Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island)
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 is best understood as an advanced big-wave reef environment. The wave can handle very large swells and, on the biggest days, can produce long, fast rides from the outside peak into the channel. Wind direction is critical: east and northeast winds are described as offshore and grooming, while west winds can make the conditions dangerous and unrideable. Terrain and hazards include rocks/reef structure, strong currents, and a heavy, exposed setting.
- World-class big-wave surfing at the 'Killers' break
- Offshore E/NE winds tend to groom massive faces
- Winter is the peak season for large Northwest swells
- World-class big-wave surfing at the 'Killers' break
- Offshore E/NE winds can groom massive faces
- Long, high-speed rides possible on large swells
- Expert-only, remote, and high-consequence conditions
- Very large surf with heavy currents and heavy shore break
- No rescue services on the islands
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, NE
- Offshore directions
- E, NE
- No-go directions
- W
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Wind described as frontal during winter storm fronts.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs can create wind shadows depending on direction.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bottom/beach composition reported in one dataset; reef/rock hazards and reef-break descriptions indicate a rocky reef environment at the breaking zone.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Huge — Huge big-wave potential; one dataset notes it starts working around 1.5–2 m and can hold up to around 5 m and beyond.
- Launch
- No real beach launch; access is almost exclusively by boat from Ensenada with water starts from the boat.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Spot-level data describes expert-only launch difficulty; other dataset describes moderate launch difficulty, reflecting different access/sections and conditions.
Through the year
Mostly empty due to access requirements and extreme conditions, but can be busy with multiple boats when a major swell is forecast.
December through March (often coinciding with winter storm swells).
By sport
What to expect for each.
World-famous big-wave reef break ('Killers') known for massive, shifty waves. Wind and swell direction both matter; offshore E/NE tends to groom the faces while onshore W can render conditions unrideable.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- W, NW
- Swell Height
- 3–15 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Spot-level guidance also notes low and medium tide as favorable, with good results at low/mid and rising tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open-ocean, island exposure.
- Wind Effect
- East and Northeast winds are offshore, grooming the massive faces; West winds are onshore and can make it dangerous and unrideable.
- Bigger Swell
- Famous for holding very large rideable surf; faces can reach over 15–18 meters (and is described as producing waves up to ~60 ft in winter).
- Wave Quality
- World class — World-class wave quality reported.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Long
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- On large swells, long, high-speed rides are possible from the outside peak into the channel.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) in the full forecast view.
Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–16 ktsGusts 21 kts
- Direction
- NW320°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2616 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.7 m9s period
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C
Over the next 7 days, Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 21 kts. The prevailing direction is NW. Waves run 1.0–1.7 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- Extremely large waves
- Sharks
- Rocks
- Strong currents
- Hypothermia
- Remote location
- Heavy hold-downs
- Heavy shore break
- Submerged reef
- Large boulders
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue services on the islands; emergency response is dispatched from the mainland/Ensenada.
- Emergency Info
- Medical facilities are located back on the mainland in Ensenada (Hospital General de Ensenada). National emergency number: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Priority is given to those charging the peak; strict big-wave etiquette applies.
- Access is almost exclusively by boat from Ensenada; plan for remote conditions.
- Hire a reputable boat captain from Ensenada who understands local conditions.
- Ensure you have a safety vest and an inflatable PFD for big days.
- Never surf here alone; boat support and a partner are essential.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ensenada
- Nearest Town
- Ensenada
- Nearest Airport
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)
- Parking
- Parking is available at marinas in Ensenada harbor.
- Public Transport
- Access to the islands is exclusively by private or chartered boat from Ensenada; no public land transport to the islands.
- Access
- Accessible only by boat from Ensenada (port/harbor access); boat trip typically takes about 45–90 minutes depending on vessel and conditions.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation is only available on the mainland in Ensenada.
- Food & Drink
- None on the island; bring all supplies on the boat.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are located in Ensenada; no commercial facilities or shops on the islands.
- Gear Storage
- Storage services are available at various marinas and surf shops in Ensenada.
- Gear Repair
- Available in Ensenada; specialized big-wave gear is harder to find.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The region blends rugged coastal adventure with nearby culinary and cultural experiences anchored by Ensenada and the surrounding wine country.
One of the largest marine blowholes in North America, located on the Punta Banda Peninsula.
A historic former casino and hotel that now serves as a museum and ballroom.
Mexico’s premier wine region located just north of Ensenada.
A famous Ensenada fish market offering fresh local seafood and fish tacos.
An animal rescue and conservation park offering interactions with exotic animals.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island)?
The best overall months at Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) are November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island)?
Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) works with E, NE winds. Offshore directions are E, NE. No-go directions are W.
What skill level is Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) suitable for?
Isla de Todos Santos (Todos Santos Island) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.