Windansea
Windansea is La Jolla's historic heart—a reef break with an iconic palm-thatched surf shack that has served as the meeting point for San Diego's most committed surfers since the 1950s. The wave offers both lefts and rights over a rocky reef, producing quality walls when conditions align. The local crew has earned a reputation for protecting their break, and visitors should approach with appropriate respect. The shack, the parking, and the waves combine to create one of California's most atmospheric surf experiences.
Windansea 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 SAN, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when North America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in North America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Windansea 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
- W (270°)
- Direction range
- 240° - 300°
- Size range
- 0.6m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.5m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ENE (70°)
- Offshore range
- 30° - 110°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.2m
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Street parking on Neptune Place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Windansea?
Windansea is a reef break in La Jolla, USA, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Windansea?
Windansea picks up swell from the WSW round to the WNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the W. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.5 to 2m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. Summer S swells provide fun peaks. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Windansea?
An ENE wind is dead offshore at Windansea, and anything from the NNE round to the ESE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Windansea?
Windansea is at its best around the low to mid tide, roughly 0.3m to 1.2m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Windansea?
The most reliable run of swell at Windansea comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Jul to Sep too. Best on W swells. S swells also fun.
How cold is the water at Windansea?
The water at Windansea 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 Windansea 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. Heavy localism. Rocky reef. Urchins.
How do I get to Windansea?
The nearest airport on our list is SAN, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive. Street parking on Neptune Place.
What other surf spots are near Windansea?
The closest breaks we track are Black's Beach (7.0 km), Swami's (23 km) and Oceanside (42 km), handy when Windansea isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Jul-Sep
Best on W swells. S swells also fun.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Black's Beach
🏔️ Scripps Canyon power • Cliff descent required • SoCal's heaviest
Swami's
🕉️ Spiritual surf • Temple backdrop • Year-round quality
Oceanside
🌊 Pier consistency • All-level access • Working-class waves
Baja Malibu
🏄 Baja's Malibu • Mellow longboard right • Easy border crossing surf
K-38
🛣️ Classic Baja beach break • Kilometer 38 • Consistent winter peaks
Rosarito Pier
🏖️ Rosarito beach break • Pier-side peaks • Easy Baja access