Punta Murcielago (Guayas)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Punta Murcielago is an exposed reef and point break on the Santa Elena peninsula, known for fairly consistent surf. The break is technical and gear/entry matters: the bottom is reef with rocks, and the area is subject to rip currents and drift—especially when swell builds. Wind is an important factor for surf quality. Southeast to south-southeast winds are described as offshore and can help produce cleaner conditions, while other wind directions can quickly degrade the surf. Wind is also described as low reliability, so sessions need careful checking of the forecast. The spot is best in the region’s warmer months, with February cited as the best month for surf. One source describes spring and summer as the favoured seasons, aligning with the broader Santa Elena Peninsula surf season typically running from December to April. For surf planning, the wave is described as peeling with medium ride potential when the swell lines up correctly with the point. Conditions become increasingly dangerous on larger swells due to the rocky bottom and strong currents. Due to the hazards, the spot is generally suited to intermediate-to-advanced surfers, with extra caution around reef impact at low tide—mid-tide is commonly suggested as the safer/rewarding window.
- Exposed reef/point break with consistent surf
- Southeast winds can be offshore for cleaner conditions
- Best month highlighted as February
- Rarely crowded
- Exposed reef/point break with fairly consistent surf
- Offshore southeast winds can help keep conditions clean
- Rarely crowded; lower likelihood of heavy crowds
- Exposed reef setup with sharp rocks/submerged reef
- Rip currents/strong currents can make the session dangerous
- Highly sensitive to wind and swell direction; wind reliability is low
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE
- Offshore directions
- SE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Local wind regime described as a gradient in the source; regional pattern includes afternoon thermal breezes.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gustiness indicated as light.
- Best Months
- February
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocky composition with reef bottom.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — One source describes small overall; another describes the spot as capable of big waves on the right conditions.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline with limited entry points.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky shoreline with limited entry points; technical and hazardous entry.
Through the year
Rarely crowded due to technical nature of the break and rocky access.
January to April can be the wet season with occasional impacts to road access.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef and point break with consistent surf that is sensitive to wind and swell direction; reef bottom and rips make it technical and hazardous.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW, W
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Sources indicate best surf is on/near mid-tide; also noted that it works across tides but reef risk is higher on low tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open and exposed reef/point setup.
- Wind Effect
- Southeast/south-southeast winds are described as offshore and can produce cleaner conditions; western winds can blow the break out quickly. Hazards increase with rougher swell or wind/water mismatch.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size but becomes increasingly dangerous due to sharp rocky bottom and strong currents/rips.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good quality when conditions align; wind exposure strongly affects cleanliness.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power; can become dangerous with larger swell due to rocky bottom and currents.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Wave described as peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling wave described as medium speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Decent rides possible when the point/swell lines up; smaller days may break into shorter sections.
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer decent rides when the swell hits the point correctly, though often sections out on smaller days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Punta Murcielago (Guayas) in the full forecast view.
Punta Murcielago (Guayas) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–9 ktsGusts 17 kts
- Direction
- W261°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 249 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–0.8 m10s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Punta Murcielago (Guayas) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 17 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.5–0.8 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
- sharp rocks
- submerged reef
- rips
- strong rip currents
- isolated location
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated rescue availability reported for the spot; regional rescue services are described as limited in the area.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Santa Elena or La Libertad; emergency number reported as 911 and regional main hospital is Hospital General Liborio Panchana Sotomayor in Santa Elena.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Localism reported as none by one source and mild by another; overall access is described as not strongly restrictive.
Rules of the spot
Surf in safe conditions for your level; keep clear of sharp rock and submerged reef—conditions can become hazardous when rips strengthen or when swells rise.
- Avoid sessions when swell/wind combination increases danger at the rocky, reef bottom.
- Wear booties due to sharp rocky entry and the reef bottom.
- Best surf can be at mid-tide to reduce the risk of striking the reef on low tide.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Santa Elena
- Nearest Town
- Anconcito
- Parking
- Informal parking on the cliffs or roadside nearby.
- Access
- Accessible via dirt tracks from the main road between Anconcito and Punta Carnero; informal parking on cliffs or roadside nearby.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation is available nearby, including in Punta Carnero or Salinas.
- Food & Drink
- Local eateries in the nearby town of Anconcito.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard rentals are available in the region (via schools in nearby Salinas area). Specialized kiting/windsurfing gear is less common.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as available via local surf schools and high-end beachfront hotels in the Salinas area.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repair is described as available in the wider area (workshops in nearby towns).
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 Punta Murcielago (Guayas)?
The best overall months at Punta Murcielago (Guayas) are January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are February.
Which wind directions work at Punta Murcielago (Guayas)?
Punta Murcielago (Guayas) works with SE winds. Offshore directions are SE.
What skill level is Punta Murcielago (Guayas) suitable for?
Punta Murcielago (Guayas) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.