
Surf Forecasts:
Chicama - El Cape / Keys surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 628 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 11s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got coming down the line for this stretch of coast.
Truth be told, this is a tough run. We’re looking at a 16-day window where the surf is just not cooperating. For day after day, the wind is hammering straight onshore. We’re talking about a run from Thursday the 10th all the way through to the end of the period where the conditions are marked as poor. Even though we get some solid long-period groundswell pushing in, the wind keeps it messy and bumpy. There’s a real long stretch here with nothing worth getting excited about.
The first recommendation that even sniffs at something rideable doesn't come until Friday the 25th of September. That morning, things might get close to being worth a look, but it’s still just marginal. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
### Chicama - El Cape / Keys (Point)
Right, so the only break on the cards is El Cape. It’s a point break, best for beginners, and it’s fairly consistent, which means it rarely goes completely flat, but that’s about the only positive. It’s open to the swell and the optimum direction is SW, which is exactly what we get, but it just doesn’t matter with the wind.
From the get-go on Thursday the 10th, we’ve got a 4ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, carrying moderate wave energy (834). But the wind is 9 mph from the SSE straight onshore, and that’s the story of the whole run. The swell actually looks decent at times—like on Monday the 14th, where we see an 18-second period SW swell with a 3ft face and 611 combined energy, but the 12 mph S wind kills it. It’s too choppy and ugly for a clean ride.
This pattern just keeps repeating. The swell direction is good, the period is solid, but the onshore wind never gives us a break. Even the bigger days, like Friday the 11th with a 5ft SSW swell (8-second period, 513 energy), are ruined by 12 mph winds. The crowds here are never an issue, but that’s because there’s nothing to crowd.
The one day that’s almost different is Friday the 25th of September. The wind drops to a light 6 mph from the south, still onshore but barely a breeze, and we get a 2ft SW swell with a 19-second period and 518 energy. That long groundswell period will make for some real lulls between sets, but on a point break like this, it could link up. It’s still just a “marginal” call, but it’s the closest we get to a usable wave in the whole 16 days. If you’re desperate, that’s your only shot.
This is a tough outlook, mates. A blank run is more normal for this area when the wind sets in, but it never stays this poor forever. Keep an eye on the forecasts because things can flip.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 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 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
628 | 418 | 407 | 297 | 264 | 224 | 187 | 253 | 213 | 177 | 169 | 169 | 161 | 366 | 310 | 496 | 365 | 346 | 336 | 221 | 208 | |
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 | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:01PM1.23m | 4:30AM1.46m | 4:44PM1.28m | 5:04AM1.44m | 5:25PM1.30m | 5:36AM1.38m | 6:04PM1.28m | 6:06AM1.29m | 6:43PM1.24m | 6:36AM1.18m | 7:23PM1.17m | 7:05AM1.08m | 8:08PM1.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:17AM0.25m | 10:12PM0.12m | 10:52AM0.19m | 10:52PM0.15m | 11:25AM0.16m | 11:30PM0.21m | 11:57AM0.15m | 00:08AM0.29m | 12:28PM0.18m | 00:44AM0.38m | 12:59PM0.23m | 1:21AM0.48m | 1:31PM0.29m | 2:00AM0.58m | |||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SW 15 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | S 8 | SW 18 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
206 | 418 | 245 | 257 | 218 | 208 | 168 | 130 | 92 | 89 | 87 | 155 | 161 | 366 | 177 | 151 | 365 | 346 | 113 | 221 | 208 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | NW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | SW 21 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 12 | SW 24 | SW 14 | WSW 23 | WSW 21 |
628 | 5 | 407 | 297 | 31 | 18 | 27 | 43 | 95 | 57 | 80 | 59 | 86 | 35 | 310 | 496 | 3 | 22 | 336 | 50 | 45 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | SW 20 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 11 | WNW 11 | WSW 21 | SW 21 | NW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | SW 10 | WSW 13 | W 12 | SW 24 | W 12 | SW 23 | W 13 | W 11 |
5 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 44 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 159 | 16 | 67 | 3 | 23 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 8 | — | — | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | S 8 | — | — | S 8 | S 9 | — | S 8 | S 8 |
— | 245 | — | — | 264 | 224 | 187 | 253 | 213 | 177 | 169 | 169 | — | 210 | — | — | 147 | 181 | — | 108 | 129 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 56 | 493 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 56 | 257 | 563 | 2 | 56 | 563 | 56 | 2 | 563 | 2 | 2 | 563 | 56 | 56 | 493 |
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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.










