Surf Forecast  El Transito

El Transito surfspot characteristics

More about El Transito surfspot

El Transito vacuums up all available swell onto constantly moving sandbars, shaped by refraction off the reef protrusions at either end. Fun waves for all until it gets overhead and quickly closes-out.

General: The crescent-shaped cove provides a beautiful backdrop to a lineup that offers multiple peaks that tend to bounce off of a few rocks scattered just outside the takeoff zone. Although the best, biggest and most common swells are from the SW or SSW, Transito can also handle the occasional WNW swell during winter (as long as it's under 290 degrees). The best periods are anything from 16 seconds or under. Over 16 seconds and it tends to shut down, since the beach is fairly small. The extremely consistent El Transito break can be good all year round, just as long as it stays under a couple feet overhead. This spot is usually pretty fun in the offseason (November to March), as the swells are usually smaller during that time of year and more suitable for the break. There is a small point on the south end of the beach (similar to Machete Point at Playa Maderas) with a rock/sand bottom that works on mid-period SSW swells. The wave on the main beach (sand bottom) is typically mellow, with softer barrel sections and medium-length waves suitable for all levels of surfers. </br></br>El Transito is best from waist-high to about one-foot overhead and on a mid-tide, however, it will break on most tides. The tide swings here are drastic, so the peaks will often change completely. The predominant offshore winds (250+ days/year) are best from the E-NE. These offshores rarely get too strong here as it's further north (so hardly ever any upwelling). There are other breaks within walking distance or a short boat ride. Hemmies (if you dare) is a 15-minute boat ride to the south. About a 30-minute boat trip to the north, there is the increasingly popular break of Puerto Sandino, which is one of the longer lefts in Nicaragua, offering about 300-yard rides on the best days. There are other gems within walking distance, like a barreling righthand wedge that rarely goes flat, and a little-known big wave slab that shows up on the larger, longer-period swells. Tides: Medium to high Size: Chest high-slightly overhead. However, other nearby spots can produce at much bigger sizes. Wind: Calm or light to moderate offshore E to NE. Swell: Can be fun on any swells, but best on S to SW Bottom: Mostly sand with areas of rock reef Paddling: Usually not bad as it breaks close in. Spot Rating: Often just an average wave but it has its good days.

All levels -- Depends on size of course and which spot in the zone.

Easy. Close to Managua and with one road straight in from the highway.

All summer. Prime season is April through September. Much of October typically sees onshore wind and heavy rain, while November is a sleeper month with late season pulses and good conditions.

Crowd Factor: Usually mellow with mainly visiting surfers. Local Vibe: Mellow to none.

Could be a crowd from the surf camps up north on the small days. Beware the scattered patches of reef.

Usually always clean.

Sections of shallow reef.