Surf Forecasts:
El Gringo surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SSW swell with 2,391 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 20s. 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 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. 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+) | 8AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Gringo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break this down. The water's about 65°, which is a touch warmer than you'd expect for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a little extra comfort.
We're looking at El Gringo, a solid reef setup, for the whole run. There's surf on the menu right from the start, but don't get too excited just yet. Wednesday the 5th kicks off with a 6ft SW swell, but it's got a cross-on wind messing things up. The energy's moderate at best (996), and it's not going to be clean. It stays like that through the week – plenty of swell hanging around the 3ft to 6ft range with some decent 12 to 17 second periods, but the wind just won't play ball. It's mostly onshore or cross-on, making for bumpy, marginal conditions. This isn't the spot for a beginner with these 6ft sets; you'll want to be comfortable out there. The combined energy does jump into four digits on Thursday the 6th afternoon (1476) and Friday the 7th (1382), but the wind keeps the surface chopped up.
The real standout window opens up on Wednesday the 12th. The morning is a write-off with a stiff 9 mph onshore, but the afternoon turns glassy. We've got a clean 6ft SW swell with moderate energy (935), and that glassy surface is a game-changer for a reef break. That afternoon session is the best of the first week by a long shot.
After a few smaller days, there's another promising block. Saturday the 15th afternoon and Sunday the 16th morning both look good, with glassy conditions and clean 3ft to 3ft SW swell. It's small but tidy, perfect for a longboard or a fun fish. Then, looking further ahead to Thursday the 20th of August, we've got what's on the books as excellent for experienced surfers. It's a 5ft SW swell (14 sec period) with the morning glassy. The combined energy is solid at 1187, meaning there's some push behind it. That morning session on the 20th is the pick of the entire outlook – clean, punchy, and proper. But remember, that's long range so it's promising, not guaranteed.
Overall, there's a lot of marginal stuff to sift through. The glassy windows on the 12th afternoon and the 20th morning are your best bets for a proper, clean reef wave.
– Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 899 | 899 | 624 | 536 | 728 | 1363 | 1382 | 1147 | 821 | 734 | 284 | 272 | 435 | 720 | 1079 | 1599 | 1264 | 2391 | 1724 | 1222 | 987 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:15PM0.87m | 2:29AM0.97m | 2:10PM0.78m | 3:35AM1.03m | 3:23PM0.70m | 4:45AM1.10m | 4:49PM0.65m | 5:53AM1.19m | 6:10PM0.66m | 6:54AM1.27m | 7:16PM0.70m | 7:48AM1.34m | 8:12PM0.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:41PM0.23m | 8:45AM0.43m | 8:29PM0.24m | 10:16AM0.43m | 9:27PM0.25m | 11:45AM0.38m | 10:35PM0.24m | 12:57PM0.30m | 11:44PM0.21m | 1:53PM0.23m | 00:49AM0.16m | 2:42PM0.16m | 1:47AM0.12m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 899 | 899 | 624 | 503 | 669 | 1363 | 1382 | 1147 | 821 | 734 | 284 | 272 | 242 | 312 | 1079 | 1599 | 1264 | 2391 | 1724 | 1222 | 987 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 8 | — | — | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | — | — | SW 18 |
| kJ | 97 | 184 | 98 | 536 | 728 | 51 | — | — | 15 | 80 | 228 | 139 | 435 | 720 | 242 | 437 | 767 | — | — | — | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 10 | SW 18 | S 9 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 20 | 252 | 59 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | 208 | 155 | 60 | 234 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 18 | 0 | 52 | 112 | 0 | 52 | 112 | 0 | 52 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 52 | 112 | 0 | 52 | 18 | 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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