Juan Tornillo, Colombia
Also within 20 km of Termales
- Terco Surf spot · 0.9 km from Termales
- El Cantil Surf spot · 3 km from Termales
- Terquito Surf spot · 3.6 km from Termales
- Pico de Loro Surf spot · 17.4 km from Termales
Watch this spot We email you when Juan Tornillo is worth the trip.
About Juan Tornillo
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (285°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (105°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves steeply: 10 m deep about 200 m out (1 in 20). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 27°C in December, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in May, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually June, with about 4 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Termales, 8.5 km away (about 15 min by car).
Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 15 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to UIB, changing at El Dorado International Airport (BOG).
See flights ORD → UIB · Skyscanner from about £285 returnAdGetting there. 2 h from the airport to Juan Tornillo.
Accommodation.
Stay in TermalesAd
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 Termales (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Termales 15 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 6 places to stay · where Juan Tornillo stays
Places to stay in Termales · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Termales · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Termales · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Juan Tornillo 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 | 68, good | 4 ft15 shollow | 643kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 58, good | 4 ft12 shollow | 480kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 59, good | 4 ft11 shollow | 391kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 3 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 58, good | 4 ft12 shollow | 371kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 7 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 66, good | 4 ft12 shollow | 374kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 1 knot | 28°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 62, good | 4 ft12 shollow | 358kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 47, fair | 3 ft11 shollow | 229kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 35, too small | 3 ft10 shollow | 123kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 27, too small | 2 ft9 shollow | 64kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 3 knots | 27°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 22, too small | 2 ft15 shollow | 106kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 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. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. 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 UIB, changing at BOG, then 2h by road. About 15h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Juan Tornillo
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 11 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Juan Tornillo
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Juan Tornillo
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 1 kn (3 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Juan Tornillo
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Juan Tornillo
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 3 ft at 11 s, offshore wind.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to UIB, changing at BOG, then 2h by road. About 15h 30 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Termales each day: El Cantil, Juan Tornillo, Terco, Terquito.
Rough cost
About £775–£1,450 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 UIB, estimated from distance and season, changing at BOG, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £285–£595 |
| 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 | £775–£1,450 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.