limited parking near the Salto del Fraile restaurant area.
- Access
- Go to La Herradura and instead of going to the point walk 100 yards north until you get near Salto del Fraile, get in where there is a peak with the heaviest lip of Lima.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and rentals are available in nearby districts.
- Food & Drink
- A restaurant is immediately adjacent to the spot (Salto del Fraile).
- Equipment Rental:
- Yes
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 Caplina?
For wind, the best months at Caplina are October, November, December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Caplina?
Caplina works with E, SE winds. Offshore directions are E, SE.
What skill level is Caplina suitable for?
Caplina suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.