Campeche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Look, I won’t sugar-coat it – the next little while is a tough one. There’s a big dead stretch from now until August 24th where poor surf conditions leave very little to get excited about. The first real chance of something decent doesn’t roll in until the morning of Monday the 24th, and even that’s a mixed bag.

Let’s talk Campeche. It’s a sandbar set-up, fairly exposed to swell, and for this stretch it’s the only game in town. The water is sitting at 65°F which is about average for this time of year – nothing weird there.

Up until Monday the 24th, it’s mostly small, messy, or blown out. We’re talking knee-high dribble from the SSE with periods around 6-10 seconds and energy levels of just 75 (weak) down to single digits. The wind’s mostly cross-off or cross-on, so nothing to write home about. A few mornings have that gentle offshore on the 21st, but with swell barely 1ft, that’s more a paddle than a ride.

The first real pulse arrives Monday morning the 24th. It’s a big jump – we see a 10ft S swell with a solid 12-second period and combined energy of 3714 (strong). That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s got power. But – there’s a catch. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, not ideal, and the forecast says “marginal surf” which likely means tide issues or shifting banks. It’s also a big size for a sandbar – over 8ft really only for experienced surfers. That said, if you can sit out back and wait for the sets, it might offer a few walls.

Monday afternoon drops to 6ft SSE, period up to 14 seconds, but wind turns onshore and the energy is still high at 1178. Not the cleanest, but the combo of long period and power means there’s energy moving through.

Now, the standout across the whole 16 days is Tuesday the 25th. Both morning and afternoon see glassy conditions – that’s dead calm wind – with a 4ft to 5ft SSE swell, period of 13-14 seconds, and moderate combined energy around 634 to 763. The morning has a slight air, almost glassy, and it’s described as “expect good surf” then “expect very good surf.” For a sandbar, this window of clean, long-period groundswell at a manageable size is the best you’ll get. It’s not huge, but the quality should be there.

Wednesday the 26th holds on with similar swell size but the wind swings cross-on, so it gets bumpier. Still surfable but not as clean. By the 27th it fades back to waist-high and very ordinary, then runs out to nothing after the 30th.

If you’re a beginner, stay clear of that 10ft Monday. But Tuesday? That’s your day. The sandbar at Campeche might be a little inconsistent, but if you get it on a good bank with that glassy skin, it’ll be a treat. Crowds are likely though – it’s a spot that sees people often, so get in early.

Rusty.

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