Monterrico (Taxisco)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Monterrico (Taxisco) is an exposed Pacific beach-break known for fairly consistent surf, but the beach profile often forces waves to close out quickly—so even when swells arrive, ride potential can be limited. The break is highly exposed, and the combination of heavy shorebreak plus strong currents/undertow means conditions can feel unforgiving, especially for newer surfers. Wind and swell timing are key. It tends to perform best with South to Southwest swells and light offshore winds from the North/Northeast, which help groom the face. Offshore morning conditions are especially favorable, while onshore winds tend to create heavier chop. While surfing can work across tides, a “mid tide” preference is also reported in addition to all-tides coverage. Safety demands real caution. Multiple sources describe rips, strong currents, and a notorious powerful undertow, along with a heavy shorebreak that can cause injury. If you’re going in, the expectation should be that the water can be dangerous even for confident swimmers; footwear is also important because the black volcanic sand can get extremely hot. Seasonally, the most favorable months for conditions are concentrated in the dry season—especially November through February—while May to October is associated with rainy-season disruption and less consistent conditions. Water temperatures stay warm year-round, so the main practical challenge is not cold-water exposure, but managing powerful surf and current risk.
- Exposed beach-break with frequent closeouts
- Best swell: South/Southwest; best wind: offshore from the North/Northeast
- Warm water year-round (28–30°C)
- Very hazardous shorebreak/currents—prioritize ocean safety
- Warm water year-round (about 28–30°C)
- Exposed Pacific swells can be fairly consistent when the swell/wind line up
- Beginner-to-intermediate potential under the right conditions, though hazards remain significant
- Heavy, dangerous shorebreak and powerful undertow/rip currents
- Waves frequently close out, limiting ride potential
- Wind reliability can be low and conditions can turn choppy when winds go onshore
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NNE, N
- Offshore directions
- N, NNE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Thermal sea breezes; offshore-morning influence from the North/Northeast in the dry season, shifting more onshore later.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported as generally light gusting.
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: E, ESE, SE, SSE · Coastal heating supports afternoon sea-breeze conditions (roughly late morning into late afternoon).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — sand beach (black volcanic sand)
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Huge — Sources also report powerful surf that can become very heavy and dangerous with larger swells.
- Launch
- Big — Long sandy beach with black volcanic sand
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Powerful shorebreak and currents make entry difficult.
Through the year
Generally quiet on weekdays; weekends and public holidays can be more crowded with local tourists.
May to October (rainy season; afternoon thunderstorms and unpredictable conditions)
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break with fairly consistent swells, but frequently harsh closeouts and a notoriously heavy shorebreak. Works best on South/Southwest swell with light offshore winds from the North/Northeast.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Reported as working across all tides; another reference suggests best performance on mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open coast exposure; no meaningful shelter from prevailing conditions.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the North/Northeast help groom the waves; onshore winds increase chop and heaviness.
- Bigger Swell
- Becomes very heavy and dangerous with large swells, frequently closing out in a wall of water.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Can be consistent, but quality is strongly affected by closeouts and shorebreak power.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Closeout — Often closes out in a steep, wall-like section due to the beach profile.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Reported as fast-breaking.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short rides; waves tend to close out quickly.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typically fast and often hollow; rides commonly limited to the closeout section.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Monterrico (Taxisco) in the full forecast view.
Monterrico (Taxisco) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–8 ktsGusts 16 kts
- Direction
- SW217°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 258 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.3 m12s period
- Temperature
- 22–33 °C
Over the next 7 days, Monterrico (Taxisco) is forecast for daytime winds of 1–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 16 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. 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
- rip currents
- strong currents
- powerful undertow
- heavy shore break
- black volcanic sand can get extremely hot
- waves frequently close out, increasing wipeout risk
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Weekends only — Volunteer lifeguards may be available mainly in central tourism zones; along the extended coastline coverage can be sparse.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number: 112 (Guatemala). Police/Red Cross emergency lines: 110 (police) and 125 (Red Cross).
Rules of the spot
Use extreme caution in the surf: strong rip currents/undertow and a heavy shore break are recurring hazards. Even strong swimmers should avoid underestimating the water.
- Avoid swimming/boogie boarding without strong ocean-safety knowledge; currents and shorebreak are hazardous.
- Even the strongest swimmers should be wary of the waters here.
- Always wear footwear until you reach the water, as the black volcanic sand gets extremely hot.
- Expect very powerful shorebreak; it can snap boards or cause injury.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- La Candelaria
- Nearest Town
- Taxisco
- Nearest Airport
- La Aurora International Airport (GUA)
- Parking
- Parking available at local hotels and small public lots in the village.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via buses from Antigua and Guatemala City; also reached via routes through Taxisco.
- Access
- By car: take bridge to Puerto Viejo and proceed to Monterrico, or pass through Taxisco to La Avellana and take car ferry. Regular buses run from Antigua and Guatemala City.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous beachfront hotels, hostels, and guest houses located directly on the main beach road.
- Food & Drink
- Plentiful beachfront bars and restaurants serving seafood and local Guatemalan cuisine.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited surfboards available for rent from local hotels; surfboards and stand-up paddleboards are widely available for rent at beachfront hotels.
- Gear Storage
- Most hotels in the coastal area provide storage for guests’ sports equipment.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repair services are available locally.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Monterrico offers a laid-back coastal environment centered on mangroves, wildlife, and sea turtle conservation; the village area functions as a hub for eco-travelers and weekend visitors.
A nature reserve protecting mangroves and diverse coastal wildlife.
Guided boat trips through extensive mangrove wetlands.
A collection of local seafood and international restaurants in the heart of the village.
Seasonal evening events where visitors participate in releasing baby turtles into the ocean.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Monterrico (Taxisco)?
The best overall months at Monterrico (Taxisco) are November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are November, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Monterrico (Taxisco)?
Monterrico (Taxisco) works with NNE, N winds. Offshore directions are N, NNE.
What skill level is Monterrico (Taxisco) suitable for?
Monterrico (Taxisco) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.