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Vibrant ocean waves and rock formation off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico.
📷 V Bawa · Pexels

The Rock

4.1 — based on 27 community signals
4.3 12 species 36 contributors

The Rock is a year-round Mexican surf break with consistent conditions and an active local community sharing waves and footage.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entry

At a glance

Activity
surf
Difficulty
beginner

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots
The Rock location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
4.8 kn
Wave
1.12 m
Water
32.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: S (20%)
Now: S (170°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.35m

Today: High 09:00 (+0.76m), Low 10:00 (+0.75m)

+1.3 m0 m-0.1 m
▲ 09:00 · +0.76m ▼ 10:00 · +0.75m ▼ 12:00 · +0.74m ▼ 23:00 · +0.1m Now +0.2m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV8.4 · very high Air PM2.57 · good 06:06 18:19
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 7.4 1.16 8 0mm
09-19 9.1 1.12 8 0mm
09-20 9.3 1.02 8 2mm
09-21 8.7 1.06 8 6mm
09-22 7.2 1.1 8 0mm
09-23 10.1 1.78 8 0mm
09-24 9.7 2.82 8 2mm

About this spot

The Rock is a reliable surf spot on Mexico's coastline that draws riders throughout the year. The break maintains steady conditions across all seasons, making it accessible whether you're planning a winter escape or a summer swell chase. The spot has built a small but engaged community—three shared videos document sessions here, giving newcomers a sense of what to expect in terms of wave character and crowd levels. The break sits outside a marine protected area, so access is straightforward for traveling surfers. Whether you're a beginner testing your skills or an intermediate rider looking for consistent practice, The Rock delivers predictable conditions without the hassle of permit restrictions or conservation zone regulations. Local observations of the marine environment are documented through 12 species sightings, indicating healthy water life despite gaps in formal environmental monitoring. The spot rewards regular visits; conditions remain stable enough to plan trips with confidence, and the modest video archive from the community offers practical intel on timing and tide windows.

📖 Guide: Diving in Mexico: 51 Sites from Cenotes to Shark Dives

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🏄 Surfboard or rental confirmation
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 127V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 9261km · ~2130kg · €38

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 96/100
  • Visa: Visa-free · 90 days max
  • Flight: 11h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 1h east · 1 day recovery

FAQ

Is The Rock good year-round?

Yes. The Rock maintains consistent surf throughout the year, so you can plan trips anytime without waiting for a specific season.

What's the skill level required?

Data on wave difficulty isn't documented, so check the community videos to gauge whether conditions match your experience level.

What marine life have people spotted here?

Twelve species observations are on record, though specific species aren't listed. Local footage and community posts may offer more details on what you might see in the water.

Do I need permits or special access?

The Rock lies outside a marine protected area, so standard beach access applies. No additional permits or restrictions affect surfers.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

711 records · 26 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
13 Apr 2026
×74records

Pseudorca crassidens

False killer whale
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
26 Mar 2026
×1records

Orcinus orca

Killer whale
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Mar 2026
×2records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Dec 2025
×101records

Eschrichtius robustus

Gray whale
Mammalia · Eschrichtiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Mar 2025
×24records

Delphinus delphis

Short-beaked common dolphin
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Feb 2025
×1records

Orcinus orca

Killer whale
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
31 Jan 2025
×1records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Dec 2024
×99records

Delphinus delphis

Short-beaked common dolphin
Mammalia · Delphinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Dec 2024
×1records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
31 Dec 2023
×75records

Eschrichtius robustus

Gray whale
Mammalia · Eschrichtiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Feb 2023
×3records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
31 Dec 2022
×68records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Noa Mizuno in Mexico ( lovers rock version ) | Twin Fin Surfing Session

NobodySurf : Surfing Videos
💬 3 top comments
  • Nice smooth style on the twinny. 👍🤙

    @louisrobinson4164 · 👍 11
  • Maaaan that sync with the music at 1:32 is something else

    @El_Kuko1 · 👍 3
  • Power flow and style… trifecta!

    @mauifilms4632 · 👍 1

Mason Ho Surfing Mexico | Mermaid Rocks

Ho & Pringle Productions
💬 3 top comments
  • Bear's cutback pic is so rad. Frame it when you get home. Aloha my friends 🤙

    @O.B.UncleBobby · 👍 20
  • Mason Ho will have the world's 1st wavepool with rocks, and those rocks will be moveable so he can spread them around in endless critical configurations. Geev 'em Mace :planet-orange-purple-ring:

    @roguebossa · 👍 14
  • Dont know if you noticed Mase, but there rocks out there! 😉🤙

    @storm2000808 · 👍 5

Jordy Smith | Beyond Mexico

O'Neill
💬 3 top comments
  • I really think Jordy should have won a title a few years back.

    @tgrEye5681 · 👍 7
  • Some of those barrels were like a right hand vers of Skeleton Bay.

    @GazAce · 👍 3
  • Incredible tube riding Jordy...beautiful photography edit guys......

    @gregstewart3126 · 👍 0
wind peaks Jun-Jul-Mar, calmest Nov-Sep-Dec, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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