Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona)
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Rocky Point 3 is an exposed reef break in the Gulf of Panama with fairly consistent surf. The spot’s main hazard is the rocky reef itself, including sharp volcanic rocks and sea urchins, so it is best approached with appropriate protective gear and careful entry/standing. From a surf-conditions standpoint, Rocky Point 3 is described as working best at mid tide with south swell. In the dry season, northern offshore winds can help groom the wave face, supporting a more clean, structured take-off for experienced surfers. The break is also tide-sensitive and can become very shallow and dangerous as you approach dead low tide. Wave characteristics are consistently described as peeling rights along the reef edge, typically with moderate wave power and good overall quality during favorable swell. On larger swells, the wave can close out or become very heavy (reported for swells over 2.5 meters), increasing the importance of reading the set and respecting the reef. Crowd-wise, the spot is described as unlikely to be too crowded even when the surf is up, with occasional extra locals on weekends. When planning your session, prioritize mid-tide conditions, wear booties for the rocky bottom, and avoid dead low tide.
- Exposed reef break with fairly consistent surf
- Best at mid tide with south swell
- Offshore North winds help groom the wave face
- Rock and sea urchin hazards—booties strongly advised
- Fairly consistent surf during the dry season.
- Mid tide works best for the reef setup.
- Offshore North winds help groom the wave face.
- Rocky reef hazards (including sharp rocks and sea urchins).
- Sensitive to tide; conditions can become very dangerous at dead low tide.
- Exposed setup.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, NW
- Offshore directions
- N, NE, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — North trade winds (alisios) with some local/thermal influence during the dry season.
- Reliability
- High during dry season
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Described as light gusts.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, December
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Mixed rocky/reef environment; reef bottom and rock hazards dominate.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Medium-sized surf described; working window includes 1.0–2.0 m swell.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky entry point requiring careful navigation through the shoreline.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky entry; difficulty described as difficult by some sources and moderate by others.
Through the year
Usually uncrowded; slightly more locals on weekends.
May to November
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break in the Gulf of Panama with fairly consistent surf. Works best at mid tide with south swell; sensitive to tide and can become dangerous on very low tides and larger swells.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE, SSW
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Surf is best at mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open/exposed setup with limited shelter.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the North groom the wave face during the dry season; offshore from the northwest was also described.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out or become very heavy on swells over 2.5 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality; often structured and consistent in the dry season.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Described as moderate wave power; exposed reef break with fairly consistent surf.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Consistent rights that peel along the reef edge.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peels along the reef edge with a medium speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Medium ride length; consistently peeling rights.
- Ride Length Details
- Consistent rights that peel along the reef edge; can be trickier with rocks and sea urchins.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) in the full forecast view.
Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–8 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- N350°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 288 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–0.4 m9s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is N. Waves run 0.3–0.4 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
- Sharp volcanic rocks
- Sea urchins
- Shallow reef at low tide
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported for this spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional guidance indicates limited rescue availability; no dedicated on-site rescue for every beach.
- Emergency Info
- No dedicated on-site rescue stations at every beach; emergency number is 911. Nearest major medical facility noted as San Fernando Clinic in Coronado.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Mild localism was also mentioned, but overall described as none.
Rules of the spot
Best surfing at mid tide; avoid dead low tide where the reef becomes very shallow and hazardous.
- Do not surf at dead low tide (reef exposed/shallow).
- Wear booties due to rocky bottom.
- Avoid surfing at dead low tide—reef becomes exposed and very shallow.
- If you are not experienced with rocky entries, consider additional caution when entering/standing on the reef.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- San Carlos
- Nearest Town
- Nueva Gorgona
- Parking
- Limited parking available at the end of the public access roads in Nueva Gorgona
- Public Transport
- Access via the Pan-American Highway; frequent buses run from Panama City toward San Carlos and stop at the Nueva Gorgona entrance.
- Access
- Access via the beach at Nueva Gorgona, walking east towards the rocky points
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various condos and vacation rentals in Nueva Gorgona and Coronado.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants available in the town of Nueva Gorgona.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard rentals are widely available through local surf schools in the wider Nueva Gorgona/Chame area.
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 Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona)?
The best overall months at Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) are December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January, February, March, December.
Which wind directions work at Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona)?
Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) works with N, NE, NW winds. Offshore directions are N, NE, NW.
What skill level is Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) suitable for?
Rocky Point 3 (Nueva Gorgona) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.