Cuyutlan

Mexico2.5/5
Surfing
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

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
Great for
Advanced riders
What's great
  • 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.
Heads up
  • 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.
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Practical spot guide

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

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
27–30 °C
Water Temperature
22–34 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Dec: 1mm neoprene top (or rash guard)
Crowds by Season

Quieter during the week; busier on weekends and during national holidays.

Storm/Rain Season

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.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

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).

Beach break
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.
Forecast

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.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

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
Ability Level: Advanced
Recommended Safety Gear
Impact vestLeash

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

Restrictions
  • not for swimming
Local Tips
  • 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
Amenities

What's on the beach

Showers
Toilets
Changing rooms
Parking
Restaurant
Bar
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.
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

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.