Cabo Lastres Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Cabo Lastres has in store over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you—this is going to be a slow start. For the first week, from Monday the 13th all the way through to Sunday the 19th of July, there’s just nothing doing. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the energy readings are pathetic, barely cracking 68 (weak). Winds are either cross or onshore, and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions” across the board. It’s a real bummer of a stretch. You’d be wasting your time paddling out.

Then we get a little glimmer of life on Monday the 20th of July. The morning shows a glassy surface with a NW swell at 4ft, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 265 (moderate). The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and the score is a 1, but at least it’s clean. That same afternoon the wind turns cross-onshore and the quality drops off.

From Tuesday the 21st through Saturday the 26th of July, we’re back in the doldrums. Swells hang around 2ft to 3ft, period short (7-9 seconds), and energy mostly stays in the double digits or low triple digits (weak to moderate). Winds are cross or cross-on, with a few glassy moments on the 25th and 26th mornings, but the swell is just too weak to get excited about. On the 25th morning you get a 2ft NW glassy surf but energy is only 95 (weak). It’s rideable, but only just.

Now, the standout window appears at the very end of the forecast. On Monday the 27th of July, we finally see a proper pulse: a NW swell at 6ft, period 10-11 seconds, and energy readings of 731 and 743 (strong). Winds are cross-shore from the east at 9 mph, which is a bit of a chop factor, but there’s real push behind the waves. This is still a marginal call (score 1), but it’s the best we’ve seen in two weeks.

The real highlight, and the one you should circle on your calendar, is Tuesday the 28th of July. That morning at Cabo Lastres—a consistent, expert-only point break—you’ve got a NW swell at 7ft, period 12 seconds, and the combined energy hits 1037 (strong to very strong). The wind is glassy, dead calm from the north at 3 mph. That’s a recipe for clean, powerful, long-period groundswell wrapping into the point. Because it’s a point break, that long period (over 11 seconds) is actually a bonus, giving you lined-up, well-shaped waves. But at 7ft, this is strictly for experts—beginners, stay on the beach. The optimum swell direction is NW, which is exactly what’s forecast. On top of that, crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few out there, but for a setup this good, it’s worth it.

So, the long and short of it: the first week-plus is a write-off. The only real standouts are the 27th (solid but a little wind-affected) and the 28th of July (the gem of the forecast). The 28th is the one to plan for—just remember it’s a long-range call, so it’s promising but not locked in yet.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that Tuesday morning.

Rusty.

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