Surf Forecasts:
El Palito surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, NE swell with 116 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Palito this week:
The surf forecast for El Palito over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Palito in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Palito over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, listen up. Rusty here. I’ve had a good look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak stretch for a paddle. We’re looking at a long gap of poor surf quality right through, with no real standout days.
The first bit of surf that’s even worth mentioning shows up on Monday the 17th of August at El Palito. It’s a beach and breakwater setup, fairly exposed to the swell. The water’s sitting at 83°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there. But the waves? Honestly, it’s a struggle. We’ve got a weak NE swell coming in at 3 ft, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is pretty feeble at 73, and with a cross-on breeze from the ENE at 9 mph, it’s just choppy and messy. The forecast says “poor surf conditions,” and that’s the truth. This one’s a beginner-level spot, but even then, it’s not going to be much fun.
The next few days don’t get any better. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are more of the same – tiny waves around 2 ft to 2 ft, that short period, and winds that are either cross-on or glassy but with no real push. Wednesday morning actually goes glassy, with zero wind, but the swell is only 2 ft and the energy is down at 33. It’s pretty but there’s nothing to ride. Then from Thursday the 20th right through to Sunday the 30th, we hit a dead zone. Day after day of no surfable swell, just flat lines and cross-onshore winds. There’s a tiny flicker of life on Saturday the 29th morning with a 3 ft NE swell and 6-second period, but with a cross-on breeze, it’s still poor. The energy is a bit higher at 81, but it’s not enough to save it.
We finally get a hint of something on Monday the 31st of August. The morning session sees a glassy surface with a light NNE breeze and a small 2 ft swell from the NE, period of 6 seconds. The energy is weak at 33. It’s glassy, which is lovely, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. The afternoon goes cross-on and it’s back to poor conditions. That’s about it for the whole run.
Honestly, there’s nothing here that I’d call a standout. The swell is consistently small, short-period, and the winds are mostly onshore or cross-on. If you’re desperate for a paddle on a flat day, maybe the glassy mornings on the 19th or the 31st could give you a few ankle-biters, but don’t expect anything worth writing home about. The setup at El Palito with the onshore winds and weak swell might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than for a proper surf.
Keep your eyes on the forecasts, because it can’t stay this poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 58 | 41 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:56PM0.33m | 6:51AM0.16m | 6:28PM0.34m | 7:54AM0.13m | 7:03PM0.34m | 7:39PM0.35m | 8:18PM0.35m | 8:58PM0.36m | 9:38PM0.37m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 2:59AM0.13m | 9:45AM0.14m | 3:52AM0.09m | 9:31AM0.12m | 4:34AM0.06m | 5:13AM0.04m | 5:49AM0.03m | 6:25AM0.03m | ||||||||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | |
mm | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 |
69 | 58 | 41 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 39 | 68 | 75 | 108 | 75 | 89 | 131 | 131 | 102 | 128 | 104 | 97 | 124 | 76 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 124 | 0 | 77 | 124 | 21 | 77 | 124 | 5 | 124 | 124 | 5 | 124 | 124 | 4 | 124 | 124 | 4 | 20 | 124 | 46 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Zona del Centro | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Venezuela | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Palito Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Palito provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Palito can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Palito 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 Palito) 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 Palito 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 Palito is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of El Palito. If you plan a holiday in Zona del Centro, look for hotels and other accommodation in El Palito. El Palito has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











