El Chanquete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long, quiet period from now until the start of August. For days on end, the swell is tiny and weak, with winds mostly onshore or side-shore. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is a solid 4°F colder than it should be this time of year – that’s a real cold snap, so bring the thick rubber.

There’s a small glimmer of hope on the morning of Monday, August 3rd at El Chanquete. We get a clean 5ft swell from the WSW with a moderate energy reading (152), and a cross-offshore breeze from the NW. It’s surfable, but nothing flash. That’s about the best we get for a while.

Then we grind through more tiny, choppy days until we hit the real standout. The entire stretch from the 5th to the 13th of August is mostly flat or poor conditions.

The one true event in this entire 16-day window is the morning of Friday, August 14th. This is a promising forecast, but it’s a long way off so keep your expectations in check. El Chanquete is looking at a solid 7ft swell from the E. The period is 8 seconds – a short period wind swell – but the energy is massive, clocking in at a huge 1082. The wind is forecast to be glassy, dead calm. Now, here’s the catch: at 7ft, this is expert territory for this break. It’s a beach and reef setup, and with that kind of size, it could get pretty wild. The glassy wind is the big win, promising the cleanest possible conditions, but you need to know what you’re doing. This is not a day for beginners. Given the power and size, keep an eye on the tide and be ready for some big sets.

So, while most of the next two weeks are a write-off for a proper paddle, that Friday the 14th is the real deal on paper. It’s a big, clean, powerful day for experienced surfers only. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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