Mompiche is one of Ecuador's premier waves - a long, tubular left point that peels for 300+ meters on good days. Set in a lush jungle village, the wave fires during the December-April NW swell season, producing powerful, hollow walls that draw traveling surfers from around the world.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Return flights to ESM, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerGet the best strike windows in South America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
¿Prefieres español? Recibe el Strike Report en español, gratis →
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: 2hr drive from Esmeraldas. Jungle village setting.
Mompiche Point is a point break in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, that mostly breaks left.
Mompiche Point picks up swell from the W round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the WNW. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.7 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 16s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. Also works with SW swells when 4ft+. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
A SE wind is dead offshore at Mompiche Point, and anything from the ESE round to the SSE 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.
Mompiche Point is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.5m on the local chart.
The most reliable run of swell at Mompiche Point comes Dec to Apr. There's a second window in May to Nov too. Best December-April with NW swells. Also works with SW.
The water at Mompiche Point 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.
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on. Rocky point. Strong currents on bigger swells.
The nearest airport on our list is ESM, then it's roughly a 2-hour drive. 2hr drive from Esmeraldas. Jungle village setting.
The closest breaks we track are Portete Island (1.1 km), Playa Negra Mompiche (1.5 km) and Casa Blanca (41 km), handy when Mompiche Point isn't working. Fun fact: it's the third most northerly break we track in Ecuador.
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Secondary: May-Nov
Best December-April with NW swells. Also works with SW.
🏝️ Island reef break • Boat access • Alternative to Mompiche
🏖️ Beginner beach • Mompiche mellow option • Dark sand
🏖️ Quiet beach • Uncrowded peaks • Northern Esmeraldas
🎒 Backpacker haven • Long beach • Consistent peaks
🌊 Versatile left • Works both swells • Consistent option
🎣 Fishing village left • Long walls • Near Manta