Monuments

Surf Guide

A super-fun left point break, Monuments is a must-do spot for any surfer exploring the southern tip of Baja. There is a deepwater canyon just offshore -- the same one that made Cabo San Lucas a natural, deepwater harbor, in fact -- which funnels long-interval W and SW swells into steep, spinning lefts that reel along the headland and into a small, rocky bay. On a 17-second swell, for example, Monuments can be double-overhead while Costa Azul just down the road is barely pushing head-high. The Monuments takeoff zone is pretty tight, unfortunately. And if the crowd doesn't bite, then the robust urchin colony on the shallow rocks on the inside will. Afternoon W winds often blow the spot out, as well.

Ability Level

Intermediate - Advanced

BegIntAdv

Intermediate to advanced

Local Vibe

Doable

WelcomingIntimidating

Everyone -- from locals to expats to visitors -- have a tendency to flex here.

Crowd Factor

Moderate

MellowHeavy

Oh yeah -- it's the closest surf spot to downtown Cabo.

Spot Rating

Fun

PoorPerfect

Fun.

Shoulder Burn

Medium

LightExhausting

Can be long paddles back out to the peak on proper days.

Water Quality

Clean

CleanDirty

Clean

Ideal Surf Conditions

Swell Direction

SSW, SW, W

Wind

NE (Regularly blown-out by afternoon)

Surf Height

Head high to double overhead

Tide

High.