Garbanzos
Garbanzos is Abaco's quality reef break—a right-hander that draws surfers from Florida and the US East Coast seeking warmer water and fewer crowds. When NE swells hit the Bahamas, this reef produces consistent, workable waves in a tropical paradise setting.
Garbanzos surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Direction range
- 20° - 80°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Offshore range
- 240° - 300°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.6m - 1.5m
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Abaco island. Accessible from Marsh Harbour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Garbanzos?
Garbanzos is a reef break in Abaco, Bahamas, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at Garbanzos?
Garbanzos picks up swell from the NNE round to the E, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NE. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.8 to 2.2m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Garbanzos?
A W wind is dead offshore at Garbanzos, and anything from the WSW round to the WNW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Garbanzos?
Garbanzos is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.6m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Garbanzos?
The most reliable run of swell at Garbanzos comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Sep to Oct too. Winter swells. Solid Abaco reef break.
How cold is the water at Garbanzos?
The water at Garbanzos averages around 26°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Garbanzos good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 2/10). Solid Abaco reef break. Receives Florida/US East Coast surfers.
How do I get to Garbanzos?
The nearest airport on our list is MHH, then it's roughly a 30-minute drive. Abaco island. Accessible from Marsh Harbour.
What other surf spots are near Garbanzos?
The closest breaks we track are Willawaby (2.5 km), Indigo's (2.5 km) and Tilloo Cut (20 km), handy when Garbanzos isn't working. We track 4 spots around Abaco in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Sep, Oct
Winter swells. Solid Abaco reef break.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Willawaby
🌊 Abacos size handler • N swell catcher • Winter power
Indigo's
💙 Abacos reef option • Lefts and rights • Uncrowded Bahamas
Tilloo Cut
🧭 Abaco adventure wave • Boat access only • Uninhabited perfection
Whale Point Cut
🐋 Eleuthera's big wave • Long channel right • Worth the wait
Egg Island
🥚 Desert island surf • Boat access only • Bahamas adventure
Surfer's Beach Eleuthera
🏝️ Bahamas' best beach break • Pink sand perfection • Caribbean Hawaii