Nine Palms
Nine Palms is an East Cape reef break that comes alive during summer when hurricane swells send SE-S energy into the Sea of Cortez. The wave offers quality rights over a reef bottom, providing a remote surf experience away from the more developed Los Cabos corridor.
Nine Palms surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to SJD, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Central America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Central 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 →
Get the full Nine Palms trip window
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.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 160° - 200°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (337°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 360°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: East Cape area. Dirt road access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Nine Palms?
Nine Palms is a reef break in East Cape, Mexico, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at Nine Palms?
Nine Palms picks up swell from the SSE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. 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 12s 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 Nine Palms?
A NNW wind is dead offshore at Nine Palms, and anything from the NW round to the N 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 Nine Palms?
Nine Palms is at its best around mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Nine Palms?
The most reliable run of swell at Nine Palms comes Jul to Oct. There's a second window in Jun and Nov too. Summer hurricane swells. East Cape specialist.
How cold is the water at Nine Palms?
The water at Nine Palms 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 Nine Palms 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). Remote reef break. Summer specialist.
How do I get to Nine Palms?
The nearest airport on our list is SJD, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive. East Cape area. Dirt road access.
What other surf spots are near Nine Palms?
The closest breaks we track are Shipwrecks (East Cape) (36 km), Old Man's (Los Cabos) (45 km) and Zippers (Los Cabos) (46 km), handy when Nine Palms isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Jul-Oct
Secondary: Jun, Nov
Summer hurricane swells. East Cape specialist.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Shipwrecks (East Cape)
🌀 East Cape hurricane spot • Powerful reef right • Summer swell specialist
Old Man's (Los Cabos)
🏄♂️ Cabo beginner beach • Mellow learning waves • Surf school central
Zippers (Los Cabos)
🏖️ Los Cabos flagship wave • Powerful beach break • Tourist-accessible quality
Costa Azul (The Rock)
⚡ Los Cabos power reef • Expert only • Hollow serious waves
Cerritos
🏄♂️ Baja's learning beach • Consistent forgiving waves • Surf school central
San Pedrito
🎨 Todos Santos gem • Beach break with reef • Artistic Baja vibes