Punta Rocas
Punta Rocas is Peru's most famous competition venue—a powerful reef break that has hosted national championships for decades. The wave produces thick, hollow barrels reminiscent of Hawaii's Rocky Point, breaking over a shallow reef shelf that demands respect. Located just south of Lima in San Bartolo, it's accessible but no less dangerous. The Peruvian surf scene cut its teeth here, and the wave continues to serve as the ultimate testing ground for local talent.
Punta Rocas 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 LIM, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when South America is about to fire
Get 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 →
Get the full Punta Rocas 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
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 175° - 225°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 4.6m
- Ideal size
- 2.6m - 3.7m
- Height multiplier
- 1.03×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 45° - 135°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach/paddle
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Punta Rocas?
Punta Rocas is a reef break in San Bartolo, Peru, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Punta Rocas?
Punta Rocas picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 4.6m, with the sweet spot around 2.6 to 3.7m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 13s 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 Punta Rocas?
An E wind is dead offshore at Punta Rocas, and anything from the NE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Punta Rocas?
Punta Rocas isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
When is the best time of year to surf Punta Rocas?
The most reliable run of swell at Punta Rocas comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Mar too. Consistent (~22% Feb).
Is Punta Rocas 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 3/10). Things to watch for: shallow water at low tide, long hold-downs, rocks at the entry or in the lineup and sharp, shallow reef (booties help).
How do I get to Punta Rocas?
The nearest airport on our list is LIM, then it's roughly a 50-minute drive. Beach/paddle.
What other surf spots are near Punta Rocas?
The closest breaks we track are Playa Norte (16 km), Punta Negra (17 km) and La Isla (18 km), handy when Punta Rocas isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Consistent (~22% Feb)
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Playa Norte
🏖️ Beach resort waves • Consistent peaks • Lima summer escape
Punta Negra
🪨 Black point barrels • Quality reef • Lima corridor gem
La Isla
🏝️ Island rock landmark • Consistent left • Easy paddle
Kon Tiki
⛵ Heyerdahl heritage • Quality rights • Powerful reef break
Penascal
🪨 Punta Hermosa reef • Quality left • Less crowded option
Pico Alto 2
🏄 Punta Hermosa everyday wave • Consistent lefts • Easy access