The North Shore of Adícora offers a deep-water bay protected by the reef to the east. This area features high wind, slalom-style sailing. High frequency rolling swell up to shoulder high builds outside the bay when the wind is strong; the intermediate sailor will want to keep his run short before initiating a jibe. Launch is from any of two sandy stretches of beach that lie alongside the stone walkway (the "boardwalk" or "boulevard") that runs along the northern edge of Adícora (see map).

Due to erosion, the beach diminishes and disappears in sections just outside of town, where the ocean is reclaiming many seaside homes. The area is punctuated by a small wreck firmly embedded in the surf line just down the beach. As the beach sweeps north out of town, the downwind coast is sandy, with a rough but not brutal shorebreak, providing a downwind catch basin should a sailor experience problems preventing him from sailing back to the boulevard beaches.

THE SOUTH BEACH (PLAYA SUR)

The South Beach is wide and continuous, composed of a hard-pack fine silt that extends south as far as the eye can see. It is not uncommon to see the occasional car or pickup, filled with bathers and picnickers, cruising down the beach. The shore does tend to collect debris, some of it man-made, but there are periodic cleanups and the government has been increasing their frequency. The water is clean, but not crystal clear next to shore, owing to the silt. The seabed is perfectly smooth and barefoot sailing is the norm. Other than an occasional rock, I have never stepped on anything more disagreeable than sand dollars; their sandpaper edges can be felt if you drag your foot along the bottom in the beach break.

Conditions on the South Shore are predominately chop, surf sailing, and swell. There are three ridable reef breaks just off of The Fishermen's Pavilions, as shown on the map. Jumping is port tack. Wind is side onshore, but often a touch more sideshore here than at the beach break. Similar to the beach break, these waves are not, in general, damaging, and tend just to wash over you harmlessly if you wipe out in their midst. If you do fall, however, you might discover that at a point or two a rocky outcrop approaches the surface to within two or three feet. I've never hit a fin, but have hit my foot while waterstarting. Alex at Windsurfing Adícora has a lot of experience on these breaks and often rides and jumps them. You might want to ask him for some pointers on sailing them. These breaks are popular with experienced windsurfers sailing out of the upwind eastern edge of the South Shore. From here, you have a clean speed reach in moderate chop until you hit your first ramp, land, jibe off the next wave, and surf it back in.

Inside these reef breaks, waters are predominately chop with conditions calming as you sail farther upwind (and closer to the main reef). Sailing downwind, chop increases and shore break begins to appear. As the coast pulls south, heading downwind of Casa de Diablo, Adícora's awesome shore break steadily mounts, peaking in height just upwind of Carlos' Windsurfing Center, and maintaining steady as you travel downwind. Here conditions are side onshore. Jumping is port tack. Wave height normally reaches chest to head-high, but can get higher. The Surf Perch, a caveman highchair about 40 yards out into the surf, is located here. It is possible to wade into the chest-deep water in the midst of the breaking surf and take excellent photos from atop the perch.