Peña Redonda (Bocapán)
- Longboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Peña Redonda (Bocapán) is a tranquil surfing spot featuring a long, mellow left-hand point break. It’s reported to be beach-and-point influenced, with best performance when North/NW swells reach the coast, producing peeling waves with generally good quality. Wind in the area tends to follow a thermal pattern: lighter morning winds often transition into southwesterly breezes in the afternoon. Offshore wind is reported from the South/Southwest, which can help keep the surf more favorable, while North winds are generally onshore for this spot. The spot is known for consistency—particularly in the Peruvian summer—so if you’re planning around the main swell season you should have better odds of getting usable waves. Crowd pressure is reported as unlikely to be too crowded even when conditions are up, and the overall atmosphere is described as relaxed. Safety-wise, the main practical concerns are scattered rocks near the point and stingrays in shallow sand areas. Lifeguards are reported as none, and dedicated rescue is limited, so self-rescue readiness is important. Access is via the Pan-American Highway North near Bocapán, with limited nearby parking options.
- Long peeling left-hand point break
- Best on North/NW swells with long rides
- Typically uncrowded sessions
- Warm tropical water year-round
- Very consistent conditions, especially during summer months
- Long, peeling left-hand point break with good ride length potential
- Typically uncrowded
- Rocks near the point and shallow-water stingray risk
- Rescue/lifeguards reported as none or limited
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SW
- Offshore directions
- S, SW
- Wind Range
- 12–18 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Light morning winds often give way to southwesterly breezes in the afternoon (thermal/reinforced afternoon pattern).
- Reliability
- Moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · +0 kts · Months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: S, SSW, SW, WSW · Thermal reinforcement is most reliable mid-afternoon; peak reliability reported as 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM (July–December).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with rocky outcrops at the point
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Medium surf with the working swell reported around 1.0–2.5 m.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach entry with rocky outcrops at the point
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Sandy entry makes launch straightforward, but watch for rocks near the point.
Through the year
Generally low crowds year-round; slightly more people during holidays
Rain is rare but can occur during El Niño years between January and March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Long left-hand point break; best performance reported on a NW/North swell with typically uncrowded sessions.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered setup consistent with point/near-point shelter compared with fully exposed beach breaks.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore wind is from the South/Southwest; North winds are onshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but can become heavy.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Long, mellow left-hand point break with peeling sections on suitable swells.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Long — Waves can peel for over 200 meters on a good North swell.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–250 m
- Ride Length Details
- On a good North swell, waves can peel for over 200 meters; typical rides commonly fall in the 150–250 m range when conditions are right.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Peña Redonda (Bocapán) in the full forecast view.
Peña Redonda (Bocapán) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–9 ktsGusts 18 kts
- Direction
- NW320°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 249 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–1.0 m9s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Peña Redonda (Bocapán) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 18 kts. The prevailing direction is NW. Waves run 0.5–1.0 m with a period of about 9s. 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 near the point
- Stingrays in shallow sand
- Limited dedicated rescue availability
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Dedicated water rescue is limited; safety is primarily managed by local naval authorities and private resort staff. Self-rescue skills are recommended.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facility is JAMO Hospital in Tumbes. General emergency numbers in Peru are 105 (police) and 116 (fire/rescue).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Reported as mild localism.
Rules of the spot
Check for scattered rocks near the point and avoid the shallow sand areas where stingrays may be present.
- Best surf conditions tend to occur in the Peruvian summer when North swells reach the coast.
- Respect local residents who frequent the beach.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tumbes
- Nearest Town
- Zorritos
- Nearest Airport
- Capitán FAP Pedro Canga Rodríguez Airport (TBP), Tumbes (~45 km away)
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking or parking at nearby beach houses
- Public Transport
- combis (shared vans) and mototaxis along the Pan-American Highway North
- Access
- Accessible via the Pan-American Highway North, located near the town of Bocapán
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Several eco-lodges and beach houses are located in the Bocapán and Zorritos area.
- Food & Drink
- Small restaurants and shops are available in the nearby town of Zorritos.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental gear availability is reported primarily through schools based in Zorritos or Máncora that offer mobile services to the Bocapán coast.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Natural medicinal mud baths and hot springs located just inland from the coast.
A unique ecosystem featuring diverse birdlife and local shell-gathering traditions.
Seasonal humpback whale watching tours departing from nearby Zorritos.
Collection of beachfront eateries famous for fresh ceviche and 'conchas negras'.
A calm, picturesque beach ideal for swimming and family relaxation.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Peña Redonda (Bocapán)?
The best overall months at Peña Redonda (Bocapán) are December, January, February, March. The best wind months are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Peña Redonda (Bocapán)?
Peña Redonda (Bocapán) works with S, SW winds. Offshore directions are S, SW.
What skill level is Peña Redonda (Bocapán) suitable for?
Peña Redonda (Bocapán) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.