Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real – the next 16 days for Carcavelos are a bit of a mixed bag. We’re looking at a long stretch of mostly small, weak, and messy conditions, but there are a couple of windows where it cleans up and gets interesting. The water temp is sitting at about 69°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. From Wednesday the 22nd right through to Saturday the 25th, we’ve got weak, cross-shore winds and tiny waves. Swell energy is barely cracking 99 on the 22nd, and it’s not much better for days after. The waves are small, choppy, and just not worth paddling out for. It’s a frustrating start, but hang tight.

Sunday the 26th morning is where things get a bit wild. The swell jumps up to 8ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 726. That’s a serious amount of energy. The wind is cross-offshore, and the report says it’s clean. But here’s the catch – that size is too big for Carcavelos, especially for beginners. This is expert-only territory, and even then, you’ll want to be careful. The afternoon drops a bit to 7ft, but the wind picks up to 35 km/h (22 mph), making it less appealing.

Now, Monday morning the 27th is where I’d point you. The swell drops to a much more manageable 5ft from the NNW, and the wind is light and cross-offshore at just 10 km/h (6 mph). The combined energy is still solid at 327, and the conditions are clean. This is your best bet for a decent session if you can get out there early. It’s not pumping, but it’s surfable and clean.

Tuesday morning the 28th is similar – 5ft from the NNW, light winds again, and clean. The energy is 347. Another solid morning option, but the afternoons are ruined by stronger cross-shore winds.

After that, the week drifts back into mediocrity. Wednesday the 29th morning has 4ft waves and clean conditions, but the energy is only 197, and it’s described as “ordinary.” Thursday and Friday mornings are clean but small, with energy in the 160-200 range. The afternoon winds pick up and ruin the surface.

The weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August is a real letdown. Small swell, poor winds, and the energy drops to under 100 on Sunday. Not worth it.

The following week, from Monday the 3rd to Wednesday the 5th, we see a slight uptick in swell period, hitting 11 seconds on the 5th morning, which is nice. But the swell size is only 3ft, and the energy is 226. It’s marginal – better than nothing, but you’ll be scratching for waves.

The real standout? I’d lock in Monday morning the 27th of July. The swell is a solid 5ft from the NNW, the wind is light and clean, and the energy is pumping. The second best is Tuesday morning the 28th. Both are early calls, so get up and go.

Oh, and keep in mind, Carcavelos can get crowded, and it’s an exposed beach break. The long period swell on the 5th of August (11 seconds) might make it a bit straight, but it’s worth a look if you’re desperate.

Rusty.

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