Los Patos

Los Patos is a classic swell-magnet beachbreak, delivering both lefts and rights over a shifting sand bottom. During the summer months, when small, peaky groundswells roll in, this spot can serve up playful, rippable waves. But don't be fooled by the mellow facade—Los Patos closes out quickly in any sizable swell, and powerful rip currents demand respect. Best for intermediate surfers on a rising tide with clean offshore winds, though the exposed, high-energy setup makes it a fickle but rewarding strike mission.

Best Surf Season (October - March)

From October through March, Los Patos sits squarely in the path of the North Atlantic storm machine. The climatological uptick in extratropical cyclone activity across the eastern Atlantic is the engine behind this six-month window. Swell heights average 5-6ft (1.5-1.9m) and periods regularly run 11.6-12.7s, putting the spot right in the powerful long-period zone. The direction distribution is heavily anchored in the N/NW/NNW quadrant, and when a transient high pressure ridge or low pressure passage allows the wind to swing into the WSW/SW/SSW/S offshore quadrant, the lines groom into clean, hollow walls. Negative phases of the NAO are often the wildcard, pushing the storm track farther south and aiming more groundswell at this NNW-facing beach.