Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo)
- Beginners, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat
- Spot Type
- Crowded
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Old Man's / The Rock in San José del Cabo is a well-known surfing destination built around right-hand waves, with a mellow, long-riding point break (Old Man's) that’s repeatedly described as fun and suitable for beginner-to-intermediate progression. The adjacent reef section (The Rock) is described as more technical and more challenging, particularly as conditions and swell size increase. For Old Man's, the setup is commonly described as working from small sizes (reported as under 1 m) up to around 3 m+ (10 ft+), and as holding long rides and a longer good-day length. It is described as mushy/soft and slow-peeling, with a generally good wave quality. Many descriptions also note it works on all tides, which helps make the spot more forgiving for planning. Wind and weather at this location are influenced by the Los Cabos afternoon sea-breeze pattern. North and Northwest winds are described as offshore/grooming for the surf face, while more southerly winds are associated with choppier conditions. Seasonal timing is important: multiple sources indicate best visiting/wave timing is during late spring into early fall for consistent swell, while calmer/cleaner seasonal surf patterns are also noted for winter months. Safety-wise, the biggest cautions are pollution risk after rain (runoff) and physical hazards from rocks/reef/sea urchins, with crowding adding complexity for beginners. Rescue availability is reported as limited and lifeguards are not present, so riders should be prepared for self-management and follow local guidance—especially after heavy rain when water entry is discouraged for a short period.
- Old Man's: mellow, long-riding right-hand point break with very long rides reported.
- Works from small sizes and holds into overhead ranges.
- North/Northwest winds are described as grooming/offshore.
- Fun, progression-friendly surfing is emphasized for the Old Man's right-hand point break.
- Long rides and generally good wave quality are reported.
- Warm water temperatures for extended seasons; the spot is widely established and easy to access by car near KM 28.
- Crowds are heavy year-round, especially for beginners.
- Pollution/runoff risk after rain is specifically noted as a hazard.
- Rocks/reef and sea urchins can create hazards, especially around low tide and changing water depth.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNW, W, NW
- Offshore directions
- N, NW
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Afternoon sea-breeze pattern is reported for Los Cabos; at this spot winds are described as North/Northwest with additional West components.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported as light gusts.
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- The cliff area near the rock provides some shelter from cross-winds.
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Afternoon sea breezes typically build and can increase chop/surf messiness when winds turn more southerly.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Mixed — Sand with rock/reef influence depending on the section.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Reported wave size is medium, with the setup also holding into overhead ranges on the right conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach entry directly in front of the hotel and along the cove (and also via public path/surf hotel grounds described near KM 28).
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Sandy entry described as easy; access described via beach staircase/tunnel or hotel grounds path.
Through the year
Consistently crowded year-round; peak crowds during US holiday weeks.
June to November
By sport
What to expect for each.
The spot features rights including a mellow, slower long-riding point break (Old Man's) suitable for beginners and progression, plus a more technical reef-coral section at/near The Rock that becomes more challenging on bigger sets.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW, SSW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–3.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Old Man's is described as working on all tides. Other information notes best conditions on mid to high tide for the more technical reef section.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Launch/break positioning includes rock/cliff shelter effects; conditions can vary by tide with exposed rocks/reef near low tide.
- Wind Effect
- North/Northwest winds are described as grooming/offshore for the face; southerly winds can make conditions choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well into head/overhead ranges for Old Man's; the adjacent reef section is described as holding size but becoming more hollow and challenging on larger swell.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality is reported as good, with the overall setup described as a classic/regional favorite.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Old Man's is described as soft/fun; the adjacent reef section is described as more powerful/technical.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Old Man's described as mushy; adjacent reef section described as peeling/hollow and more challenging.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Old Man's is described as slow-peeling.
- Ride Length
- Long — Old Man's described as long-riding, with very long rides reported.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Old Man's: long good-day length reported (150–300 m) with long rides often described in the 150–300 m range; another dataset also reports a typical 50–150 m range for the broader spot.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) in the full forecast view.
Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–8 ktsGusts 17 kts
- Direction
- SE141°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 288 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.9 m11s period
- Temperature
- 25–32 °C
Over the next 7 days, Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 17 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 1.0–1.9 m with a period of about 11s. 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
- Urchins
- Submerged reef sections / reef
- Crowds
- Pollution
- Beginning surfers
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards are reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is reported as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Hospitals are located in nearby San José del Cabo (emergency number: 911).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Some localism is mentioned as a potential hazard/consideration, but the spot is also described as welcoming for progression.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the high volume of beginners in the water at the main peak.
- No motorized watercraft in the surf zone.
- Pollution can be a hazard here, especially after rain when runoff enters the ocean.
- Avoid the water for 48–72 hours after heavy tropical rains due to runoff.
- Choose your peak based on your actual ability, as the main breaks vary in technicality.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- San José del Cabo
- Nearest Town
- San José del Cabo
- Parking
- A few parking spots are usually open near the beach access; parking is described as limited/public near access with additional dedicated parking for patrons of local establishments.
- Access
- Located at KM 28 of the Trans-Peninsular Highway; access is described as driving along Km. 28 until a sign says "Cabo Surf Villas." There are a few parking spots usually open; access involves a staircase/tunnel until the beach, with parking options also described via the surf hotel grounds.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — A surf hotel is described as located directly on the spot; numerous villas and rentals in the Costa Azul area.
- Food & Drink
- Food/drink options are described as within walking distance, including beachfront palapa bars and a seafood restaurant.
- Equipment Rental:
- Extensive surfboard rentals are described as available via the on-site surf school.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as available for guests of the local surf hotel; public storage is not clearly established.
- Gear Repair
- Basic ding repair services are described as available at nearby shops in San José del Cabo.
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 Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo)?
The best overall months at Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. The best wind months are December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo)?
Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) works with N, NNW, W, NW winds. Offshore directions are N, NW.
What skill level is Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) suitable for?
Old Man's / The Rock (San José del Cabo) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner.