Surf Forecasts:
El Gringo surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 989 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period with SW 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 10s. 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 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Gringo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and Fahrenheit.
The water’s sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year. That’s a little bonus.
The standout session, the one you don’t miss, is Monday, September 7th morning. El Gringo will be pumping with 3ft of southwest swell, a long 16-second period, and glassy, dead calm conditions. The wave energy is solid (905). Expect clean, lined-up, powerful waves on the reef. Crowds are possible, but the conditions are that good. Expect very good surf.
Tuesday morning, September 8th is another winner: 4ft, glassy, calm, with a 14-second period and energy of 783. Wednesday morning (9th) and Thursday morning (10th) keep the pattern going – 4ft and 4ft, both glassy, with the energy staying up around 800. These mornings are the run.
The afternoons? Onshore wind from the WSW ruins them. Don’t bother.
Into the second week, Monday, September 14th morning is a strong bet: 5ft, glassy, with energy of 641. The period drops to 9 seconds, so it’s more local but still clean. Tuesday, September 15th morning bounces back nicely: 4ft, 16-second period, glassy, with energy of 816.
The rest of the mornings stay rideable with 2ft to 3ft, glassy or light winds, but the energy fades into the 200-300 range. The last good morning is Tuesday, September 22nd, with 3ft, glassy, and a 12-second period (energy 423).
If you’re a beginner, anything over 5ft is a handful, and this reef is for advanced only. The best of the best is Monday the 7th morning. Get it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 508 | 496 | 606 | 590 | 534 | 590 | 526 | 444 | 431 | 763 | 746 | 590 | 410 | 335 | 335 | 273 | 212 | 273 | 213 | 232 | 232 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:17PM0.70m | 7:41AM1.23m | 8:16PM0.78m | 8:34AM1.27m | 9:04PM0.87m | 9:21AM1.27m | 9:49PM0.96m | 10:05AM1.24m | 10:31PM1.03m | 10:45AM1.18m | 11:12PM1.07m | 11:24AM1.09m | 11:52PM1.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:46PM0.26m | 00:45AM0.26m | 2:35PM0.20m | 1:51AM0.21m | 3:17PM0.15m | 2:48AM0.16m | 3:55PM0.11m | 3:40AM0.13m | 4:31PM0.10m | 4:29AM0.14m | 5:04PM0.11m | 5:16AM0.16m | 5:36PM0.14m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 279 | 274 | 606 | 590 | 534 | 590 | 526 | 444 | 431 | 763 | 746 | 590 | 410 | 335 | 335 | 114 | 212 | 273 | 213 | 232 | 232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 8 | NW 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | W 11 | SSW 6 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 508 | 496 | 209 | 132 | 137 | 90 | 64 | 297 | 306 | 35 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 2 | 35 | 273 | 207 | 200 | 127 | 121 | 90 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | — | SW 20 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 9 | W 11 | NW 11 | — | W 12 | W 12 | S 23 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 20 |
| kJ | 118 | 118 | — | 61 | 3 | 215 | 155 | 62 | 2 | 5 | — | 3 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 60 | 58 | 50 | 48 | 186 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 9 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 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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