Surf Forecasts:
El Gringo surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, SSW swell with 1,245 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Gringo this week:
The surf forecast for El Gringo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Gringo in the next 16 days are 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Gringo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty checking in with a look at the surf ahead for our local spot, El Gringo.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a slow burn. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty average conditions. The swell is mostly from the SSW, which is okay, but the energy is all over the place. The water is sitting at 65° and feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus for the wait.
The first real standout I can see is a window on Tuesday the 18th. The morning session is looking like the pick of the bunch. You’ll get a 4ft SSW swell with a period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy is a moderate 676. The kicker here is the wind: it’s going to be glassy, dead calm. That means the reef at El Gringo should be clean and organized. Keep in mind, this spot is a fairly consistent reef break that’s best for advanced surfers, and it can get crowded sometimes. The optimum swell direction here is from the SW, and this one is close enough to work well.
After that, we’re looking at a long quiet period. The surf drops off significantly. For a few days right around the 22nd, the swell energy is barely registering with values down in the 170s and 200s, and the waves are tiny. It’s pretty poor. There’s a tiny little bump on the 24th with some glassy 3ft waves, but it’s not going to get the heart racing.
The outlook for the second week doesn’t change much. You get a few mornings with clean, glassy conditions on the 25th and 26th, but the swell is still small and the period is short. The energy is modest, with values around 392 and 502. It’s surfable, but definitely not a standout. You’ll be scratching for waves.
Rusty signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1724 | 1245 | 902 | 934 | 692 | 575 | 427 | 607 | 560 | 813 | 693 | 614 | 529 | 485 | 591 | 380 | 267 | 595 | 472 | 485 | 528 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:12PM0.76m | 8:38AM1.37m | 9:03PM0.83m | 9:25AM1.37m | 9:50PM0.88m | 10:09AM1.32m | 10:37PM0.93m | 10:51AM1.24m | 11:23PM0.97m | 11:32AM1.13m | 00:10AM0.98m | 12:13PM1.00m | 00:58AM0.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:42PM0.16m | 1:47AM0.12m | 3:25PM0.12m | 2:42AM0.10m | 4:06PM0.09m | 3:34AM0.11m | 4:45PM0.09m | 4:24AM0.14m | 5:22PM0.11m | 5:15AM0.20m | 5:58PM0.15m | 6:08AM0.27m | 6:34PM0.19m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 1724 | 1245 | 902 | 934 | 692 | 575 | 419 | 322 | 560 | 813 | 693 | 614 | 529 | 485 | 591 | 380 | 244 | 595 | 472 | 485 | 210 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | — | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 289 | 261 | 220 | — | 37 | 186 | 427 | 607 | 179 | 124 | 90 | 62 | 43 | 39 | 22 | 229 | 212 | 137 | 99 | 62 | 528 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | — | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | SW 16 | — | S 8 | S 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 68 | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 267 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 12 | 5 | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 143 | 0 | 143 | 112 | 0 | 194 | 143 | 0 | 143 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 194 | 112 | 0 | 143 | 79 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Atacama | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Gringo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Gringo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Gringo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Gringo 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 (El Gringo) 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 El Gringo 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.
El Gringo is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Arica. If you plan a holiday in Atacama, look for hotels and other accommodation in Arica. Arica has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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