Cartagena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, looking at the surf in Cartagena (Colombia). Let's get into it.

The next 16 days have a few good windows, but you'll be waiting a bit for the best of it. We've got one standout that looks like a real gem, but it's over a week away.

We kick off on Thursday morning, the 13th of August. Cloudy skies, but the wind is a light offshore from the north at about 3 mph, leaving the surface clean. There's a 3ft swell from the WSW, but the key is the period – 16 seconds. That's a long-period groundswell with moderate energy (529). It'll have some shape and push, but on a sandbar, that long period can make the waves a little straight and walled. Expect very good conditions for the intermediate surfer.

Friday afternoon, the 14th, sees the swell bump up to 5ft from the WNW with a shorter 10-second period, but it's still clean with a light offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (458). Saturday morning, the 15th, is the real treat for this first week. Glassy conditions with a light wind from the ESE at 3 mph. The swell is a solid 5ft from the west. That glassy surface with that size makes for a clean, fun session. The combined energy is moderate (718).

Now for the main event. Wednesday morning, the 19th of August, is where you want to be. The forecast calls for a 6ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period. That is a powerful groundswell with strong combined energy (1409). The wind is a dream – light north wind at 3 mph, cross-off and clean. This is real, powerful surf. At 6ft, it's strictly for the experienced crew. The quality is excellent, but remember, it's a sandbar. The long period and that much power can make it a tricky wave, but for the experts, this is the session to aim for. The wind stays good in the morning, but shifts onshore in the afternoon.

After that Wednesday, the swell fades. Thursday the 20th has a 5ft swell but onshore winds chop it up. From the 22nd of August onward, the energy drops to next to nothing. We're looking at small, weak swells and poor, onshore winds. Combined energy drops well below 200. There's a long flat spell from the 22nd all the way through the 27th. By the 25th, we get a tiny 1ft groundswell with glassy conditions, but it's barely a ripple.

For the beginners, the clean, smaller days on the 13th or that glassy Saturday are your best bet. That 6ft Wednesday on the 19th is expert territory. Cartagena is a sandbar and can be inconsistent, but when the combination of a long-period swell and clean wind hits, it can be a fun wave. Just be patient and wait for that Wednesday morning.

Rusty.

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