Santana Surf Guide

Santana Surf Guide

Santana is a really fun, consistent beachbreak that works best on higher tides and mid-period SW-SSW swells. Swells will reflect off the long lava platform shelf on the south-end of the beach, right in front of Rancho Santana Resort. This reflecting energy will create a series of wedging peaks down the beach (usually a couple main peaks, but sometimes three or more, depending on swell). First and Second Peak are usually best and peakiest (as well as the most crowded). Furthermore, a river flows out right here, which keeps the sandbar replenished, but water can get quite dirty and with tree branches or whatnot after a significant rain. These peaks will offer fun, rippable lines, as well as some barrels that you can backdoor (especially off First Peak). The waves become less peaky and less crowded toward the north, with less interaction of swell reflection. But sometimes a good sandbar will set up down that way.