Surfing Punta Chivo: The Complete Guide

Punta Chivo is a point break located in Salina Cruz, Mexico, offering a right-hander along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. Punta Chivo is one of the excellent right point breaks in the Salina Cruz corridor, an area known for its concentration of quality waves along the southern Oaxacan coast. Rated as advanced difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is S (175°), with workable conditions from SSE to S (160°–190°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Punta Chivo needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.4m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 15 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the NNE (22°). The full offshore range spans N to NE (0°–45°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low to mid tide.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Punta Chivo runs May, June, July, August, September, October (May–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens April, November (Apr–Nov). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Summer south swells. Salina Cruz corridor.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 28°C / 82°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is HUX, approximately 2 hours by road.

Access: Part of Salina Cruz point break corridor.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Rocky point. Strong currents.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Punta Chivo? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Punta Chivo is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*