Costa Banderas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up. To be honest, it’s a bit of a slow burner. We’re looking at small, cleanish waves for most of the run, with a few windows that get the heart beating a little faster. The standout for my money is shaping up around the 20th and into the 21st.

We start off on Wednesday the 9th at Costa Banderas, a reef setup that’s consistently getting swell from the SW. It’s small, only 2ft, with a very long 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell but right now it’s lacking punch. The water’s sitting at 89°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in bathwater. Combined swell energy is weak at 327, and the cross-shore breeze has things a little messy. Honestly, it’s a pass for now.

Thursday the 10th stays marginal, with 3ft waves but the same story – messy cross-shore wind through the day. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th see the wind turning cross-offshore, cleaning things right up, but the swell drops a touch to 2ft to 2ft. It’s surfable, very ordinary, but you’ll be scratching for a decent ride.

Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th the swell bottoms out at 1ft to 2ft. The wind stays kind – light and cross-off – so it’s clean, but tiny. Tuesday the 15th nudges back up to 2ft, still clean in the morning, but the afternoon gets a poor call.

Now we get to some better numbers. Wednesday the 16th is the first little glimpse of something worthwhile. The morning shows 2ft from the SW, 16-second period, and combined energy of 280. The wind is light and cross-off, keeping things tidy. It’s rated as good conditions, and it’s the first real chance to get a proper wave.

Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th keep the energy around 250 to 307. Friday morning on the 18th is a beauty – 2ft but with a 19-second period, glassy conditions, and a bit of welly behind it. The water will feel like silk.

But the real standout comes Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st. On Sunday afternoon, we see 2ft from the SW, 18-second period, and the energy jumps to 420 – moderate and building. The wind is cross-off and clean. Then Monday morning the 21st is the pick of the entire forecast: 3ft, 17-second period, combined energy of 380, and barely a breath of wind – cross-off from the ENE. That’s clean, lined-up reef waves, and the optimum swell direction from the WNW matches the guidance well. This is the session to pencil in.

After that, Tuesday the 22nd holds similar size at 3ft but with a shorter period, and by Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th we’re back to small 2ft, messy wind, and dropping energy. The run fizzles out.

So to sum it up: it’s a quiet start, but the 16th gives a taste, and the 20th through 21st offer the best chance for a proper, clean surf. It’s not big – maxing at 3ft – but the quality and the glassy conditions will make it feel like a winner. The reef will hold the long-period swell well, so you won't just get closeouts.

Keep your eye on the morning of Monday the 21st. That’s the one.

Rusty

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