Surf: El Paraiso, where a bend in the beach arranges nice triangular bars and some fast, hollow, yet forgiving rides compared to it’s illustrious “on steroids” neighbour. NE wind meeting a SW swell should be ideal. Environment: Intermediates will struggle at size. Surf: General: Make your way to El Paraiso and you're officially entering heart-pounding, body-thumping Mexican beachbreak territory. While not as round or perfect as it's well-known neighbor just across the rivermouth to the south (Pascuales), Paraiso has no shortage of pumping days, not to mention less terrifying options for surfers not interested in the bigger stuff.

Paraiso is a hot and humid village squeezed between miles of lush fields and a ribbon of black sand beach. It is a place largely overlooked by tourists, therefore it is a fantastic place to pop in, grab a ridiculously cheap meal, and share a few waves with the local surfers and bodyboarders.

The main wave is right in town and is a shallow, sucking beachbreak that offers both rights and lefts. The rights often have a bit more shoulder to them. There are other peaks scattered up and down the beach that will be less crowded.

Remember, if you go wandering off down the beach early in the morning, don't forget to bring a pair of flops or shoes, because when you get out of the water a few hours later, that black sand will literally fry those soft tourist feet of yours. Tides: Mid. Size: Chest high to triple overhead Wind: North, North-East Swell: SSE, S, SW Bottom: Sand; scattered rocks. Paddling: When it's pumping you'll be duck-diving a lot. Spot Rating: Fun, but catch it before the wind comes up. Access: Plenty of parking... once you find the town. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Congested at the main break, empty elsewhere nearby. Local Vibe: Local surfers and bodyboarders appreciate humility and respect. Environment: Main break is in town. Hazards: Shallow bottom. Season: March-October