Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Alright, I’m not going to sugarcoat it – the next two weeks at Cabarete are pretty grim for anyone chasing a proper wave. From Wednesday the 16th right through to the 28th, there’s just nothing on offer. It’s all cross-onshore wind, choppy water, and weak, short-period swell. Heights flutter between 0.2m and 1.2m, periods hang around 6 to 8 seconds, and the combined energy is mostly weak – with readings between 27 and 183. You’re looking at a solid twelve-day stretch of flat, bumpy, unrideable slop. If you’re hoping for a surf trip, this is not the window.

Things only start to stir on the 29th, Tuesday morning. You get a small 1.2m swell from the southwest, but the period’s still a short 6 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 205. The wind is light cross-onshore, so there are ripples on the surface. It’s still marginal – one for the optimists, and honestly, I’d probably give it a miss.

Then comes the one real highlight of the whole fortnight: Wednesday morning, September 30th. The wind finally swings offshore – a light cross-offshore from the south at 15 km/h – and the water cleans right up. The swell drops to 0.5m, but the period extends to 11 seconds, giving it some actual push. Combined energy is moderate at 101, and the surf is clean. It’s not big, but for Cabarete, that’s the best you’re going to get. The swell direction is from the north, which is the opposite of the optimum NE for this reef, so expect the waves to be a bit softer and more lined-up rather than hollow. Still, with clean conditions, it’s definitely the pick.

After that, October 1st Thursday morning shows more size – 1.4m from the north with a 12-second period, and the energy jumps right up to 606, so there’s serious power behind it. But the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-offshore from the SSE, and that’s going to put a lot of chop on the surface. It’s rated marginal, and with that breeze, it could be messy. The height is also pushing into more powerful territory – over 1.5m – so it’s not for beginners, and with the swell coming from the north rather than the preferred NE, it won’t be at its best.

So, summing it all up: there’s one good morning – September 30th – and even that’s just small and clean. The rest is a write-off. If you can, wait for better conditions, because this stretch is mostly about patience, not waves.

Stay keen, mate.

Rusty

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