Maria's Guide

Maria's is so named for a woman who lived in a typical wooden house there during the first couple decades of surfing's history in Puerto Rico. A gentle, giving woman, the ritual became a rinse off from her hose after a long session of waves. The wave here is as beautiful as was its namesake, offshore in the trade winds, nestled under lush green hills, with numerous takeoff zones spread over a hundred or so yards of fairly flat reef. But as with most beautiful things, it's difficult to be alone with Maria -- crowds here during the season reach maddening levels, complete with bodyboarders, longboarders, young local rippers, visiting gringo rippers, clueless tourists and just about anything in between. As with most spots, pick a lineup, stick with it, stay alert, and you'll eventually get something. The wave itself tends to be a high-line wall as opposed to a super bowly peak, and as such, requires some down-the-line speed right from the get go. (Except of course on strong northwest swell, where it'll bowl and jack and tube). The Point is the top section, right next to the exposed rock, which starts off in a nice bowl and then zips along the reef. When it's big, they can all connect.