Los Delfines (Punta Sal)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Flat, Swell, Swell
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Los Delfines (Punta Sal) is a left-hand point break on Peru’s northern coast with fairly consistent surf and a reef-and-sand bottom. Wave quality is described as world-class/excellent, with hollow, powerful sections and long rides—normal rides commonly span tens to hundreds of meters, and on better days the wave can connect for over 200m. Surf typically starts working around 1.0–1.5m and can hold into the 3m+ range. The break is exposed (point-driven), so conditions can feel more dynamic than sheltered beaches; sources also note that offshore east-southeast winds can groom the face, helping keep the wave shape clean. Best surf conditions are associated with spring and summer, and February is highlighted as the top month. Safety planning matters here: hazards include exposed rocks, reef, and coral, and there are reports of rip currents and stingrays in the sand. Since lifeguards are not indicated and rescue availability is limited, it’s important to check entry/exit sections carefully—especially around the rocky areas—because conditions can change quickly as the tide rises. Beyond surfing, the wide sandy sector can support kitesurfing for riders looking for a quieter option, and wingfoiling is described as foil-friendly in deeper water away from the immediate rocky point. The area is accessed via the Pan-American Highway near km 1187 with a side road toward the coast, and it’s noted to be rarely crowded (including empty weekday/weekend reporting).
- World-class hollow left-hand point break with long rides (often 150–300m reported).
- Consistent surf with a working window starting around 1.0–1.5m and holding to 3m+.
- Rarely crowded relative to nearby hubs.
- World-class left-hand point-break surfing with consistent swell.
- Rarely crowded compared with nearby Mancora.
- Good natural offshore grooming with east-southeast conditions in spring/summer; holds significant size up to 3m+.
- Reef/rock hazards including coral, rocks, and reef sections.
- Rip currents reported near the point.
- Lack of lifeguards; rescue availability is limited.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- ESE
- Offshore directions
- E, ESE, SE, SSE
- No-go directions
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, NNE, NW, NNW
- Wind Range
- 12–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Prevailing South-Southwest (S/SW) trade winds, often reinforced by local thermal sea breezes.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gusts described as light.
- Best Months
- February, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Swell, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with reef/rock sections at the point.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Conflicting source signals: one describes small waves; another describes medium waves. Overall working window is 1.0–3.0m+.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach entry with rocky point sections.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate access and entry difficulty due to rocky point sections and reef bottom.
Through the year
Rarely crowded overall; slightly more visitors during Peruvian national holidays and summer (January–February).
Rainy season typically occurs from January to March, occasionally exacerbated by El Niño events.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Primary profile is surfing, but wide sandy beach allows kitesurfing as a quieter alternative; wind often side-onshore from the south.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Foil-friendly in deeper sections away from the immediate rocky point; sandy beach entry supports safe setup.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly noted for deeper areas.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 5–6 m²
Fairly exposed left-hand point break with consistent surf, working from about 1.0–1.5m and holding up to 3m+; bottom is reef with sand sections and exposed rocks.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- NW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid, All tides — Sources indicate optimal low and mid tide; falling tide emphasized.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Point break is described as fairly exposed; shelter level varies between exposed and semi-sheltered depending on source.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore conditions described for east-southeast winds; winds grooming the wave.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size and can handle swells over 3 meters.
- Wave Quality
- World class — World-class / excellent quality described.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — World-class hollow, powerful waves.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow sections reported.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Peel speed described as fast.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long rides reported (normal 50–150m; good days can connect over 200m).
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- 150 to 300 m reported; other sources describe normal rides 50 to 150 m and >200 m on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Los Delfines (Punta Sal) in the full forecast view.
Los Delfines (Punta Sal) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–13 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- WNW283°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2413 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.3 m10s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Los Delfines (Punta Sal) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is WNW. Waves run 0.6–1.3 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
- Rocks
- reef
- coral
- rip currents
- stingrays in the sand
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards indicated.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Limited official beach rescue (regional baseline).
- Emergency Info
- Medical clinics are available in Mancora, approximately 20 minutes away.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism noted; lineup respect expected.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local surfers in the lineup.
- Wave works best on a falling tide.
- Check the rocky entry points at low tide to avoid surprises when the water rises.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Mancora
- Nearest Town
- Mancora
- Nearest Airport
- Tumbes Airport (TBP) (~80 km) or Talara Airport (TYL) (~100 km)
- Parking
- Limited parking available near the beach access points and local resorts.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via private shuttle, taxis, or 'colectivos' from Tumbes or Mancora; no direct municipal bus system.
- Access
- From Lima: fly or take a bus north to Piura, then bus to Mancora. Punta Sal is 15 minutes north; turn left at km 1187.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Upscale resorts and beach villas are located directly on the beach in the Los Delfines area.
- Food & Drink
- Several high-end hotel restaurants and local eateries nearby.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is limited; most visitors bring their own gear or rent from shops in Mancora (regional baseline also indicates rental via regional schools).
- Gear Storage
- Generally available at specialized kitesurf hotels and larger beachfront resorts.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repairs can be handled by local schools; major sail/canopy repairs often require sending gear to Mancora or Lima.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Seasonal migration of Humpback whales visible from the shore or via boat tours.
Ancient ceremonial center and administrative hub of the Inca and pre-Inca cultures.
Natural thermal mud baths known for medicinal properties.
A collection of high-quality seafood restaurants serving local ceviche and fresh catch.
The region is famous for marlin and tuna fishing expeditions.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Los Delfines (Punta Sal)?
The best overall months at Los Delfines (Punta Sal) are June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are February, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Los Delfines (Punta Sal)?
Los Delfines (Punta Sal) works with ESE winds. Offshore directions are E, ESE, SE, SSE. No-go directions are N, NNE, NE, ENE, NNE, NW, NNW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Los Delfines (Punta Sal)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Los Delfines (Punta Sal): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–20 kts.
What skill level is Los Delfines (Punta Sal) suitable for?
Los Delfines (Punta Sal) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.