Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get real about this stretch. The short version: it’s gonna be a tough couple of weeks for surfers around here. The wind is stuck in a cross-onshore pattern for almost the entire run, and the swell is just not cooperating. You want the long version? Grab a coffee, mate, because we’re scraping the barrel.

The whole 16-day window is a write-off for any proper surf recommendations. Not a single day gets the green light. The first stretch, from the 10th through to the 12th, is all about that lumpy, cross-onshore mess. East wind at 15 to 22 mph is just chopping up what little’s on offer. We’re looking at 5 ft of short-period slop, 8 seconds, with moderate wave energy (288). The water is sitting around 85°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least the wait won’t be cold.

We roll into the next few days, the 13th and 14th, and it’s the same story. Slightly smaller chest-high stuff, but still cross-onshore and chopped. The period does stretch out to 10 seconds for a bit, but that doesn’t help when the wind’s got it all torn up. The energy stays weak to moderate (116 to 232). Honestly, it’s just messy.

Then there’s a run from the 15th to the 21st where the period drops out entirely. You’re looking at 6 seconds, sometimes even 4 or 5 seconds of pure windswell junk. All this short-period energy just makes for a super bumpy, gutless surf. The combined energy readings are all over the place; some show a punch of moderate energy (135, 117) but it’s all that onshore wind, so it’s not doing anyone any favors. There are a couple of quieter moments with the wind easing to a gentle breeze, but as soon as it drops, the swell drops right with it, down to 2 ft.

The last few days, the 22nd through the 25th, do offer a slight shift in the wind. We see a few periods with lighter winds from the ENE, even a moment where it’s just straight onshore. But the waves are tiny and weak. The energy numbers are all low, under 200, and the swell is just not there. There is one morning on the 22nd with a very light breeze and a small groundswell at 9 seconds, but it’s only 2 ft. Not worth paddling out for.

So, that’s the harsh reality. No standouts, no hidden gems. For a wave rider, this window is a full-on blank. The only positive I can grab onto is that the Cabarete reef is a consistent setup, so this kind of blown-out run doesn’t usually last forever. Forecasts can shift, and we might get lucky with a late change, but right now, I’d be keeping the board in the bag. The setup is so wind-affected and the surf so weak that if you’ve got a kite, this is looking more like your window than a surfer’s.

Rusty, out.

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