Baja Malibu is a long, mellow right point just south of the US-Mexico border that has become popular with longboarders seeking easy waves. The wave offers long rides without much power, making it ideal for cruisy sessions and nose-riding. Its proximity to Tijuana makes it one of the most accessible Baja spots.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Just south of border. Easy access from Tijuana.
Baja Malibu is a point break in Rosarito, Mexico, that mostly breaks right.
Baja Malibu picks up swell from the W round to the WNW, 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.
An E wind is dead offshore at Baja Malibu, 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.
Baja Malibu is at its best around the mid to high tide.
The most reliable run of swell at Baja Malibu comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. Winter NW swells. Popular longboard spot.
The water at Baja Malibu averages around 17°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (6/10) when it's on. Can get crowded. Rocky entry.
The nearest airport on our list is TIJ, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive. Just south of border. Easy access from Tijuana.
The closest breaks we track are K-38 (13 km), Rosarito Pier (16 km) and Windansea (42 km), handy when Baja Malibu isn't working. We track 4 spots around Rosarito in total. Fun fact: it's the most northerly break we track in Mexico.
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Oct, Apr
Winter NW swells. Popular longboard spot.
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