Sunset Reef

Sunset Reef occasionally has its days where it becomes one of the best surf spots in the Malpais / Santa
Teresa area, but it’s isn’t very popular because it’s so inconsistent, and it’s at the end of the road
in Malpais. Most tourists don’t have rental cars, so they tend to surf right in front of their hotels.
Or, with limited time available, they’ll travel to the beach breaks such as Playa Carmen and La Lora
where they’re guaranteed to have consistent and surfable waves regardless of tides, swell size, and
direction.

For these reasons, you’ll rarely find anyone surfing here, and it remains rather mysterious. If you’re
reading this, you’re probably a tourist and it’s really not worth your time to try to find this spot. If
you’re really itching to surf it, you should make friends with one of the local surfers and maybe
they’ll take you out on the rare right day.

History of Sunset Reef

Years ago, someone built a hotel here in this epic spot, but they made the mistake of ignoring federal
law, and built it partially in the public zone (which is 50 meters from the average high tide line.)
They ran the hotel successfully until a few years ago, when the municipality finally shut it down. Now,
it sits abandoned in the foreground of the Sunset Reef surf spot, abandoned and rotting, and would be a
great location for a Hollywood movie.

How to find Sunset Reef

It’s very easy to find Sunset Reef. Just drive south from Santa Teresa or Malpais along the beach road
until you see the fishermen’s boats. Park near there and walk past them, and you’ll see a path, perhaps
with a chain across it, and a sign for the old Sunset Reef hotel. Just walk down that path until you’re
on the rocky point. The break is directly in front. To reach it, continue to the left until you find the
rivermouth, and with it a channel that will suck you out to the break, which is a left-hander.

Places to stay nearby:

Casa de Amor Rental Villa

Beija Flor Hotel:

Moana Lodge: