Todos Santos / Killers

Killers at Todos Santos breaks off a distinctive appendix-like point extending from the larger island, channeling swell through a submerged canyon that amplifies wave size—often doubling incoming swell height. The wave is a proper point break, not a reef, that delivers grinding, powerful lines with faces routinely exceeding 50 feet in solid winter swells. Best conditions arrive with westerly to northwesterly swell and light east to southeasterly winds, peaking mid-tide. The heavy hold-downs and powerful currents make this an elite-only big wave arena where paddling and positioning errors are costly.

The spot came onto the radar when early Windansea surfers from La Jolla reached the islands in the 1960s, followed by a gap until Mexican locals—Juan Hussong, Victor Corral, and Antonio Díaz—rekindled activity in the 1970s. Tom Curren and photographer Larry Moore were instrumental in documenting and publicizing the spot more widely. By the 1980s and 1990s, Mike Parsons became synonymous with charging Killers and driving the evolution of big wave technique there. Brad Gerlach cemented the spot's status as a premier big wave venue by winning the XXL Big Wave Award for a 68-foot ride in 2005-06. The Thriller at Killers invitational contest, founded by Gary Linden and held in January-February, has become the premier event, drawing elite big wave competitors including Grant Baker and Katie McConnell.

Access is boat-only from Ensenada, about 10 kilometers offshore. The waters are cold and subject to upwelling, and the exposed rock outcrops present serious collision hazards in wipeouts. The Bahía de Todos Santos earned World Surfing Reserve designation in 2014 and encompasses several other breaks (3M's, Salsipuedes, San Miguel, Stacks) within the protected area.