Surfing El Anclote: The Complete Guide

El Anclote is a point break located in Punta Mita, Mexico, offering a right-hander along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. El Anclote is a mellow right point in the village of Punta Mita, perfect for longboards and beginners. Rated as beginner-friendly difficulty with moderately crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is WNW (300°), with workable conditions from W to NW (280°–320°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: El Anclote needs a minimum of 0.6m / 2ft to start working and handles swells up to 1.8m / 6ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 13 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the E (90°). The full offshore range spans ENE to ESE (60°–120°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid to high tide.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at El Anclote runs June, July, August, September, October (Jun–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round waves. Mellow longboard spot.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 26°C / 79°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is PVR, roughly 45 minutes by car.

Access: Punta Mita village. Easy beach access.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded

Can get crowded. Mix of skill levels.

Safety Tips:

Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated beginner-friendly (3/10). Crowd Level: Typically moderately crowded (6/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at El Anclote? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when El Anclote is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*