Black Beach / Cahuita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at one spot this time – Black Beach / Cahuita. The window kicks off on July 16th, but I gotta be straight with you: the first week is a bit of a tease. The swell is there, size-wise, but it’s just too meaty for this break. For a beginner-friendly spot like this, that kind of energy is a handful, so we’re waiting it out.

The real standout action starts at the tail end of the month. Let’s break it down.

The Early Days (July 16th – 22nd)
From the get-go, we’ve got a solid ENE swell running, around 7ft to 7ft, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a decent groundswell, and the combined energy is moderate to strong (873–990 in the morning, peaking at 1088 on Friday morning). The wind is light and cross or cross-off a lot of the time, which would usually be perfect. But here’s the rub: the forecast keeps saying the swell is too big for Black Beach. For a spot that’s generally mellow, anything over 5ft starts to get gnarly for the beginners it’s best for, and we’re sitting well above that. Thursday afternoon (16th) has a moment with a 5 km/h (3 mph) NNE breeze that’s technically onshore but light, and the tide might help, but the size is still an issue. Later in that first week, we see a slight drop. By Saturday the 18th, the afternoon swell drops to 6ft, but the wind swings cross-on and the score plummets – it’s a marginal call. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st keep that 7ft to 7ft swell size with clean conditions at times (Tuesday morning is glassy with a light N wind, and a mod rain sky), but it’s still too big for comfort. We’re just waiting for that swell to back off.

The Shift (July 23rd – July 25th)
The 23rd sees the swell start to drop, with 6ft on Thursday morning and clean cross-off winds. The energy drops to moderate (617), and by Thursday afternoon it’s 6ft with 9-second period and a light W wind – a bit cleaner, but still at the upper end for this break. Friday the 24th is the real change: morning brings 5ft swell from the NE, 9-second period, and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is down to 302 – weak. For a spot like this, that’s a much more manageable size. It’s not a standout, but it’s surfable. Saturday the 25th offers a brief window: morning is glassy with light NNW wind and a 4ft swell from the ENE. Flat and clean, but the energy is weak (235). Afternoon gets messy with a cross-shore breeze and the swell bumping to 5ft, so the morning is the call if you’re desperate.

The Standout Window (July 26th – 31st)
Here’s where it gets good. Sunday the 26th is the best day on offer. The morning is an absolute gem: calm winds, glassy water, and a 6ft ENE swell at 10 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 566 – moderate and punchy, but not too much. That’s a clean, fun wave for an intermediate surfer, and with light offshore tendencies, it’ll be holding up nicely. Crowds are possible here, so get in early. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-on breeze, but that morning session is the real deal.

After that, the swell slowly fades through the end of the month. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are smaller (4ft to 5ft) and the winds get a bit more onshore – Monday morning has a light cross-shore, but the energy is weak (354). Not bad, but not worth the drive. Wednesday the 30th brings a fantastic looking morning: calm, glassy, 5ft swell from the ENE with a 9-second period, and weak energy (307). It’s small, but for a clean, longboard-friendly session, that’s a winner. Then we finish strong on Friday the 31st: a 6ft ENE swell at 10 seconds, light cross-off wind, and a clean surface. The energy is back up to 541 – moderate and fun. That’s a solid morning session to close out the outlook.

So, the standout is Sunday morning, July 26th: glassy, 6ft ENE groundswell, clean, and with a moderate energy level that’s perfect for this break. After that, keep an eye on the 30th and 31st for smaller, clean windows. The early days are too big for what this spot is built for, and the second week brings a few smaller days that are worth a look. Keep it on the radar.

Take care of yourselves.

Rusty

Read more