Surf Forecasts:
Chicama - El Cape / Keys surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 929 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chicama - El Cape / Keys this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Chicama - El Cape / Keys in the next 16 days are 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it for the Chicama area, specifically El Cape / Keys.
Honestly, looking at the next 16 days, it's a pretty rough stretch. We’ve got a long, stubborn run of poor surf conditions right through. The issue isn't a lack of swell, but the wind. It's pinned onshore from the south for almost the entire period, which is no good for this setup. The water is sitting at a very unusual 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first real chance for a wave is Monday morning, August 10th, but with a south wind at 12 mph blowing straight onshore and only 2ft of SW swell, it’s going to be a messy, bumpy closeout. The combined swell energy is moderate at 515, but it doesn’t matter with that wind. That same story repeats. Tuesday has a touch more size, 3ft to 3ft, with a long 16-second period from the SW, but again that onshore south wind kills it. The energy jumps up through the week, hitting a combined energy of 1167 by Friday morning, August 14th, with a 5ft SW swell and a solid 16-second period. That would be a beautiful groundswell under different conditions, but with the wind locked in from the south at 9 to 16 mph, it’s just a blown-out mess.
We go into the second week with no let-up. By Monday, August 17th, the swell pumps up to 7ft from the SSW with a shorter 9-second period and combined energy of 1052. That’s a strong, powerful swell, but the wind is still onshore and now a fresh breeze from the SSE. At over 8ft, this is expert-only territory anyway, but with the poor conditions, it’s hard to get excited. The pattern continues all the way through to Tuesday, August 25th, with the swell dropping back down and the wind never turning favourable.
Bottom line: for the entire 16-day window, there isn’t a single standout day. The onshore wind is relentless, ruining every pulse of swell. If you’ve got a kite, this might look interesting with all that wind and wave energy, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a blank run. It’s one of those periods where you’re better off waiting for the forecast to change.
Stay up,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 203 | 269 | 314 | 299 | 220 | 577 | 642 | 613 | 519 | 460 | 553 | 798 | 929 | 832 | 795 | 614 | 614 | 418 | 404 | 458 | 678 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:16PM1.06m | 3:32AM1.37m | 3:14PM1.13m | 4:18AM1.46m | 4:07PM1.18m | 5:00AM1.51m | 4:56PM1.22m | 5:39AM1.51m | 5:42PM1.23m | 6:16AM1.47m | 6:28PM1.22m | 6:51AM1.38m | 7:14PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:48PM0.10m | 9:50AM0.41m | 9:40PM0.03m | 10:36AM0.33m | 10:26PM0.01m | 11:18AM0.27m | 11:10PM0.04m | 11:58AM0.24m | 11:52PM0.10m | 12:37PM0.23m | 00:32AM0.20m | 1:14PM0.24m | 1:12AM0.32m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 21 | WSW 20 | SSW 12 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 157 | 269 | 299 | 299 | 220 | 577 | 642 | 42 | 158 | 367 | 553 | 798 | 929 | 832 | 795 | 614 | 614 | 418 | 398 | 458 | 228 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 19 | — | — | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | — | SW 14 | — | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 203 | 252 | 211 | 152 | 218 | 134 | 32 | 12 | 10 | 460 | — | — | 238 | 119 | 70 | 48 | 17 | — | 404 | — | 181 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | SW 16 | W 8 | — | W 10 | W 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 155 | — | 314 | 1 | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 5 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | — | S 12 | S 11 | — | S 11 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 |
| kJ | — | 215 | 169 | 136 | 165 | 27 | — | 613 | 519 | — | 404 | 344 | — | 274 | 55 | 71 | 120 | 233 | 308 | 422 | 678 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 563 | 2 | 56 | 257 | 257 | 56 | 493 | 2 | 56 | 493 | 56 | 56 | 563 | 257 | 99 | 563 | 440 | 465 | 563 | 448 |
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Information about the Chicama - El Cape / Keys Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Chicama - El Cape / Keys provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chicama - El Cape / Keys can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chicama - El Cape / Keys 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 (Chicama - El Cape / Keys) 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 Chicama - El Cape / Keys 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.
Chicama - El Cape / Keys is 18 km (11 miles) from Paijan. If you plan a holiday in La Libertad and Lambayeque, look for hotels and other accommodation in Paijan. Paijan has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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