Gully's
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Mixed
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Gully's is a very consistent beach-break surf spot near Jacó, producing lefts and rights with a fast, powerful character when conditions line up. The wave is described as hollow and generated by an underwater gully, which helps the waves maintain power until they break. Best performance is reported with a southwest swell and offshore wind coming from the north-northeast. Many sessions are at their cleanest early in the day, and later conditions can become less favorable as onshore sea breezes develop. Tide position matters: it’s commonly reported to work best around mid tide and on a rising tide, while low tide can be unusually heavy and more prone to closing out. Wave shape and ride length are geared toward experienced surfers. Normal rides are often short (under about 50 meters), with better days extending to roughly 50 to 150 meters. The spot is associated with rips/undertow and strong rip currents, and localism is noted in the lineup, especially when swells are larger and the water is busy. Crowds are typically manageable on weekdays, while weekend sessions can become ultra crowded. There are no lifeguards reported at the spot, so surfers should plan for self-rescue and prioritize safety around current and shore-break zones. Medical facilities are available in Jacó (with emergency services reachable via 911).
- Very consistent beach break (reported ~150 days/year)
- Fast, powerful, hollow waves when working
- Best with southwest swell and offshore north-northeast wind
- Mid tide and rising tide favored
- Very consistent, high-performance beach break
- Fast, powerful waves with hollow sections when working
- Easy access by car or walking
- Advanced, not suitable for beginners/intermediate due to wave power and currents
- Rips/undertow and strong rip currents reported
- Heavy shore break (especially at higher tides) reported
- Moderate localism; weekend water can be ultra-crowded
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NNE
- Offshore directions
- NNE
- No-go directions
- NNE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Light offshore morning winds that often switch to onshore sea breezes by midday/early afternoon.
- Reliability
- Very consistent surf when wind is in the right direction; spot-level wind reliability described as consistent but without full wind statistics.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Wind described as light-gusty.
- Best Months
- December
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW · Offshore/cleaner conditions are often early; onshore sea breeze develops later in the day.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Mixed
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with some rock in the bottom.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Works from roughly 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to 4 m+ (source describes a wide working range).
- Launch
- Medium — Open beach-break access with easy entry by foot or car; takeoff zone described as sandy with some rock.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Launch access described as easy overall; other reports describe moderate difficulty due to conditions/shore break and currents.
Through the year
May to November (heaviest rainfall commonly around September and October).
By sport
What to expect for each.
A very consistent beach break near Jacó with lefts and rights. Known for fast, powerful (often hollow) waves created by an underwater gully, and for working across a wide swell range.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, SW, S
- Swell Height
- 1–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High — Best reported on mid tide and rising tide; low tide can become extremely heavy and prone to closing out.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore from the north-northeast is reported to be best; onshore sea breeze development reduces cleanliness later in the day.
- Bigger Swell
- Deep gully topography helps waves maintain power until breaking; described as holding shape and handling larger swells better than adjacent sections.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality overall; best with southwest swell and offshore wind.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Hollow/fast and powerful when working; described as one of the more challenging peaks handling larger swells.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow sections associated with a deep underwater gully.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, powerful sections.
- Ride Length
- Short — Normal rides are short; good days extend longer.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typically under 50 meters; better days reach roughly 50 to 150 meters (with reports of ~75 meters on good days).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Gully's in the full forecast view.
Gully's wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- SSE155°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 268 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.1–1.5 m11s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Gully's is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is SSE. Waves run 1.1–1.5 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
- Rips
- Undertow
- Strong rip currents
- Heavy shore break
- Localism
- Aggressive localism during peak swells
- Occasional submerged rocks (depending on sand movement)
- Large wave impact zones
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported for the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue coverage is described as variable in the Jacó area; primary emergency response is via Cruz Roja from Jacó city.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Jacó, approximately 10 minutes north by car. Emergency services are reached via 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism; priority is respected by the local lineup.
Rules of the spot
Standard international surfing etiquette applies; priority is strictly respected by the local lineup.
- Not recommended for beginners or intermediate surfers due to wave power and currents.
- Arrive at dawn to catch the cleanest offshore conditions before onshore wind kicks in.
- Works best on a rising mid-tide; low tide can be extremely heavy and more prone to closing out.
- Best conditions are reported with a southwest swell and offshore wind from the north-northeast.
- Mid tide and rising tide are reported as the best tide positions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Jacó
- Nearest Town
- Playa Hermosa
- Parking
- Unregulated parking is available along the beach road (vehicle break-ins can occur; do not leave valuables inside).
- Access
- Easy access by car or walking; described as located about 100 yards north of the tree.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous surf hotels, bungalows, and vacation rentals along the Playa Hermosa beach road and in Jacó.
- Food & Drink
- Several small beachfront 'sodas' and cafes within walking distance along the beach road.
- Equipment Rental:
- Extensive rental options are available in Jacó; limited selection at Playa Hermosa surf shops.
- Gear Storage
- Generally not available at the beach; some local hotels provide storage for guests.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair shops are located in Playa Hermosa and Jacó.
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 Gully's?
The best overall months at Gully's are December.
Which wind directions work at Gully's?
Gully's works with NNE winds. Offshore directions are NNE. No-go directions are NNE.
What skill level is Gully's suitable for?
Gully's suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.