La Barra, Mexico
Also within 20 km of Sontecomapan
- La Playita Surf spot · 7.3 km from Sontecomapan
- Montepio Surf spot · 16.5 km from Sontecomapan
Watch this spot We email you when La Barra is worth the trip.
About La Barra
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (23°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (203°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 50 m out (1 in 3). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hard and thick, like a slab. The sea is about 25°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in August, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually January, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Sontecomapan, 7.7 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
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 13 h 20 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to MTT, changing at Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
See flights ORD → MTT · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 30 from the airport to La Barra.
Accommodation.
Stay in SontecomapanAd
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 Sontecomapan (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Sontecomapan 14 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 5 places to stay · where La Barra stays
Places to stay in Sontecomapan · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Sontecomapan · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Sontecomapan · GetYourGuideAd
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La Barra 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 | 13, poor | 5 ft11 smushy | 465kJ | wind from the north-west, 17 knots | 21°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 22, poor | 5 ft7 sslab | 274kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 11 knots | 23°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 29, poor | 5 ft7 shollow | 188kJ | wind from the north, 7 knots | 24°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 44, fair | 3 ft6 shollow | 82kJ | wind from the north, 6 knots | 24°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 59, good | 4 ft5 shollow | 81kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 2 knots | 25°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 34, too small | 3 ft5 shollow | 28kJ | wind from the east, 1 knot | 26°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 24, too small | 2 ft5 shollow | 14kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 25°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 27, too small | 2 ft5 shollow | 23kJ | wind from the north, 3 knots | 23°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 43, fair | 3 ft5 shollow | 40kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 24°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 52, good | 4 ft7 shollow | 109kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 26°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 MTT, changing at MEX, then 1h 30 by road. About 13h 20 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf La Barra
Best 12:00 to 15:00 local time: 5 ft at 7 s, wind 7 kn (13 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf La Barra
Best 15:00 to 18:00 local time: 3 ft at 6 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf La Barra
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 5 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf La Barra
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 1 kn (2 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to MTT, changing at MEX, then 1h 30 by road. About 13h 20 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Sontecomapan each day: La Barra, La Playita.
Rough cost
About £695–£1,270 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 MTT, estimated from distance and season, changing at MEX, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £215–£440 |
| 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 | £160–£265 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £150–£280 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £695–£1,270 |
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
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