Continent |
North America |
Country |
Mexico |
Next Big City |
Veracruz |
Next Town |
La Antigua, Cardel |
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Type: |
Chop, Small wave, Medium wave, Big wave |
Hazards: |
None |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
No information |
There are big waves when cold fronts come down, with a lot of wind chop. You can find some flat water as well, in between waves.
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Big |
Hazards: |
Cars |
Beach Users: |
None |
Nice fine black sand. No rocks, pebbles or shells. There is a lot of space to launch. It's a nice bay which curves.
|
Spring:
|
Shorts |
|
Summer:
|
Shorts |
|
Fall:
|
Shorts |
|
Winter:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Normally it is quite warm, only when there are cold fronts coming down from the north `Nortes` you will you need a shorty to stay comfortable. The temperature during the day, can be quite hot, use sunscreen, the sun is pretty strong. The water is not cold, can get a little bit chilly during cold fronts, but at most you will need a shorty.
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, May, June, November, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal, Frontal |
Best Direction: |
N, E, SE, S |
Main Direction: |
N, SE |
Winds from the North can be very strong, unkiteable, but doable on a small windsurf sail. The Norte season is from mid October to early April, with a cold front coming down about once a week, in varying intensities. The `Nortes` can reach up to 80 knots in the gusts, but are normally 15-45 knots. Normally they hit very strong, and pass in one or two days, ending with very kiteable 15-25 knot winds as they pass. They are normally pretty stable, but sometimes gusty. There is a very long point, which makes kitesurfing possible in any wind direction between N, E and S. There is also some good Southeast winds from March to June. There is a thermal there, because of the dunes, but this wind is mostly about 15 knots, but nice and steady.
Transport |
Car |
|
Access
|
No walk |
From Veracruz take the `Carreter de Cuota` towards the North to a town called `Cardel`, you will drive for about 30-45 minutes, and exit at the sign that says `Cardel` or `Dunas de Chachalacas`. Ask for the Dunas de Chachalacas, and once at the beach, go on the beach (yes it is legal to drive on the beach in Mexico!) and drive north to the dunes until you arrive at the dunes. Take out your stuff and ride, or climb up on top of the dunes for a spectacular view!
Rules |
None |
You will rarely see anyone else using the water, but if you do, please respect the beach users, be careful with the dune buggies and cars on the beach. I would very much recommend wearing a life vest during `Norte` winds, because the wind is very strong, and the waves get pretty big, with a lot of wind swell.
