La Cannelle (Monte Argentario)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) is a low-profile beach-break known for clean, crystal-clear water and a sandy bottom with rocks and sea-urchins along parts of the shoreline. Surf is reported as right and left (with right waves explicitly noted in one description) and typically starts working at less than 1 m, holding up to around 2.5 m+. Wave quality is generally described as good, with peeling, manageable sections that create a medium ride window. Normal ride length is commonly given as 50 to 150 m, depending on swell consistency. The break is described as semi-sheltered, with rocky outcrops shaping how waves stand up near the edges. The conditions are described as most favorable when the southwest swell and southwest winds line up. One dataset characterizes the wind as sea-breeze related (sea-breeze/thermal influence in summer), while another notes overall wind unreliability and varying gustiness; practically, planning around the SW setup is repeatedly emphasized. Safety and logistics deserve extra attention: hazards include rocks (including submerged rocks at high tide) and sea urchins. Access is via the panoramic road toward Porto Ercole until a green gate; parking can be limited and surfers often walk down a side road. Lifeguard presence is listed as none, so basic independent beach vigilance is important.
- White sand and crystal-clear water
- Good, peeling right/left beach break with normal rides of 50–150 m
- Best match: southwest swell and southwest wind setup
- Low-profile/quiet most days with limited weekend crowds
- Crystal-clear water and a sandy beach bottom with reliable right/left beach-break waves.
- Often empty on weekdays with a calmer, low-profile vibe.
- SW swell and SW wind are the key match for best surf quality.
- Rocks and sea urchins require careful footing and board awareness.
- Access involves a green-gate/private-road setup with limited/managed parking.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW
- Offshore directions
- NE, NNE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — South-westerly sea-breeze conditions (optimized for SW winds and SW swells); thermal winds can be present in summer but sources conflict on strength.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Gustiness is described as steady in one dataset; another dataset indicates moderate gusts.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs to the north and west provide shelter from north-westerly winds (reducing wind impact from that quadrant).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Sand — White sand beach described; bottom also includes rock where present.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Wave size is described as small in one dataset; another dataset reports medium and provides a 0.5–2.5 m working window.
- Launch
- Small — Easy access from parking with a short walk to the beach; a narrow sandy beach flanked by rocky outcrops is described as the launch area.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Access described as easy with short walk; another dataset describes launch difficulty as moderate due to narrow/rocky access context.
Through the year
Quiet on weekdays; a few local surfers on weekends during good swells.
October–November and winter (Dec–Feb) have higher rain and increased frontal/storm-driven risk.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A sandy beach break with both left and right waves (right and left directions reported). Best performance comes when SW swell meets SW winds; conditions are generally described as good with peeling, forgiving waves suitable for entry to intermediate progression.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — One dataset indicates all-tides.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered, with rocky edges/outcrops shaping the break.
- Wind Effect
- South-westerly winds are associated with producing the conditions; northerly winds provide cleaner offshore conditions in one description.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds up to roughly 2.5 m+ before closing out.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Soft — Wave power described as soft in one dataset; another describes moderate power depending on conditions.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Standard rides commonly fall within 50–150 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride length is reported as 50 to 150 m (with one source summarizing around ~100 m depending on swell consistency).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) in the full forecast view.
La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–15 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NNW341°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2415 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.0 m3s period
- Temperature
- 11–20 °C
Over the next 7 days, La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is NNW. Waves run 0.1–1.0 m with a period of about 3s. 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
- Rocks (including submerged rocks at high tide / near rocky edges)
- Restricted access via private road/green gate and limited parking
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional rescue is described as limited (managed by Italian Coast Guard); no dedicated kite/wind rescue base documented for this exact beach.
- Emergency Info
- EU emergency number: 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local presence noted; described as mild rather than hostile/strong localism.
Rules of the spot
Follow general beach safety and local access rules for the green-gate/private-road access; do not block gates and keep access routes clear.
- Private gate / technical restriction on beach access; limited parking along the panoramic road.
- Park along the panoramic road and follow the side road down to the green gate; walk the short remaining distance to the beach.
- Bathing at 7am is fantastic on calm sea days.
- Be respectful of local residents in the Consorzio area.
- Do not block access gates; parking is very limited.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Porto Santo Stefano
- Nearest Town
- Porto Santo Stefano
- Parking
- Parking available near the green gate along the panoramic road; short walk (about 5–15 minutes) to the beach. Another dataset notes very limited parking along the panoramic road.
- Public Transport
- null
- Access
- Car access via the Via Panoramica road from Porto Santo Stefano toward Porto Ercole; park near the green gate and walk down a side road to the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Italian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation options around Monte Argentario including Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole; luxury villas and boutique hotels are noted in the area.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants and bars located in nearby Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole.
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 La Cannelle (Monte Argentario)?
The best overall months at La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at La Cannelle (Monte Argentario)?
La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) works with SW winds. Offshore directions are NE, NNE.
What skill level is La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) suitable for?
La Cannelle (Monte Argentario) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.