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Selina

Stormrider Guide to surfing Caracas

Venezuela, SOUTH AMERICA


Punta Care, YEP

Summary

+ Constant NE windswells - Small, short period swells
+ Lots of right pointbreaks - Onshore and turbid water
+ Epic hurricane swells - Social and political instability
+ Relatively uncrowded - Car thieves

Caracas is more quantity than quality, with the majority of waves being punchy onshore shorebreaks or fun pointbreaks ruffled by sideshore winds. This quiet corner of the Caribbean offers surfers year-round, warm water, small waves to practice getting speed and making big moves.

When to Go

Caribbean ENE trade winds are boosted when they hit the steep, mountainous coast, bringing a constant supply of 2-6ft short-period windswell from Nov to March. Summer winds turn more E and wave size decreases to 1-4ft, unless a hurricane swell tracks into the Caribbean Sea, producing epic 8-10ft conditions with low winds. Winds and waves are usually calmer in the morning, then build during the day. Sometimes, mountain canyons can create localised offshore winds. There is one big tide and one small tide twice a day reaching 0.5m range.

Surf Spots

There are a high number of little boulder and rock right points, like Los Caracas, a popular beach about 2hrs drive east from Caracas, where the waves can be excellent near the El Rio rivermouth. Anare may not be an epic beachbreak, but itÕs consistent and there can be some rights spinning off the harbour wall into the rivermouth. Safe and friendly with a good hotel, plus a board shaper called Prisma. Punta Care is a quality right pointbreak, which gets really good with a solid swell, offering steep walls for up to 200m rides. Gets crowded. Fido Point offers short punchy rights off a broken jetty where the locals may be a little less welcoming. The whole beach is guarded on Sundays like Playa Pantaleta, a consistent beachbreak, which is best in weather fronts and can handle large swells. Pelua reef lefts work on rare occasions, but on a big swell, Otro Pais, (aka Camuri Grande Club or Paraiso) is the place to be. ItÕs a fast, powerful, right pointbreak, where barrels are possible, but strong rips and restricted access require lots of paddling. In front of the private Puerto Azul club is another righthander that peels off the jetty protecting the mouth of the Rio Naiguat‡. Long rides over the sandbar when itÕs on form. Carmen DÕUriaÕs great rights are clearly visible from the coastal highway, but hardly anyone surfs there because itÕs dangerous to park near the favellas (slums). Los Cocos is the most popular, consistent break with super-fun lefts near the Los Coquitos jetty and peaks down the beach, but expect crowds with attitude and pollution. Tanaguarena (aka La Playita or Boca del Rio) sports rocky rights peeling down beside the jetty that are shallow, dangerous and really powerful but unfortunately, all too rare. Another Playita, just north of the airport is also a fickle right pointbreak, with good jetty options just to the west. Mamo rights can be very long, breaking next to the OfficerÕs Club that has restricted access, so park outside and paddle wide. Nice walls with various sections and shouldering off on the inside. The pretty colonial village of Choroni shelters legitimate reefbreak rights at El Malecon, and a decent shorebreak at Playa Grande. One of VenezuelaÕs best beachbreaks is Cuyagua, where the hollow waves near the rivermouth hold some size. It can be short rides and closes-out a lot, but thereÕs E wind protection from the headland and room to move up or down the beach. Good accommodation and weekend party scene. Check El Playon and the wedgy lefts and rights at La Punta, the beach furthest west past the rock jetty. Dumpy close-outs attract the bodyboard crew between the rock jetties. The beautiful archipelago of Los Roques is famous for excellent kitesurfing, world-class diving, plus there is at least one consistent small-wave surf spot.

Statistics

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
dominant swell NE -E NE -E NE -E NE -E NE -E NE -
swell size (ft) 3-4 3 2-3 2 3 3-4
consistency (%) 90 80 60 50 70 90
dominant wind NE -E NE -E E -SE NE -E E -SE NE -E
average force F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 F4
consistency (%) 89 89 86 86 82 85
water temp (C) 26 26 27 28 29 29
wetsuit boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts

Travel Information

Weather
Caracas lies in a series of valleys surrounded by majestic tree-clad mountains. Annual average temps oscillate between 25-27¡C (77-81¼F) and vary little year-round. The dry season runs from Dec to April and the rainy season from May to Nov. Heavy showers are common but usually last an hour at most, leaving high daily sunshine hours. Boardies only.

Lodging and Food
Many high-rise hotels (Ole Caribe) in Naiguata or La Guaira, (fr $55-90/day). In Playa Anare, Villa Anare is $50/dble. In Cuyagua, posadas are $30/dble (Do–a Meche, Cuyagua Mar). Meals cost around $5 in small places.

Nature and Culture
Crazy beach party scene with music and cars on the beach. Breathtaking mountain scenery plunges into the ocean. Caracas is close and you can take the Cable Car back to the coast. Ambiance in Cuyagua is unreal, while Carnival is perfect for heavy party animals.