Swell Cabin › Encinitas › Cardiff Reef
Cardiff Reef: surf spot in Encinitas
Suits all levels.
- Wave
- Reef break, lefts & rights
- Level
- all levels
- Faces
- WSW (offshore wind: ENE)
- Best tide
- all tides, rising (from surfnerd.com and en.wannasurf.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Sep – Mar: September, October, November, December, January, February, March
- Water temperature
- 14–21°C (shorty or rash vest (warmest) to 4/3 mm (coldest))
- Location
- Encinitas, United States (33.0148, -117.2846)
Other surf spots in Encinitas
- Swamis: Point break, right-hander, for advanced surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: low to mid
- Moonlight: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: mid
- Beacons: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: mid
- Grandview: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: all tides, rising
- Solana Beach: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces W (offshore wind: E)
- Ponto: Beach break, left-hander, all levels, best tide: low to mid
- North Del Mar: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: low to mid
- Del Mar: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces W (offshore wind: E), best tide: low to mid
Places to stay near Cardiff Reef
- So Cal Cottages (0.4 km away): Guesthouse
- San Elijo SP Campground (0.6 km away): Campervan site
- Lotus Lp (0.7 km away): Guesthouse
- Cardiff by the Sea Lodge (0.7 km away): B&B
- San Elijo State Beach (0.7 km away): Camping
- Red Mountain Resort (0.7 km away): Hotel
- Rosas Garden Hotel (0.7 km away): Hotel
- Cardiff Bungalows (1.1 km away): Holiday rental
Surf schools near Cardiff Reef
- Eli Howard Surf School (0.7 km away)
- Swami's Seaside Park (2.3 km away)
- Boneyard's (2.3 km away)
- Surfight BJJ (2.6 km away)
- Bubble Gum Surf Wax (2.7 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Cardiff Reef?
Cardiff Reef is in Encinitas, where the best surf season is Sep – Mar (September, October, November, December, January, February and March). It works best at this tide: all tides, rising. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the ENE.
What wind is offshore at Cardiff Reef?
Cardiff Reef faces WSW, so wind from the ENE blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the WSW blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Cardiff Reef?
The best tide at Cardiff Reef is all tides, rising, from published surf guides (surfnerd.com and en.wannasurf.com, checked 2026-11-05). The forecast on this page weighs each hour’s tide and shows the best window each day.
Is Cardiff Reef good for beginners?
Cardiff Reef suits all levels on an average day; check the size in the forecast before you go out.
Where can I stay near Cardiff Reef?
The nearest places to stay are So Cal Cottages (0.4 km away), San Elijo SP Campground (0.6 km away), Lotus Lp (0.7 km away) and Cardiff by the Sea Lodge (0.7 km away). Swell Cabin lists 143 places to stay within 10 km of Encinitas.
What is the surf forecast for Cardiff Reef?
Swell Cabin rates Cardiff Reef hour by hour for the next 7 days (Flat, Poor, Fair, Good, Great, Epic) from the way it faces, its level and its best tide, with the swell and wind forecast, and shows the best time each day.
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