El Camaron is a left-hand point that peels along a rock shelf at the foot of a sea cliff, right in town.
Overview
The headland juts southwest into the Pacific with no island shadow from that direction, which is what gives it a shot at swell. Most days the wave is small, soft and slow, somewhere around waist to chest high, but it still lines up and builds momentum the way a point should, and on the right board that is plenty of fun. It is fickle, and it is hardly the best wave in mainland Mexico, but when a proper swell pours in it stands up and turns highly rippable.
When It Works
The point draws swell from southwest through south-southeast, and the strongest sessions come on solid south to southwest energy. That is a spring and summer story, when Southern Hemisphere swells are at their most powerful, with the season running from April through October and holding into autumn. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, which covers everything from waist high to double overhead.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind. The workable wind window stretches from north through east-northeast to east-southeast, so most easterly flow will do. The point can work through the whole tide, though mid tide is the best call and a rising tide is generally the better half of the cycle.
Local Tips
This one suits intermediate and expert surfers. A shortboard covers the bigger days, while a fish or a bodyboard makes more sense of the small, slow ones. The bottom is rock and sand, and rocks are the main thing to keep an eye on. Expect a busy lineup when the swell shows, with locals on it and holding down the main take-off zone; the vibe is fine as long as you play by the rules. Getting out can mean a lot of duck-diving, but the paddle itself is short.
Access
Park in the lot just north of the point. You will have to pay.
