Surf Forecasts:
Carola surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period, N swell with 13 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Carola this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Carola in the next 16 days are 0.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 16s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Carola over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a paddle. Let's get into it.
The whole 16-day window is a struggle. We’ve got a massive gap right from the start with no real surf to speak of. The first few days are a write-off, and honestly, the pattern doesn't really change. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, quiet conditions. It’s the kind of blank run that’s more normal for the area, so don't be too shocked.
The only spot on the menu is Carola, a reef setup that takes a north swell. It’s an advanced wave, fairly consistent when it’s on, but it’s not on. The water is sitting at 78°F – that's a massive 8°F warmer than average for this time of year, which is very unusual for August/September.
Let’s walk through it. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell. We’re talking about 1 ft at best from the north, with a short period of 8-9 seconds. The combined energy is weak, just 12-13 (12). The wind is a cross-shore, so it’s chopped up and messy. Not worth getting wet.
Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 3rd of September, the swell drops to absolute zero. It’s flat. No energy, no waves. The wind is light and clean at times, but with no swell, it doesn’t matter.
Friday the 4th of September, we see a tiny blip – a 0.3 ft northwest swell with a 10-second period. Combined energy is a measly 4 (4). It’s clean, but it’s barely a ripple.
Saturday the 5th of September offers a similar story – 0.3 ft from the northwest, but this time the period stretches to 11 seconds. That’s a little more long-period groundswell character, but with only 5 (5) energy, it’s just a pulse. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not even clean.
Then we go flat again from Sunday the 6th of September right through to Tuesday the 8th of September. Nothing.
Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th of September, we get another tiny pulse. 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft from the northwest. On the 10th, the period jumps to 12 seconds, and combined energy hits 15 (15). The wind is clean and cross-offshore, but the swell is just too small to do anything with.
The best of a bad bunch comes on Friday the 11th of September. We’ve got 1 ft from the northwest with a 12-second period. Combined energy is 22 (22). The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze. For a spot that needs north swell and clean conditions, this is the closest we get to a window. But 1 ft is tiny. The long period (12 seconds) means it’ll be a long wait between sets, and for a reef like Carola, it might break too straight. It’s an advanced spot, and with crowds possible, it’s a lot of effort for very little reward.
After that, from Saturday the 12th of September, it’s back to flat. No swell, no energy, all the way through to the end of the forecast on Sunday the 13th.
So, no standouts here. The whole period is a bust. Keep the board in the car and the wax in the cupboard. If you’re desperate, maybe the 11th of September offers a slim chance for a very dedicated, very patient expert, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. The forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long, but for now, it’s a long, flat stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | SW 16 | N 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:32PM1.98m | 3:52AM2.10m | 4:07PM2.00m | 4:25AM2.12m | 4:43PM1.98m | 5:00AM2.09m | 5:22PM1.94m | 5:38AM2.03m | 6:05PM1.86m | 6:22AM1.94m | 6:56PM1.76m | 7:15AM1.82m | 8:01PM1.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:42PM0.20m | 10:05AM0.22m | 10:15PM0.20m | 10:40AM0.20m | 10:49PM0.23m | 11:16AM0.22m | 11:26PM0.29m | 11:56AM0.27m | 00:09AM0.39m | 12:43PM0.36m | 00:59AM0.51m | 1:39PM0.46m | 2:03AM0.63m | |||||||
— | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SW 15 | SSE 7 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
787 | 577 | 509 | 388 | 347 | 336 | 314 | 382 | 273 | 255 | 472 | 276 | 86 | 686 | 1282 | 1663 | 1438 | 1552 | 1267 | 1059 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 11 | SSE 8 | S 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
10 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 82 | 83 | 112 | 241 | 326 | 310 | 137 | 273 | 67 | 52 | 22 | 79 | 19 | 4 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | N 10 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | N 6 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | S 13 | N 7 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — | SW 10 | NW 10 | SW 21 | — |
2 | 7 | 15 | 37 | 37 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 231 | 272 | 107 | 76 | — | 24 | 4 | 18 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | SSE 7 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 |
46 | 53 | 42 | 37 | 31 | 39 | 55 | 56 | 76 | 81 | 94 | 84 | — | — | — | 71 | — | 85 | 85 | 78 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1250 | 94 | 94 | 1250 | 3 | 984 | 1247 | 3 | 976 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 3 | 3 | 94 | 94 | 3 | 94 | 94 | 94 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Galapagos - San Cristobal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Carola Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Carola provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Carola can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Carola surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Carola) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Carola may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Galapagos - San Cristobal? If you are looking for accommodation near Carola, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Galapagos - San Cristobal, consider staying in Galapagos Islands which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Galapagos - San Cristobal where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include San Cristobal which is 51 km (32 miles) away and Bahia de la Academia, 80 km (50 miles) away.











