
Surf Forecasts:
Chicama - El Cape / Keys surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 502 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7AM. 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+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down the next couple of weeks for the spot.
Honestly, it's a pretty bleak run for the Chicama – El Cape / Keys (Peru) point break. This is a world-class left, but the onshore southerly wind just won't let up. The swell direction is mostly from the south, which is about as onshore as it gets here, and it's not producing any real quality. The swell energy is moderate, sitting between 383 and 490 for the first few days, but with that wind, it's all junk. There are no standout sessions to get excited about.
For the first week, from Sunday the 13th right through to the following Saturday, every session is marked by poor conditions. The wind is a constant southerly breeze, 6 to 16 mph, and it's always onshore. Swell heights hover around 3 ft to 5 ft, but the period is short and mixed, so you're looking at choppy, weak waves. On Monday the 14th afternoon, there's a brief pulse of 3 ft SW swell with a long 18-second period, which would usually be promising, but the onshore wind kills it. The combined energy is moderate (673), but again, the wind is the enemy.
The second week is more of the same. From Sunday the 20th to Friday the 25th, we're looking at waist-high swell, 2 ft to 2 ft, with period dropping to 13-17 seconds. The wind remains onshore from the south. The combined energy drops into the low hundreds, like 133 on the morning of the 24th, which is really weak. There's a tiny glimmer on the morning of Saturday the 26th and again on Sunday the 27th morning, where the wind switches to a light cross or cross-onshore breeze, but the swell is still only 3 ft with a short 12-second period, so it's marginal at best. The energy picks up a bit (443 on the 27th morning), but it’s not enough to save the session.
Overall, there's a 16-day window with no real surf on offer. The onshore wind is relentless, and the swell is never big enough or clean enough to overcome it. For a spot that needs a SW swell with light winds to shine, this is a long stretch of poor conditions. It’s not going to be one for the paddle surfer; if anything, the setup might look more interesting for kite surfing.
Stay patient. It tends not to stay poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 20 | WSW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
235 | 235 | 203 | 245 | 366 | 310 | 496 | 365 | 346 | 341 | 261 | 208 | 205 | 202 | 151 | 181 | 175 | 169 | 186 | 248 | 155 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:36AM1.38m | 6:04PM1.28m | 6:06AM1.29m | 6:43PM1.24m | 6:36AM1.18m | 7:23PM1.17m | 7:05AM1.08m | 8:08PM1.08m | 7:34AM0.97m | 9:05PM0.99m | 8:08AM0.88m | 10:32PM0.94m | 9:11AM0.80m | 00:18AM0.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:57AM0.15m | 00:08AM0.29m | 12:28PM0.18m | 00:44AM0.38m | 12:59PM0.23m | 1:21AM0.48m | 1:31PM0.29m | 2:00AM0.58m | 2:07PM0.37m | 2:50AM0.67m | 2:54PM0.44m | 4:30AM0.73m | 4:14PM0.49m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | S 8 | SW 18 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 15 | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
89 | 87 | 155 | 245 | 366 | 210 | 181 | 365 | 146 | 341 | 261 | 208 | 205 | 202 | 151 | 181 | 175 | 169 | 161 | 121 | 119 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 12 | SW 14 | SW 23 | S 8 | WSW 21 | WSW 21 | WSW 20 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | WSW 19 | SW 18 |
57 | 80 | 59 | 86 | 34 | 310 | 496 | 3 | 346 | 21 | 66 | 45 | 44 | 40 | 21 | 21 | 115 | 153 | 186 | 248 | 155 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | S 11 | SW 18 | SW 10 | WSW 13 | W 12 | SW 24 | SW 24 | W 13 | WSW 23 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 20 | SW 21 | SW 18 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | S 8 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 159 | 28 | 67 | 3 | 23 | 22 | 3 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 61 | 113 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | S 8 | — | — | S 9 | — | S 8 | S 4 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
235 | 235 | 203 | — | 245 | — | — | 151 | — | 111 | 6 | 107 | 82 | 104 | 28 | 28 | 50 | 54 | 43 | 54 | 40 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 493 | 2 | 2 | 563 | 56 | 56 | 493 | 56 | 2 | 99 | 56 | 56 | 563 | 2 | 56 | 493 | 56 | 2 | 563 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in La Libertad and Lambayeque | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Peru | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










