San Miguel
San Miguel is the birthplace of Mexican surf culture, a long right point that has been drawing surfers south of the border since the 1960s. The wave offers hollow, tapered rights that have been compared to a colder version of Rincon or Trestles. When winter NW swells light it up, the point comes alive with long walls and workable sections that reward both tube riding and power surfing. Its accessibility from Tijuana makes it the gateway wave to Baja surf exploration.
San Miguel surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (290°)
- Direction range
- 270° - 310°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3.6m
- Ideal size
- 2.3m - 3m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 15s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 60° - 120°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Easy access from highway. Parking at the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is San Miguel?
San Miguel is a point break in Ensenada, Mexico, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at San Miguel?
San Miguel 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 1.2m and handles up to about 3.6m, with the sweet spot around 2.3 to 3m. Period matters too: aim for 15s 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 San Miguel?
An E wind is dead offshore at San Miguel, 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 San Miguel?
San Miguel is at its best around the mid to high tide.
When is the best time of year to surf San Miguel?
The most reliable run of swell at San Miguel comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. Winter NW swells. Best October-April.
How cold is the water at San Miguel?
The water at San Miguel 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.
Is San Miguel 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. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Rocky entry. Can get crowded on good swells.
How do I get to San Miguel?
The nearest airport on our list is TIJ, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive. Easy access from highway. Parking at the point.
What other surf spots are near San Miguel?
The closest breaks we track are Rarely's (Todos Santos Island) (10.0 km), Killers (Isla Todos Santos) (10 km) and Urchins (Todos Santos Island) (11 km), handy when San Miguel isn't working. We track 4 spots around Ensenada in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Oct, Apr
Winter NW swells. Best October-April.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Rarely's (Todos Santos Island)
🌊 Todos Santos tier 2 • Named for its rarity • 40-foot alternative
Killers (Isla Todos Santos)
⚡ West Coast big wave mecca • Giant winter waves • Boat access only
Urchins (Todos Santos Island)
🦔 Todos Santos step-up • Killers apprenticeship • Named for the urchins
Thor's Hammer (Todos Santos Island)
⚡ Todos Santos heavy slab • Mythical power • Elite slabbers only
Chickens (Todos Santos Island)
🐔 Todos Santos step-up • More forgiving big wave • Killers warm-up spot
La Fonda (K-58)
🌊 Baja reef break • Multiple quality peaks • K-58 winter waves