El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle)
- Bodyboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) is described as a fairly exposed, very consistent sandy beach break with a mix of left and right waves. The spot is characterized by steady surf quality and long days when conditions line up, with typical ride lengths commonly reported around 50–150 meters and much longer sessions on good swells. For surfing, the spot is reported to work best around mid to high tide, and it has a strong association with a south-southeast swell pairing. Wind influence is important: cleaner surf is often associated with offshore/northwest-oriented conditions, while the afternoon sea-breeze can increase choppiness. Clean, surfable waves are specifically reported as occurring about 28% of the time in May, with a small portion of time described as blown out. Safety is a major consideration. Sea urchins and rips/currents are repeatedly flagged as hazards, and the beach’s remoteness is emphasized—there is no organized lifeguard presence and rescue availability is described as limited. Plan for self-sufficiency: bring appropriate protection for the bottom, and arrive with sufficient supplies since assistance and medical services can be a significant drive away. Overall, the spot is presented as a regional classic with low crowding—described as empty on both weekdays and weekends—making it attractive for surfers seeking solitude while still benefiting from reliable, consistent wave sessions. The best month is reported as May, with the best season broadly described as summer/spring-summer depending on the source.
- Very consistent beach-break surf with sandy bottom
- Low crowding (often empty)
- Best month reported: May
- Urchins and rips/currents are the main hazards
- Very consistent waves described as a regional classic.
- Primarily sandy bottom and easy launching/approach on foot.
- Generally very quiet/empty on weekdays and weekends.
- Urchins and rip currents are key hazards.
- Remote location reduces immediate rescue/medical availability.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NNW, N, NW
- Offshore directions
- N, NNW, NW
- No-go directions
- W, WSW
- Wind Range
- 10–18 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — North to northwest offshore flow is commonly reported as the main wind direction for cleaner conditions, with some shelter from west winds.
- Reliability
- low
- Best Months
- May, June, July
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
- Shadow Zones
- Shelter from west winds
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Wave size is described as small in one dataset and medium in another.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Choppiness can increase when afternoon winds/sea-breeze turn on; cleaner mornings are often recommended.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach with space for equipment setup and launching.
Through the year
Generally very quiet on weekdays; slightly more visitors from nearby towns on weekends.
June to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible when an afternoon northwest wind pattern kicks in; described as a spacious beach with directional-rider kickers.
- Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Possible in the afternoon northwest wind window; shore break can be challenging for beginners; foil-friendly reported.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
El Tecuan is described as a fairly exposed, very consistent beach break offering both right and left waves. It is a regional classic for wave consistency, with typical ride lengths of about 50–150 m and very long sessions (reported up to ~300–500 m) on good days.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SE, SSE, SW
- Swell Height
- 3–3.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High, All tides — Reported best around mid to high tide; also described as workable on rising and falling tides.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open beach break exposure with little protection; shelter described mainly in terms of wind (not swell shelter).
- Wind Effect
- Cleanest earlier; wind/sea-breeze can increase choppiness later.
- Bigger Swell
- Can start to close out when swell exceeds about 3 meters (reported in one source).
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional-classic wave quality reported; one source rates it average.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Power reported as moderate in one source; also described as fast/fun in the baseline power summary.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling wave shape reported.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Typical rides are commonly described as 50 to 150 meters, with occasional very long rides on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal rides: 50–150 m; very long days: roughly 300–500 m reported; another source notes normal rides 50–150 m and very long on better sandbar setups.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) in the full forecast view.
El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- NNW342°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 288 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–2.1 m11s period
- Temperature
- 24–32 °C
Over the next 7 days, El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is NNW. Waves run 1.3–2.1 m with a period of about 11s. 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
- Urchins
- Rips (rip currents)
- Currents
- Isolation (remote beach)
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No professional water-rescue presence reported; assistance is described as limited/remote.
- Emergency Info
- No organized rescue service reported. Nearest medical services are described as a significant drive away (with major services in Puerto Vallarta). Emergency number: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism issues reported.
Rules of the spot
Standard water-safety and surf etiquette; no specific local regulations were reported.
- Beware of urchins and avoid bare-skin contact with the bottom.
- Use caution around rips/currents.
- Because the beach is remote, arrive prepared with supplies (and contingency for limited/slow assistance).
- For cleaner surf, early sessions are often better before afternoon choppiness/sea-breeze effects set in.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Puerto Vallarta
- Nearest Town
- Tehuamixtle
- Parking
- Informal parking is described as available along the back of the beach.
- Public Transport
- Very limited; infrequent local connections are described from El Tuito to Tehuamixtle.
- Access
- Located on the road from Manzanillo to Puerto Vallarta; directions are described as easy due to signage and a small lighthouse. Spot is before Carelles with a short walk (about 5–15 minutes) from the car. Alternative access described via Highway 200 after passing through El Tuito and Mayto.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited rustic hotels and cabanas in nearby Mayto and Tehuamixtle; rustic beach cabañas described in/near Tehuamixtle.
- Food & Drink
- A few small restaurants are located in Tehuamixtle, but none on the beach itself.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is not described as available locally; bring self-sufficient gear.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle)?
The best overall months at El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) are May, June, July.
Which wind directions work at El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle)?
El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) works with NNW, N, NW winds. Offshore directions are N, NNW, NW. No-go directions are W, WSW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle)?
Recommended equipment sizes at El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle): Kitesurfing: 10–14 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 10–18 kts.
What skill level is El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) suitable for?
El Tecuan (Tehuamixtle) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.