El Canon
El Canon is a right-hand reef break on San Cristobal's north side that lights up when NW swells wrap around the island. Less crowded than Tongo, it offers fun walls and occasional barrels for intermediate to advanced surfers.
El Canon surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (292°)
- Direction range
- 270° - 315°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 70° - 110°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
24°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Dirt road access from town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is El Canon?
El Canon is a reef break in San Cristobal, Galapagos, Ecuador, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at El Canon?
El Canon picks up swell from the W round to the NW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the WNW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 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 El Canon?
An E wind is dead offshore at El Canon, and anything from the ENE round to the ESE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at El Canon?
El Canon is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf El Canon?
The most reliable run of swell at El Canon comes Dec to May. There's a second window in Jun and Nov too. Best with NW-W swells December-May.
How cold is the water at El Canon?
The water at El Canon averages around 24°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is El Canon good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 2/10). Shallow reef sections.
How do I get to El Canon?
The nearest airport on our list is SCY, then it's roughly a 15-minute drive. Dirt road access from town.
What other surf spots are near El Canon?
The closest breaks we track are Punta Carola (2.2 km), Tongo Reef (3.9 km) and La Loberia (5.6 km), handy when El Canon isn't working. We track 4 spots around San Cristobal, Galapagos in total.
Best Season
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Secondary: Jun, Nov
Best with NW-W swells December-May.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Punta Carola
🌊 Town wave • Right point • Sea lion colony
Tongo Reef
🦭 WSL contest venue • Three-section reef • Surf with sea lions
La Loberia
🦭 Sea lion beach • Quality reef left • Wildlife paradise
Punta Negra
🌋 Volcanic reef right • Lower tides • Near Tortuga Bay
Tortuga Bay
🐢 White sand paradise • Marine iguanas • National park setting
Seymour Norte
🚤 Boat access only • Remote reef right • True adventure