787dailyPuerto Rico, en inglés
Morning Brief

Rincón and the west

Little Malibu

A reef point break in Rincón. Rights. Intermediate to advanced.

Swell that worksWNW, NW: Works on west-northwest and northwest swellSurfline; surf-forecast.com
BreakReef point · rightSurfline; surf-forecast.com; wannasurf.com
Size4 to 8 ft.Surfline
TideMid to high.Surfline
WindNortheast to east.Surfline; surf-forecast.com
SeasonFall and winter; mostly flat in summer.Surfline; surf-forecast.com
LevelIntermediate to advancedSurfline; wannasurf.com
18.3436, -67.2608Surfline

Today's call

Small2.2 ft, 10-second swell · light offshore windAt Tres Palmas / Steps Beach, on the conditions page

The conditions page scores Tres Palmas / Steps Beach, not this break on its own: how Little Malibu takes the same swell depends on the swell's direction and the tide above.

Swell at the nearest buoy now

Station readings, not conditions at a beach. From CariCOOS, NOAA buoys and the National Weather Service.

Hazards

  • Shallow coral heads.Surfline
  • Urchins, rips, rocks and localism.surf-forecast.com; wannasurf.com

What the guides say

  • A fast, hollow right that bodyboarders crowd. "Tres Palmas needs to be double-overhead for it to be shoulder-high."Surfline

When the swell comes

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec RincónRincón buoy, January: 36% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.8 ft36Rincón buoy, February: 36% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.8 ft36Rincón buoy, March: 32% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.8 ft32Rincón buoy, April: 22% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.2 ft22Rincón buoy, May: 12% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 2.4 ft12Rincón buoy, June: 1% of readings groundswell; average wave height 2.1 ft1Rincón buoy, July: 0% of readings groundswell; average wave height 2.1 ft0Rincón buoy, August: 4% of readings groundswell; average wave height 2.2 ft4Rincón buoy, September: 25% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.0 ft25Rincón buoy, October: 30% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.1 ft30Rincón buoy, November: 37% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 3.7 ft37Rincón buoy, December: 37% of readings groundswell, mostly from the N; average wave height 4.1 ft37
Rincón buoy: share of readings that are groundswell (3 ft or more at 10 seconds or longer), by month. 787daily's analysis of NOAA NDBC buoy data, 2019–2025. The nearest buoy, not the break.
Show the numbers
BuoyJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Rincón buoy36% (avg 3.8 ft)36% (avg 3.8 ft)32% (avg 3.8 ft)22% (avg 3.2 ft)12% (avg 2.4 ft)1% (avg 2.1 ft)0% (avg 2.1 ft)4% (avg 2.2 ft)25% (avg 3.0 ft)30% (avg 3.1 ft)37% (avg 3.7 ft)37% (avg 4.1 ft)

Every buoy and month: when to come.

Rules that apply

  • Unconfirmed Discover Puerto Rico places Little Malibu inside the Tres Palmas reserve; the reserve's 2008 management plan puts it just south of the limits.Discover Puerto Rico; Plan de Manejo de la Reserva Marina Tres Palmas

Everywhere: rules and safety and rules on the water.