Surf spot

El Barco

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

Country: Uruguay
Coordinates: -34.5952, -54.1220

Metric
Metric	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	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00
Wave height (m)	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.8	1.3	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.5	1.7	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.2	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.8	1	1.7	1.6	2	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.3	1.2	1.1	1	0.9	0.8	0.7
Wave direction	SSE	SSE	SSE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ESE	E	E	E	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	S	SSE	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE
Wave period (s)	9.3	8.9	8.7	6.8	5.8	6.7	6.7	6.7	6.3	4.2	4.7	4.5	5.5	7.1	9.2	7.8	6.8	6.6	6.3	6	6.3	6.5	6.7	6.4	6.3	6.3	6.5	6.5	6.7	6.8	7	7.1	7.1	7.1	7.1	7.2	8.1	7.6	6.9	7.3	6.3	6.8	7.5	7.7	7.9	8.1	8.1	7.9	7.8	7.7	7.6	7.5	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.3
Wave energy (kJ)	67	58	47	25	18	24	22	21	15	8	10	9	21	41	98	202	293	295	231	165	233	173	140	122	105	87	74	66	60	60	60	61	61	58	49	39	30	20	58	101	233	243	456	437	423	411	379	312	259	213	161	125	100	83	67	59
Wind speed (km/h)	8.4	9.2	7.2	14.9	15.3	11.6	13.7	15.4	14	13.3	16.9	19.8	20.9	24.5	27.4	24.5	18.5	20.2	20.1	16.9	16	13.7	13.2	11.9	8.4	8.7	9.7	6.6	11.6	16.4	11.6	12.2	11.9	12.9	13.1	17.3	31.9	34.4	36	32.9	26.7	20.2	13.4	9.5	9.4	14.2	19.2	18.7	16.3	17.1	15.3	20.2	19.5	18.1	16.3	11.2
Wind direction	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSECross-on	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SSEOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	ECross	ENECross	ENECross-off	NNEOffshore	NNWOffshore	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WCross	WSWCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWBlown out	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	ECross	ENECross-off	NECross-off	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off

El Barco, Uruguay is a surf spot known for its scenic, often powerful Atlantic waves and a more uncrowded feel compared with many better-known South American breaks.

Quick description

Type of break: Typically a beach break
Wave quality: Can be fun and punchy, with decent shape on the right swell
Best swell: Stronger south or southeast swells usually work best
Wind: Offshore or light winds are ideal; onshore winds can make it messy
Crowds: Generally lighter than major surf destinations, depending on season and conditions

What it feels like

El Barco tends to have a raw, open-ocean vibe—more of a natural Atlantic surf experience than a polished resort scene. Conditions can change quickly, and the spot may work best for surfers who are comfortable reading shifting sandbars and variable conditions.

Good for

Intermediate surfers in manageable conditions
Advanced surfers when it’s bigger and more powerful
Surfers looking for a less crowded, more local-feeling setup

Watch out for

Strong currents and changing sandbanks
Bigger surf on solid swells
Cooler water compared with tropical surf destinations