Continent
South America
Country
Colombia
Next Big City
Barranquilla
Next Town
Santa Veronica
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Rooms, School, Rental, Toilet, Food, Parking

Water

Type:
Chop, Small wave
Hazards:
No information
Quality:
Clean
Best Tide:
Tide independent

The water is generally surprisingly choppy - not really like "open water" at all. Along the shoreline there is usually a modest shore break, allowing for some fun wave kiting but nothing really exceptional. The point - Salinas Del Rey - is where most people kite. Inside the point the water is protected and quite smooth, so TT kiters ride there. Peeling off the point is a nice wave. The wave varies from quiet small to moderate (head high) making for decent wave riding most of the time. At times the point "goes off" and the waves can jack up to double overhead. I can't explain "why" or "when" exactly this happens: it certainly happened when the wind picked up to over 25 knots, but according to the locals is also related to the arrival of the full moon. The character of the water changes dramatically: the choppy water offshore turns into big, widely spaced swells that generate a perfect break at the point. These bigger waves can peel off deep into the bay behind the point allowing for long rides on smooth wave faces. Not exactly down-the-line, as the wind is still side-on, but definitely one of the nicest waves I've had the opportunity to ride. It should be mentioned that when the wind picks up (& also with a higher tide) there is a lot of wood floating in the water as the logs along miles of coastline are picked up & blown downwind. A bit hazardous - I never had a serious incident, but charging a wave face wondering if there might be a log about to crash down on top of you was a little nerve-wracking at times.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Medium
Hazards:
Other
Beach Users:
No information

Large shallow bay marked with a high rocky outcrop on the upwind end & a point on the downwind end. The shoreline is littered with logs that come from Magdalena river which is about 60 km up the coast. The beach in Santa Veronica itself is narrow, muddy and lined with run-down looking, deserted restaurants. You can launch anywhere along the shoreline of the bay.

Weather

Spring:
Shorts
Summer:
Shorts
Fall:
Shorts
Winter:
Shorts

Wind

Best Months:
January, February, March, December
Wind Type:
Trade
Best Direction:
N, NNE, NE
Main Direction:
N, NNE, NE



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
No information

Extra information

Rules
None

There are a few decent restaurants, one nice hotel, a couple of small stores, no bank or ATM. Getting cash (which you will need) requires a 25 minute tuk tuk ride to the town of Juan De Acosta.

Nightlife

No information