Costa Banderas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Costa Banderas. It’s a bit of a slow burner this stretch, but there’s some light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first week is all about small, clean but very ordinary waves. Tuesday morning the 14th gives us tiny 1ft waves from the SSW with a long 13-second period, but the combined energy is weak (122). The water is a steamy 89°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual. A light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE keeps it clean, but honestly, it’s barely a ripple. That theme runs through Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings: small 1.0ft to 1ft surf, clean with light winds, but the energy is just too low to get excited about. The afternoons get a bit of a sea breeze, turning things cross-shore or a little lumpy.

We push through the weekend with a slow increase. Saturday the 18th afternoon sees a bump to 3ft, and the energy picks up to a moderate 400 with a 13-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore and the surface gets a little chop. Sunday the 19th afternoon is the first real highlight of the period. The swell hits 3ft from the WSW, with a 12-second period and a solid 479 energy. The wind goes light and variable, giving us clean conditions. It’s not huge, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. Monday the 20th holds that 3ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind turns offshore from the NNW in the afternoon – that’s clean, lined-up waves for a reef break. This is your best bet for the first week.

The second week keeps the momentum going. Tuesday the 22nd morning jumps to 4ft from the SW, with a 12-second period, moderate energy (399), and light winds. Thursday the 23rd morning is a standout: glassy conditions with 3ft from the WSW, 11-second period, and a strong 427 energy. That’s going to be clean and fun. The real standout, though, is Saturday the 25th morning. We get a 2ft swell from the SW, but the period is a very long 21 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 705. With only a slight air and clean conditions, this is a proper groundswell pulse. For a reef break like Costa Banderas, that long period will wrap in beautifully with real shape. It’s a smaller wave, but the quality will be there. Late in the period, Tuesday the 28th morning offers glassy conditions with 2ft from the SW and a 16-second period, which is another solid option for a clean session.

The second half of the final week gets a bit messy. The 29th morning shows a 5ft swell from the SSW with a 14-second period and a very strong 901 energy – that’s a lot of power. But the wind is cross-shore with light ripples, and the score is marginal. By the afternoon, the wind picks up onshore and it gets choppy, so that’s one for the experts only if you can find a corner.

Overall, the best windows are the mornings from the 20th to the 25th, with Saturday the 25th being the pick of the bunch for that long-period groundswell. Keep an eye on the wind, because when it’s light, this reef will deliver. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.

Rusty.

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