La Ticla (Michoacán)
- Freeride, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Swell
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
A big sand beach landing with easy self-access near the river mouth, where the surf break peels across sand/cobbles and provides a classic long-wall point experience on south swell. Hazards include rocks/cobbles and sea urchins on the rocks, with river-mouth currents and river debris after heavy rains. Wind is not consistently quantified for the spot year-round, but trade/seasonal thermal patterns and a spring thermal window are reported—use caution around rocky areas and debris if attempting foil sports.
- Long rides reported on most good days (often tens to hundreds of meters).
- Warm water year-round; only a late-March to May “may need a spring suit” period noted by one provider.
- Afternoon thermal winds can make kitesurfing feasible in spring.
- Long, peeling point/rivermouth waves with consistent performance.
- Works on south swell and holds size up to 4 m+ (reported).
- Big beach and clean water reported; warm water most of the year.
- Harder/less forgiving bottom hazards (rocks, cobbles) and sea urchins.
- Currents near the river mouth and increased debris after heavy rains.
- Can get very crowded on good swells and weekends/holidays.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, W, S
- Offshore directions
- N, NE, NW, WNW, W, WSW, S
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade winds indicated in provider data, with seasonal afternoon thermal influence mentioned in regional context.
- Reliability
- 70-80% windy days (reported); otherwise described as moderate by another provider.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gusting reported by one provider.
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with cobbles/rocks at the point and near the river mouth.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Providers describe small to medium waves; one provider states small waves and another states medium waves.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy launch area near the river mouth and point; easy self-launch reported for the main sandy beach.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy for self-launch at the main sandy beach; moderate launch difficulty reported by another provider.
Through the year
Low–moderate year-round; crowded in summer swells (June–September). Weekends and holidays are extremely crowded.
June to October (rainy season); August reported as highest rainfall and river runoff/debris risk increases.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Kitesurfing suitability is reported as unclear/limited by one source, but another provider describes it as possible when thermal wind kicks in, with a mix of flatter water near the river mouth and wave riding along the point.
- Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Possible in the open bay area, but rocky point/river mouth debris require caution.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil friendliness reported as limited due to local conditions.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
An A-frame river-mouth/point break with long left-hand point waves and feathering barrels over sand and cobbles; reported as soft and forgiving compared to nearby options.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSW, SW, WNW, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — River-mouth point break with partial protection relative to open coast exposure.
- Wind Effect
- East and North East winds are described as offshore, grooming the swell for surfing.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to 4 m or more without closing out; can become powerful in summer swells but may be less ideal due to wind interference.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Described as a regional classic with consistently good quality.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Long — Normal rides reported around 50–150 m; longer days can reach ~150–300 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Good day length reported around 150–300 m; normal length 50–150 m; one provider notes up to ~300 m on exceptional days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Ticla (Michoacán) in the full forecast view.
La Ticla (Michoacán) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–9 ktsGusts 20 kts
- Direction
- SE138°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 289 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–2.5 m10s period
- Temperature
- 23–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, La Ticla (Michoacán) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 1.3–2.5 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
- cobbles
- rocks
- sea urchins on the rocks
- river mouth debris after heavy rains
- strong currents
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level data indicates no rescue; regional context describes rescue as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue availability is reported as no at the spot; emergency services in the region are described as limited at the beach, with major medical services in Tecomán (or Lázaro Cárdenas in group context). Call 911 in an emergency.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — One provider describes moderate localism; another describes none.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup at the point.
- Wear protective footwear due to cobbles/rocks and sea urchins.
- Be cautious near the river mouth currents and debris after heavy rains.
- The point can get very crowded on good swells—arrive early.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tecomán
- Nearest Town
- La Ticla
- Nearest Airport
- Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO), Manzanillo (~140 km north)
- Parking
- Sandy carpark with plenty of spaces; parking near the beach/camping areas reported.
- Public Transport
- Public transportation is limited to regional buses (coordinados) along Highway 200; a private vehicle is recommended for transporting gear.
- Access
- From Tecomán/Manzanillo via Highway 200 to Tecomán, then turn toward La Ticla following signs; then continue to the beach road (reported via paved-to-beach-road or dirt road marked for La Ticla, depending on the provider).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Mainly beach camping and basic palapa-style rentals; accommodation is described as mostly rustic palapas/basic camps and small guesthouses.
- Food & Drink
- Local palapas and small restaurants serving fresh seafood and regional Mexican dishes.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited local surf rentals reported; wind-based sport rental is described as virtually non-existent in regional context.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The surrounding region is described as an off-grid, nature-focused coastal experience with community-led tourism and ocean sports culture.
Dramatic rock formations and turquoise coves.
Local indigenous community that manages regional lands.
Rugged trails into the mountains for bird watching and Pacific views.
Beachside eateries serving fresh seafood.
Long walks and wildlife spotting, including sea turtles during nesting seasons.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at La Ticla (Michoacán)?
The best overall months at La Ticla (Michoacán) are November, December, January, February, March, April, May. The best wind months are November, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at La Ticla (Michoacán)?
La Ticla (Michoacán) works with N, W, S winds. Offshore directions are N, NE, NW, WNW, W, WSW, S.
What equipment sizes are recommended at La Ticla (Michoacán)?
Recommended equipment sizes at La Ticla (Michoacán): Kitesurfing: 10–14 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is La Ticla (Michoacán) suitable for?
La Ticla (Michoacán) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.