Las Lisas (San Pedro)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Las Lisas is an exposed Pacific beach break known for consistent surf and a relatively uncrowded lineup. The spot is reported to work with both left and right waves and is generally characterized as powerful, with fast peaks on better days. Wind tends to be offshore in the early morning (reported around 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM), producing the cleanest, most groomed conditions for surfing. Later in the day, sea-breeze winds shift onshore and can create significant chop, so early sessions are typically favored. For surf, the most favorable setup is described as a south–southwest swell combined with offshore north to northeast winds. Reported working swell size is around 1.0–2.5 meters, and while the beach can hold up reasonably well on larger surf, it may close out on very large swells. Safety is a key concern: strong rip currents, powerful undertow, and heavy shore break are commonly reported, and conditions can be compounded by occasional floating debris during the rainy season from nearby river mouths. The route to the beach involves a boat crossing, and medical facilities are limited compared with larger urban areas, so it’s important to plan accordingly.
- Exposed, consistent beach break
- Generally quiet lineup
- Cleanest offshore conditions in the early morning
- Powerful waves with fast peaks
- Consistent, powerful beach break on the Pacific coast
- Typically low crowd levels (relatively few surfers even on good days)
- Warm water year-round around 28–30°C
- Exposed conditions with heavy shore break and strong rip currents
- Onshore winds later in the day can create significant chop
- Remote access and limited medical facilities
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, NNE
- Offshore directions
- N, NNE, NE
- Wind Range
- 5–12 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Sea breeze pattern with offshore Nortes reported for surf grooming.
- Reliability
- Low for wind sports; moderate for morning offshore surf grooming
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Morning · Dir: N, NNE, NE · Cleanest offshore conditions reported early morning (around 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM); switching toward onshore sea breezes later.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Big — Sources report big surf; Gemini also notes medium-sized waves overall.
- Launch
- Big — Wide open volcanic sand beach with significant space at all tide levels.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate
Through the year
Low year-round; slightly busier during Easter week (Semana Santa) and year-end holidays.
May to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed, dark volcanic sand beach break with consistent peaks. Works on a range of swell sizes and is much less crowded than more popular nearby hubs.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open Pacific exposure.
- Wind Effect
- North/Northeast winds provide clean, groomed offshore faces; afternoon onshore winds cause significant chop.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out on very large swells, but holds up to double overhead reasonably well.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Generally reported as good, with cleaner faces in the morning when winds are offshore.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Exposed beach break with consistent, powerful waves.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Mixed shape reported, with fast peaks.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast peaks providing about 50–100 meter rides on better days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast peaks; medium rides typically, with 50–100 meter rides on better days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Las Lisas (San Pedro) in the full forecast view.
Las Lisas (San Pedro) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 16 kts
- Direction
- SSE151°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 248 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.3 m12s period
- Temperature
- 23–34 °C
Over the next 7 days, Las Lisas (San Pedro) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 16 kts. The prevailing direction is SSE. Waves run 1.0–1.3 m with a period of about 12s. 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
- Strong rip currents
- Powerful undertow
- Heavy shore break
- Occasional floating debris from nearby river mouths during the rainy season
- Remote location with limited medical facilities
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No sport-specific rescue reported.
- Emergency Info
- In an emergency, dial 123 (Bomberos Municipales) or 110 (National Police). Nearest significant medical facilities are reported in Chiquimulilla or Guatemala City.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism reported.
Rules of the spot
Surfing is best done in the early morning before onshore wind picks up.
- Go early (before onshore wind develops) for cleaner/offshore-groomed faces.
- The beach has very dark volcanic sand that can become extremely hot in the sun—wear sandals until the water’s edge.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- San Pedro
- Nearest Town
- Las Lisas
- Parking
- Paid secure parking is available in the village of Las Lisas near the boat docks.
- Access
- Access is via a paved road to the village, followed by a short boat crossing across the Chiquimulilla canal to reach the beach peninsula.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Several eco-hotels and small guest houses on the beach side and in the main village.
- Food & Drink
- Local comedores and hotel restaurants serve fresh seafood and traditional Guatemalan dishes.
- Equipment Rental:
- Very limited surf equipment rental; kite/wingfoil equipment must be brought by the rider.
- Gear Storage
- Specific gear storage facilities are not established; most riders store equipment at their chosen accommodation.
- Gear Repair
- No professional repair services available locally.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Nature-heavy coastal experiences dominate, with mangroves, wildlife, and a small surfing community rather than a large, established wind or kite scene.
Traditional coastal villages showing the artisanal fishing lifestyle on the Santa Rosa coast.
A vast network of mangroves and wetlands ideal for bird watching and boat tours.
Participation in turtle hatchling releases; activity is especially active from August to January.
Casual beachside eateries specializing in fresh ceviche and fried fish.
A drive-through safari park located roughly an hour north of the coast.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Las Lisas (San Pedro)?
The best overall months at Las Lisas (San Pedro) are November, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Las Lisas (San Pedro)?
Las Lisas (San Pedro) works with N, NE, NNE winds. Offshore directions are N, NNE, NE.
What skill level is Las Lisas (San Pedro) suitable for?
Las Lisas (San Pedro) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.