Punta Colorada
- Advanced riders, Longboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Range
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Punta Colorada is an exposed point/river-mouth surf spot near the Punta Maldonado area, where southern swells can produce hollow, peaky waves. It’s described as having quite reliable surf in the summer, with conditions often helped by northeast winds that can blow offshore for the setup. The break is generally characterized as an advanced wave option: sources describe hollow/barreling sections with fast peeling or longer rides, and one report specifies peaky hollow barrels. Wave quality is described as excellent/good, and optimal swell is given as south-southwest with a working swell-height window around 1.5–3.0 meters. Mid-tide is noted as optimal in one description. Safety is a major consideration at the river mouth. Multiple sources report hazards including sharks, and also mention crocodiles near the river mouth. Strong rip currents and drift are specifically called out, and the river mouth can be murky after rain. After heavy rains, river debris can be present, and the area can be environmentally stressed due to pollution from sewage overflow. Visiting is typically low-crowd due to the rugged, remote access and the nature of the approach. There is no lifeguarding or dedicated water rescue coverage locally, and medical facilities are reported to be hours away, so riders should plan conservatively and avoid surfing alone.
- Hollow, peaky surf potential from southern swells
- Offshore northeast wind window
- Remote, off-the-grid fishing-village feel
- Turtle-related local opportunities may be available
- Beautiful sunsets
- Often reliable and sometimes powerful surfing.
- Offshore northeast winds can help keep surf cleaner.
- Advanced-level hollow wave potential on suitable swells.
- Exposed and remote—self-sufficiency is required.
- Strong rip currents and drift near the river mouth.
- Pollution risk from sewage overflow.
- Predators reported in the river-mouth area.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Northeast trade winds.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- June, July, August, September
- Shadow Zones
- The point can provide some shelter from North winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Mixed — Conflicting spot-level descriptions: rocks vs sand.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Big — Surf can hold significant size.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach launch from wide sandy area (described as moderate launch difficulty).
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate
Through the year
Generally very low crowds throughout the year.
June to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed point/river-mouth surf with consistent, often hollow waves on southern swells; typically produces left- or right-hand waves depending on the described take.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- SSW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — One source indicates mid tide as optimal; another emphasizes summer reliability without a specific tide call.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Best with offshore northeast winds; wind from the northeast is described as offshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size and can become very hollow; on bigger swell it remains powerful and hollow.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Wave quality described as excellent/good.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Barreling — Often described as hollow/barreling with peaky barrels.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Ride Length Details
- Peaky hollow barrels; long rights peeling off a sandbar formed by the river mouth.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Punta Colorada in the full forecast view.
Punta Colorada wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–9 ktsGusts 17 kts
- Direction
- W261°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 279 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.2–2.0 m10s period
- Temperature
- 23–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Punta Colorada is forecast for daytime winds of 2–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 17 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 1.2–2.0 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
- sharks
- crocodiles near the river mouth
- strong rip currents and drift near the river mouth
- river debris after heavy rains
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated local water rescue or coastguard station within the village (self-sufficiency recommended).
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are several hours away (group baseline: significant medical facilities in Ometepec about 1.5–2 hours away); emergency number: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Avoid going in alone; the river mouth area can be dangerous due to predators and strong currents.
- Pollution from sewage overflow
- Avoid surfing alone due to predators and heavy currents.
- The river mouth can be murky after rain.
- Turtle release opportunities may be available; enjoy the sunsets.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Cuajinicuilapa
- Nearest Town
- Punta Maldonado
- Nearest Airport
- Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM)
- Parking
- Informal parking available near the beach access.
- Public Transport
- Limited road access; mainly by private vehicle or local colectivo taxis from Cuajinicuilapa.
- Access
- Access is via a dirt road from Punta Maldonado; informal parking near the beach access.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Basic guesthouses and rustic accommodation in Punta Maldonado.
- Food & Drink
- Small local seafood shacks in the nearby village.
- Equipment Rental:
- No specialized surf rentals available on site.
- Gear Storage
- Dedicated gear storage facilities are unavailable.
- Gear Repair
- No specialized surf or water-sports repair services mentioned locally.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A quiet, rugged coastal area associated with local fishing culture and nearby points of interest.
Historic lighthouse offering panoramic views of the rugged coastline.
Local panga boat trips for catching lobster, red snapper, and other species.
Rustic beachside eateries known for fresh seafood.
Seasonal opportunities to observe sea turtles nesting on remote beaches nearby.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Punta Colorada?
The best overall months at Punta Colorada are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Punta Colorada?
Punta Colorada works with NE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What skill level is Punta Colorada suitable for?
Punta Colorada suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.