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Surf report · North of town

San Pancho

  • intermediate to advanced
  • beach/reef break, shifting peaks
  • 15 min drive

San Pancho's mile-long beach has fast, dumpy peaks over sand and cobbles, with a reefy left near the south end. It wakes up on big southwest swells and is no place for learners.

Live · updated in the last 10 min

San Pancho, right now

2.5–4 ft

Waist to chest Fair

Waist to chest and light onshore, with a long-period swell. Best look today around 6 pm.

NESW
swell that worksswell nowoffshore windwind now
Swell
2.4 ft at 12 s from the SW, plus 1.0 ft WNW
Wind
12 km/h light onshore from the NNW
Tide
1.1 m, rising high 2:46 pm, 1.1 m
Water
31°C · 88°F boardshorts and a rash vest
Light
7:03 am – 6:26 pm

The week at San Pancho

Now2–2.5 ftPoorlight cross-shore wind, 9 km/h from the NNEtide 0.2 m, rising · high at 4:43 am

TodayTomorrow2 Mon3 Tue4 Wed5 Thu6 Fribestbestbestbestbestbestbest98891211787955121210131311109151515121311771210891176591112964651011889557131311104:43a8:19a2:46p10:56p6:16a10:30a4:18p12:09a7:06a12:26p5:52p1:07a7:43a1:39p7:08p1:52a8:15a2:34p8:09p2:30a8:45a3:20p9:02p3:03a9:14a4:01p9:50p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p
  • Wave faces at the spot; the band is the range
  • Rating, flat to great
  • offshore cross onshore wind
  • night

About San Pancho

When it works

Swell
SW–WSW, big
Wind
E, light
Size
3–8 ft faces
Season
May–Oct south swells (Oct most cited); winter NW swells give smaller, cleaner mornings

Before you go

Getting there
about 15 min by car
Bottom
sand/rock
Watch for
closeouts, hidden reef and cobbles, rips, shorebreak
Crowd
moderate
On the beach
parking, restaurants, surf shops, board rental

Tips

  • Watch a few sets first; it punishes late takeoffs
  • Go early before the afternoon onshore wind
  • Mind the cobble and reef patches near the river mouth at low tide

Some details here come from a single source, or sources disagree. Check locally, and tell us what you find.

  • Flat too small to ride
  • Poor small, or messy wind
  • Fair surfable, with a catch
  • Good clean, the right size for the spot
  • Great clean and solid: the spot at its best