Cuyutlan
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Chop
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Cuyutlán is an exposed sand beach break in Colima with heavy, fast surfing and frequent close-out behavior. Multiple reports emphasize strong rip currents and a powerful undertow, making the water hazardous—especially if you are not an experienced surfer. The shorebreak is described as heavy and punishing, and the beach is generally not a good option for swimming. When conditions align, Cuyutlán can deliver intense barrel sections connected to the famous Ola Verde (Green Wave). Swell direction is consistently reported with the best results coming when southwest swell combines with offshore north-type winds, which helps groom wave faces. Under those setups, the waves can hold significant size, but they also become extremely heavy and dangerous for anything beyond advanced/expert-level riders. Seasonally, the spot is often described as working year-round, though one detailed spot guide reports a specific “best month” in December and also notes no consistent seasonal pattern for how clean conditions are. Wind is reported as unreliable/inconsistent overall, with sea-breeze influence that can add chop later in the day. Local practical guidance aligns with the safety theme: prioritize ripping-current awareness, treat the shorebreak as a major risk, and consider renting a board if needed. Sessions are frequently uncrowded, but the lineup is still serious—expect that conditions can turn from rideable to very dangerous quickly.
- Exposed, heavy beach break with strong rip-current hazard
- Ola Verde / Green Wave reputation
- Best results reported when southwest swell meets offshore North winds
- World-class reputation for heavy, hollow barrel sections (Ola Verde / Green Wave).
- Often uncrowded compared with more famous regional breaks.
- Works on multiple tides when timing aligns with swell and wind.
- Rips and powerful undertow make this a serious safety risk.
- Heavy shorebreak/close-outs are punishing and not swimmer-friendly.
- Conditions can be inconsistent and require “just right” timing.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE
- Offshore directions
- N, NNE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze pattern noted seasonally; offshore/grooming winds reported when aligned correctly.
- Reliability
- inconsistent
- Gust Factor
- Steady
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Dir: N, NNE · Regional Manzanillo Coast sea-breeze typically develops in the afternoon; spot-level data also notes sea-breeze influence on choppiness.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Black volcanic sand is reported as a contributor to the spot’s signature look.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Big — Can range from heavy close-outs to very large, powerful waves (Ola Verde).
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — Chop is indicated by both wind effect (afternoon sea breezes) and water-type notes.
- Launch
- Big — Wide open sandy beach with ample space.
Through the year
Quieter during the week; busier on weekends and during national holidays.
June through October is the rainy and hurricane season (Pacific hurricane season), with storm risk spanning into November.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break over sand with heavy, fast closeouts. Under the right swell and offshore wind alignment it can produce intense barrel sections (including the famous Ola Verde / Green Wave).
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW
- Swell Height
- 4–10 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Reports conflict on best tide: some data favors all tides; other data indicates high tide for best performance.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open/exposed beach conditions with no meaningful wind/swell shelter.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the North help groom faces; choppiness can increase with afternoon sea breezes.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size but becomes extremely heavy and dangerous; can be very punishing with strong undertow and shorebreak.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Described as very powerful/massive and capable of dangerous heaviness for all but expert surfers.
- Wave Shape
- Closeout — Close-out behavior is commonly reported; at times barrels/peaky sections form.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Some reports describe slow peel; other descriptions note fast/vertical action depending on swell and tide.
- Ride Length
- Short — Ride length can vary by set; reports also mention longer rides (up to ~100 m) when the barrel lines up.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Often closes out, but can deliver barrel sections when conditions are right; some sessions support longer rides over up to ~100 m of waveface.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Cuyutlan in the full forecast view.
Cuyutlan wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–12 ktsGusts 24 kts
- Direction
- SE135°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2812 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.5–3.3 m10s period
- Temperature
- 24–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Cuyutlan is forecast for daytime winds of 1–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 24 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 1.5–3.3 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
- rips
- shore-break
- heavy close-out / heavy close-out closeouts
- strong rip currents
- powerful undertow
- dangerous for swimmers
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local surfers are present; general respect/local etiquette is expected.
Rules of the spot
- not for swimming
- Be wary of rips—currents can make conditions dangerous.
- The shorebreak is heavy and can injure swimmers/inexperienced surfers.
- This is not a good swimming beach but is a great surfing beach.
- If you don’t have your own board, board rental is available.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Manzanillo
- Nearest Town
- Cuyutlán
- Parking
- Parking is available along the beachfront and near beach access points / wide sandy strips.
- Access
- Wide sandy strips; accessible by road from Manzanillo or Colima City via Highway 200 or the toll road (parking along the beachfront and near town access points).
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Small hotels and beachfront guest houses in Cuyutlán; nearby options in Manzanillo.
- Food & Drink
- Nearby seafood restaurants in local fishing villages; beachfront restaurants are reported in Cuyutlán.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is limited but available in the village; board rental offered on-site; limited surf rentals.
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 Cuyutlan?
The best overall months at Cuyutlan are November, December, January.
Which wind directions work at Cuyutlan?
Cuyutlan works with N, NNE, NE winds. Offshore directions are N, NNE.
What skill level is Cuyutlan suitable for?
Cuyutlan suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.