El Barco

El Barco has a sandy beach bottom with established sandbars that hold power in winter swells, generating quality right-hand and left-hand peaks that can reach 2 meters in favorable conditions. Southeast and east swells provide the most consistent performance, with tubular sections forming in higher-energy periods. The spot requires confident water skills due to strong local currents and navigation around submerged rocks.

The beach hosts national-level surf competitions annually, establishing it as one of Uruguay's benchmark locations for the sport. La Pedrera has developed a reputation as a regional surfing center, with El Barco contributing to that status through consistent wave quality and competitive-caliber sessions.

El Barco takes its name from the Cathay VIII, a Chinese fishing vessel that became permanently beached during a 1977 storm and remains visible on shore as a landmark. The spot is located in La Pedrera, in Rocha department in northeastern Uruguay. Public access appears straightforward, though detailed information on parking facilities or specific seasonal restrictions was not readily available in tourism sources.