
Surf Forecasts:
Castelejo surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NW swell with 352 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Castelejo this week:
The surf forecast for Castelejo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Castelejo in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castelejo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Castelejo over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, it’s a grim stretch. We’ve got a solid 16 days of forecast data, but the surf quality is just not there for most of it. The wind is a constant problem. From Thursday afternoon the 23rd of July all the way through to the end of the month, we’re looking at onshore and cross-onshore winds from the NNW and N, blowing between 9 and 22 mph. That’s a lot of chop and lumpy conditions for a place that’s exposed to the NW swell. The wave heights are small, between 3 ft and 5 ft, but the wind is just ruining any chance of a clean wave. The combined swell energy is weak, hovering between 61 and 304, which tells you there’s just no punch in the water.
The first real glimmer of hope, and probably the only standout window in the whole outlook, is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. That morning we finally get a break in the wind. It’s a light breeze from the ESE at 6 mph, blowing cross-offshore. The report says “clean” conditions, and the swell is a modest 4 ft from the NW with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is 145 (weak to moderate). It’s not going to be perfect, but it’s the cleanest we’ll see. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 67°F. This is your best bet, but keep expectations in check.
Another fleeting moment comes on the morning of Friday the 31st of July. We get glassy conditions with a light easterly breeze at 3 mph. The swell is small, 3 ft from the NNW, period of 6 seconds, and combined energy of 91 (weak). It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
Then we hit the first week of August. The swell picks up, with waves reaching 7 ft to 8 ft on Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd, with combined energy readings jumping to 800 and 895 (strong to very strong wave energy). But the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore from the NNW at 12 to 22 mph. The report calls it “poor surf conditions” and “choppy” and “lumpy.” For a beach and reef setup like Castelejo, this is going to be a messy, blown-out mess. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
For the rest of the second week, the wind stays strong—up to 25 mph from the N and NNW—and the swell drops back down to under 3 ft. There’s nothing to get excited about.
So, the long and short of it: if you’re desperate for a paddle, set your alarm for the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s your one real window. The rest of the period is a write-off, and the long-range stuff in the first week of August is just messy, powerful, and blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
43 | 52 | 54 | 69 | 130 | 128 | 211 | 332 | 297 | 287 | 329 | 131 | 83 | 68 | 145 | 174 | 170 | 109 | 93 | 131 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:04PM1.99m | 11:39AM2.10m | 00:14AM2.02m | 12:40PM2.19m | 1:10AM2.12m | 1:29PM2.33m | 1:55AM2.24m | 2:11PM2.48m | 2:34AM2.36m | 2:48PM2.62m | 3:09AM2.46m | 3:23PM2.74m | 3:42AM2.53m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:45PM0.99m | 5:12AM0.99m | 6:01PM0.95m | 6:18AM0.94m | 7:00PM0.84m | 7:11AM0.83m | 7:47PM0.70m | 7:54AM0.70m | 8:26PM0.57m | 8:31AM0.56m | 9:02PM0.44m | 9:06AM0.45m | 9:35PM0.34m | |||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 20 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | SE 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 |
16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | 17 | — | 131 | 83 | 61 | 145 | 6 | 170 | 109 | 93 | 131 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 10 | SE 7 | WNW 8 | SE 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | SE 6 |
3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 19 | 68 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 36 | 31 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 13 | NW 12 | SE 6 | WNW 8 | W 12 | NW 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | WNW 10 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 36 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 27 | 13 | 16 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | — | SE 3 | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — |
43 | 52 | 54 | 69 | 130 | 128 | 211 | 332 | 297 | 287 | 329 | — | 1 | — | — | 174 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 381 | 399 | 390 | 653 | 424 | 9 | 247 | 65 | 77 | 638 | 49 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 139 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Algarve | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Castelejo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Castelejo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Castelejo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Castelejo 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 (Castelejo) 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 Castelejo 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.
Castelejo is 25 km (16 miles) from Lagos. If you plan a holiday in The Algarve, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lagos. Lagos has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










