El Huaico Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this 16-day window for El Huaico is a real mixed bag of ‘meh’, with a couple of flickers that might get your heart rate up if you’re patient. The water is sitting at a toasty 71°, which is a solid 8° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

We kick off on Saturday, 18th July. The morning has a bit of 4ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (471), but the wind is cross-on at 6 mph. It’s rideable, but the wave comment sums it up: marginal. It’s a tough start. That afternoon, the energy jumps to 632, but the score drops to zero – the conditions are just poor. Sunday, 19th, sees a slight bump to 5ft from the SW, and the period stretches to 13 seconds, giving a solid energy reading of 857. Still, the cross-on breeze is there, and it’s only a 2/10. The same story rolls through Monday, 20th, and Tuesday, 21st – 4ft to 4ft of swell, light cross-on winds, and all the scores are stuck at 1 or 2. It’s frustrating.

Then we hit Wednesday, 22nd July. The morning brings a shift – the wind turns on from the W at 6 mph, and we get a 5ft swell from the S. The problem is the period drops to just 7 seconds. That’s short-period, weak windswell. The energy is moderate (441), but it’s not going to have any punch. Thursday, 23rd, is a weird one: a 2ft swell from the SW with a massive 24-second period (energy 816). That’s a very long period groundswell, but it’s tiny. At a reef break like El Huaico, that long period might wrap in nicely, but with only 2ft, it’s barely breaking. The wind is offshore in the morning, though, so if you’re desperate for a clean knee-high slide, it’s your best bet.

Honestly, the first week and a bit are a grind. There’s a long gap of nothing really happening until we get towards the end of July.

The real standout, the one that’s worth marking on the calendar, is Monday, 28th July. The morning session shows a 7ft swell from the SW, with a period of 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The energy reading is a strong 1829. The wind is cross-on at 6 mph, but it’s light. That’s a big, powerful swell for a reef break. It’s going to be hollow and punchy. Now, 7ft is getting into the expert zone, so if you’re not confident, maybe give it a miss. The afternoon holds at 7ft with 15 seconds and 1826 energy. That’s the best the forecast has to offer. The Tuesday, 29th, is still solid at 6ft to 5ft, but it’s a step down.

After that, the swell drops off fast. By Thursday, 30th July, we’re back to 4ft, and then into the first week of August, it’s all under 3ft with poor scores. The second week is a long, drawn-out fade.

So, if you’re keen, focus on the 28th and 29th of July. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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