Arrecifes, Colombia
Also within 20 km of Mendihuaca
- Los Naranjos Surf spot · 5.1 km from Mendihuaca
- Rio Buritaca Surf spot · 9.4 km from Mendihuaca
Watch this spot We email you when Arrecifes is worth the trip.
About Arrecifes
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (28°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (208°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 26°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in September, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually June, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Mendihuaca.
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 14 h 05 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SMR, changing at PTY.
See flights ORD → SMR · Skyscanner from about £260 returnAdGetting there. 1 h from the airport to Arrecifes.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Mendihuaca, 11 km (about 20 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Arrecifes: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Mendihuaca, 11 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Mendihuaca 20 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 17 places to stay · where Arrecifes stays
Places to stay in Mendihuaca · Booking.com AdBuritaca 37 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 18 places to stay
Places to stay in Buritaca · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Mendihuaca · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Mendihuaca · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Arrecifes on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 41, fair | 3 ft5 s | 54kJ | wind from the south-east, 2 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 41, fair | 4 ft5 s | 63kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 8 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft5 s | 46kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 36, fair | 3 ft5 s | 37kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots | 26°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 22, too small | 2 ft5 s | 12kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 4 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 13, too small | 1 ft4 s | 7kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 24, too small | 2 ft5 s | 20kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 8 knots | 28°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft6 s | 16kJ | wind from the west, 8 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft6 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 8 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft4 s | 2kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots | 27°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to SMR, changing at PTY, then 1h by road. About 14h 05 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Arrecifes
Best 13:00 to 16:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 5 kn (9 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Arrecifes
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 5 kn (10 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to SMR, changing at PTY, then 1h by road. About 14h 05 door to door
Rough cost
About £750–£1,395 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to SMR, estimated from distance and season, changing at PTY, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £260–£540 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £750–£1,395 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Mendihuaca
- Ecco pizza mendihuacaPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- Restaurante Don Samuel | Santa Marta0.8 km from the centre
- Restaurante Florecita0.8 km from the centre
- Restaurante Rancho Puiro0.8 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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