Surf Forecasts:
Chicama - El Cape / Keys surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 1,182 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chicama - El Cape / Keys this week:
The surf forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicama - El Cape / Keys in the next 16 days are 2.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – this forecast is a tough one. For the next 16 days at Chicama, the waves are on the menu, but the wind is a real party pooper. We're looking at a solid run of surf, but it's almost all blown out by a strong and persistent onshore wind. The water is a scorching 72.5° at the start, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need a steamer.
The first sniff of anything rideable doesn't come until Friday the 21st of August in the morning. The swell is a modest 4.3ft from the S at 9 seconds, with the combined energy pretty weak at 396. The wind is a light cross-onshore, which is the only time in the whole period the wind isn't straight onshore. It's marginal, but it's the best we've got.
After that, it's back to onshore slop. Through the rest of the month and into the first days of September, the swell bumps up and down. We see a bit of a pulse around Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, with the swell hitting 5.9ft to 6.6ft from the SSW. The energy gets moderate to strong (1251 and 1029), but it's all blown flat by strong onshore winds. Even the longer period 14-15 second groundswells are just going to be chopped up. For the surfers out there, it's a write-off. For a kiter, that constant onshore wind and consistent swell would look like a dream setup.
The whole 16-day window is a real grind. There's no standout session, no clean face to be found. It's a long stretch of poor conditions, so don't get your hopes up. This is one of those times where you just have to wait for the forecast to change.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 458 | 286 | 466 | 245 | 346 | 453 | 885 | 699 | 817 | 955 | 579 | 391 | 383 | 326 | 275 | 230 | 177 | 111 | 108 | 117 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:14PM1.17m | 7:25AM1.28m | 8:01PM1.11m | 7:58AM1.16m | 8:54PM1.04m | 8:33AM1.04m | 9:58PM0.98m | 9:16AM0.94m | 11:23PM0.94m | 10:22AM0.86m | 00:56AM0.96m | 11:55AM0.83m | 2:04AM1.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:12AM0.32m | 1:50PM0.28m | 1:53AM0.45m | 2:28PM0.33m | 2:36AM0.56m | 3:09PM0.38m | 3:31AM0.66m | 4:04PM0.43m | 5:10AM0.73m | 5:25PM0.46m | 7:30AM0.71m | 6:54PM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 16 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
| kJ | 458 | 286 | 466 | 245 | 341 | 251 | 885 | 699 | 140 | 28 | 579 | 391 | 61 | 326 | 275 | 230 | 177 | 111 | 108 | 78 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 16 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 20 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 | W 14 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 264 | 36 | 206 | 346 | 453 | 269 | 15 | 30 | 41 | 85 | 32 | 4 | 64 | 103 | 96 | 85 | 59 | 52 | 50 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 12 | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 15 | SW 12 | W 14 | SW 13 | SW 21 | SW 21 | WSW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
| kJ | — | 3 | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 | 58 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 17 | 38 | 96 | 94 | 117 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | — | S 5 | S 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — | — | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 |
| kJ | 104 | 148 | 126 | 126 | 196 | — | 97 | 192 | 817 | 955 | — | — | 383 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 563 | 257 | 563 | 589 | 2 | 435 | 563 | 448 | 465 | 563 | 2 | 2 | 257 | 2 | 2 | 56 | 2 | 2 | 563 | 2 |
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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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