Explosivos (Punta Negra)
- Advanced riders, Beginners
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Chop
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Explosivos (Punta Negra) is a regional classic beach-break known for hollow, fast waves and explosive takeoffs. The spot works both left and right and is typically described as producing short, intense rides over a sandy bottom. Swell starts working around roughly 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to about 2 m+ depending on conditions. Wind-wise, the best surf conditions are reported with offshore winds from the East to NorthEast. When these winds are present, waves are more likely to shape into cleaner barrels. Wind can be moderate, and typical conditions are described with a range around 5–15 knots, with medium reliability. Timing matters at this break. Conditions are often strongest at low to mid tide (with additional notes that a rising tide can help reduce the heaviest closeouts). Reported swell directions for best results include northwest, west, southwest, and south, with optimal swell height ranges that cluster around 1.0–2.5 m. Safety is a priority here: dangerous rip currents and strong lateral currents are repeatedly highlighted, especially with larger swells. The shorebreak can be powerful and hollow sections may cause heavy wipeouts. Local guidance emphasizes watching sets from shore to identify rips for safer exits, and acknowledging that weekends can be crowded while weekdays tend to be quieter.
- Hollow, fast beach-break with explosive sections
- Works both left and right
- Offshore E/NE winds groom barrels
- Often at low-to-mid tide (with notes for rising tide)
- Hollow, fast beach-break with strong “explosive” character
- Works both left and right-hand waves
- Offshore east/northeast wind can groom barrels
- Dangerous rip currents and strong currents
- Exposed surf with powerful shorebreak and heavy hollow wipeouts
- Crowds can become busy on weekends
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, NE
- Offshore directions
- E, NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — East to northeast winds; offshore effect for surf from E/NE toward the open coast.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Long sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Medium — Small-to-medium surf, starting around 1.0–1.5 m and holding to about 2 m+.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach; easy entry and exit.
Through the year
By sport
What to expect for each.
A hollow, fast beach break working left and right, with explosive takeoffs. Best at low-to-mid tide on typical swell windows (with the option that a rising tide can reduce the heaviest closeouts).
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W, SW, S
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Also reported as best on a rising tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from East–Northeast groom the waves into cleaner barrels and improve conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold up to 2 m+ / 6 ft+; may become very heavy and close out when swell exceeds about 2.5 m.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Described as regional classic / good quality.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Hollow, fast, high-intensity beach break.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Short rides, often under 50 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short (< 50m); typically 30–50m reported, often ending in heavy closeout or shorebreak.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Explosivos (Punta Negra) in the full forecast view.
Explosivos (Punta Negra) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–10 ktsGusts 21 kts
- Direction
- SSW205°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2610 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.2–2.1 m10s period
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Explosivos (Punta Negra) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 21 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 1.2–2.1 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
- dangerous rip currents
- strong lateral currents and rip currents (especially with larger swells)
- powerful shorebreak
- heavy wipeouts in hollow sections
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue availability is reported at the spot.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are located in the San Bartolo or Lurín districts.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup as the peak can be crowded.
- Watch the sets from the beach first to identify rip currents and plan your exit.
- Be prepared for dangerous rips; take extra care when getting out.
- Usually identifiable by a high concentration of surfers.
- Weekends are crowded; take care when negotiating the lineup.
- Best surfed on a rising tide to avoid the heaviest closeouts.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Punta Negra
- Nearest Town
- Punta Negra
- Parking
- Car access recommended; limited parking is available along access roads leading to the beach.
- Access
- Instant access (<5 min) down the sandy beach; halfway between Punta Rocas and Punta Negra.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various surf hostels and small hotels are available in Punta Negra and Punta Hermosa.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and 'huariques' in Punta Negra town offer fresh seafood.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are available in the nearby town of Punta Hermosa.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs can be found in surf shops within Punta Hermosa.
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 Explosivos (Punta Negra)?
For wind, the best months at Explosivos (Punta Negra) are April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Explosivos (Punta Negra)?
Explosivos (Punta Negra) works with E, NE winds. Offshore directions are E, NE.
What skill level is Explosivos (Punta Negra) suitable for?
Explosivos (Punta Negra) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.