Surf Forecasts:
Chicama - El Cape / Keys surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,494 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicama - El Cape / Keys over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, mate, I gotta level with you – it’s a grim stretch ahead. There’s no real standout window for a proper surf session at Chicama - El Cape / Keys. We’re looking at a long, frustrating run of onshore wind and messy conditions pretty much right through to mid-September.
The pattern is set early: strong south winds blowing straight onshore. On Monday the 31st of August, we’ve got some clouds and a 16 mph southerly wind hammering a 4 ft SW swell. The water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is a whopping 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit. But the wave energy is moderate (422) and the wind is just ruining it. That same story repeats for days: Tuesday the 1st of September, Wednesday the 2nd, all with that dreaded “on” wind state.
There’s a brief flicker of hope on Thursday the 3rd of September morning. The swell picks up a bit to 3 ft from the WSW with a long period of 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps to strong (771) and the wind eases back to a gentle 9 mph SSE breeze. It’s still technically onshore, but that long period will wrap around the point nicely. It’s flagged as only marginal, and with a gentle breeze, you might find a few clean lines, especially if you can work the tide. But don’t get too worked up. By the afternoon the southerly wind is back at 16 mph.
Friday the 4th of September morning shows the biggest raw swell of the whole run: 5 ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and the energy is very strong at 1395. Again, a gentle 9 mph SSW breeze – still onshore, but light enough that the point might hold shape. That’s your best chance, but it’s only a 2 out of 10. It’s still marginal, and the afternoon wind crushes it.
After that, it’s a slow downhill slide. The swell shrinks, the period drops, and by Saturday the 12th of September we’re looking at weak, short-period 4 ft S swells with periods of just 9 seconds. The energy drops to moderate (430) and it’s all blown out anyway. There’s a gap of over a week after the 4th of September where it just doesn’t get good.
So, the only two windows to even think about paddling out are Thursday morning the 3rd and Friday morning the 4th of September. The longer-period groundswell (18 and 16 seconds) will favor the point at Chicama, but that onshore component is always gonna be a fight. Keep your expectations low. The rest of it? Honestly, with that much wind and messy surf, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Stay patient. It can’t stay this poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 19 | SW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
309 | 363 | 277 | 236 | 227 | 188 | 248 | 502 | 541 | 1009 | 929 | 1224 | 1494 | 940 | 821 | 639 | 604 | 386 | 380 | 286 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 6:32PM1.20m | 6:36AM1.29m | 7:15PM1.18m | 7:11AM1.21m | 8:07PM1.13m | 7:51AM1.12m | 9:13PM1.08m | 8:45AM1.02m | 10:42PM1.05m | 10:08AM0.94m | 00:19AM1.09m | 11:51AM0.92m | 1:34AM1.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:32AM0.33m | 1:03PM0.22m | 1:11AM0.41m | 1:41PM0.23m | 1:58AM0.50m | 2:29PM0.27m | 3:00AM0.59m | 3:31PM0.31m | 4:37AM0.66m | 4:58PM0.34m | 6:43AM0.64m | 6:32PM0.30m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 11 | SW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
309 | 363 | 277 | 236 | 77 | 64 | 116 | 502 | 541 | 1009 | 929 | 1224 | 1494 | 940 | 821 | 639 | 604 | 386 | 380 | 286 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 9 | WSW 22 | S 7 | SW 20 | S 9 |
57 | 83 | 154 | 222 | 190 | 119 | 181 | 108 | 89 | 71 | 49 | 128 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 46 | 38 | 186 | 99 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | NW 11 | — | — | — | W 11 | NW 9 | SW 20 | W 10 | SW 18 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 227 | 188 | 248 | 89 | 91 | 24 | 15 | 5 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 138 | 2 | 255 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | S 8 | — |
54 | 76 | 72 | 100 | — | — | 80 | 60 | 50 | 65 | 56 | 43 | 72 | 29 | 39 | 56 | 43 | — | 72 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 563 | 2 | 56 | 563 | 2 | 2 | 541 | 2 | 2 | 563 | 56 | 2 | 493 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in La Libertad and Lambayeque | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











