Surf spot

El frances

Forecast conditions and map view for El frances in Colombia, Caribbean. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Colombia, Caribbean
Coordinates: 9.6013, -75.5717

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Wave direction	NNW	NW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	N	N	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NW	NW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	N	N	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW
Wave period (s)	3.6	3.6	3.9	4	4.2	4.5	4.3	3.5	4	4.3	4.3	4	4.1	4.4	4.3	4	3.8	4.2	4	4.3	4.3	4.4	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4	4.3	4.1	4.2	2.7	3	3.5	3.7	3.7	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.4	3.4	3.3	3.3	3.5	3.9	4.5	3.3	3.1	3.2	3.1	3.4	3	3.4	3	3.1
Wave energy (kJ)	2	2	2	3	3	2	2	4	6	6	4	3	2	3	3	2	1	2	1	2	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	3	4	3	2	2	1	1	1	1
Wind speed (km/h)	5.4	7.4	14.1	15	16.6	19.3	13	11.9	4	11.4	21.3	19	16.4	11.6	4.1	1.8	10.5	8.3	13.5	11.9	11.3	11.7	11.5	14.8	7.2	10.5	12.6	4	5.5	19.8	15.5	13	7.4	3.2	10.6	2.6	8.9	3.6	5.9	11.4	8.4	5	10.6	12.2	14.3	18	12.8	12.6	11	9	3.4	9.1	16.6	16.7	15.3	12.9
Wind direction	ENEOffshore	SSECross-off	SSECross	SCross	SWOnshore	NWCross-on	NCross	NCross	NGlassy	SSWCross-on	SCross	SSECross	SSECross-off	SSWCross-on	NWGlassy	NGlassy	NECross-off	EOffshore	SCross-on	SCross	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	NNWCross	NNECross-off	NNECross-off	SECross-off	SSWCross-on	WGlassy	NNWCross-on	NNWCross	NCross	NNECross-off	NECross-off	EGlassy	SSWCross-on	SSWGlassy	SSECross	SGlassy	NCross	NNECross-off	NECross-off	SSECross-off	SSECross-off	SSWCross-on	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWCross-on	NNWCross	NCross	NNWCross-on	NNEGlassy	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	NWCross-on	NNWCross-on

El Francés is a surf spot on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, near the town of Bahía Solano in the Chocó region. It’s known for its consistent tropical waves, warm water, and lush jungle setting that makes the whole surf trip feel remote and adventurous.

What it’s like

Wave type: Mostly a beach break with shifting sandbars.
Best for: Beginners to intermediate surfers, though conditions can occasionally offer fun waves for more advanced riders too.
Wave quality: Can be playful and clean, especially when a good swell lines up with light winds.
Crowds: Usually low-key and uncrowded compared with many better-known surf destinations.

Conditions

Water: Warm year-round, so a wetsuit is usually unnecessary.
Climate: Tropical, with a mix of sun, rain, and humid conditions.
Best season: Surf is often better during the wet season / swell season, generally when Atlantic or Caribbean swells are active.

Vibe

El Francés has a laid-back, off-the-beaten-path feel. It’s the kind of place where surfing is part of a bigger experience: rainforest, wildlife, local fishing culture, and a slower pace of life.