Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is a sandy left point break on the Sea of Cortez side of the East Cape, with smaller waves forming on either side of the main point. It picks up distant south swells and works best when combined with northwest offshore wind. The break is intermediate in difficulty and produces waves between 2 to 8 feet; September tends to offer the most consistent clean conditions, though waves are rideable only about one-fifth of the time across the best season. Most swell arrives from south swells wrapping into the gulf, though localized storms within the gulf generate occasional swells from the opposite direction.

Punta Arenas entered surfer awareness during the early 1950s but remained relatively remote until the 1980s, when it gained recognition among American surfers seeking consistent yet less-developed waves in Baja. The spot has been part of the broader East Cape surfing region that developed a reputation for accessible, often uncrowded waves through that decade and beyond.

Access requires driving northeast from San José del Cabo along an unpaved road that runs roughly 50 miles along the coast through the East Cape. While the road is rough and unsuitable for high-clearance vehicles, ordinary cars can navigate it. The beach adjacent to Punta Arena lighthouse is inaccessible—this area is a Mexican military base and off-limits to surfers, so approach from alternative beach access points along the point.