El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for El Palito.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a tough watch for anyone wanting to get wet at El Palito. The overall pattern is one of tiny, weak energy and mostly poor surf conditions. There’s a real dry spell here. After a couple of marginal pulses right at the start, we’re looking at a long gap from the end of August all the way through to the first few days of September with basically nothing rideable. It’s not until the 4th of September that we see a little bump, but it’s still not great.

The first bit of action – if you can call it that – is Friday morning, August 28th. We’ve got a small NE swell pushing in at 3ft, with a short, weak period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a meager 60, so it’s pretty gutless. The wind is light and offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, which would keep things clean, but the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about. By the afternoon, the swell drops away completely.

The water temperature is sitting at 83°, which is about normal for this time of year. Nothing to report there.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are more of the same – tiny, weak pulses with cross-onshore winds messing up any chance of a clean wave. Monday morning the 31st does offer a moment of glassy conditions with no wind, but again, the swell is only 1ft with a period of 12 seconds. That long period on a beach and breakwater setup like El Palito means the waves will be straight and hard to ride. The energy is only 53. It’s a tease.

Then we hit a big gap. From Monday afternoon on the 31st all the way through to the morning of Thursday, September 4th, there is literally zero swell showing. Nada. The board stays in the car. A few of those mornings have light offshore winds, but with no waves, it doesn't matter.

Finally, on Friday morning, September 4th, a small pulse returns: 2ft from the NE, with a period of 6 seconds and energy of 33. The wind is light offshore from the N at 6 mph, so the surface would be clean. But again, it’s tiny, weak, and short-period slop. The afternoon sees that wind swing cross-onshore and chop it up.

There’s another tiny glimmer on Sunday morning, September 6th, with glassy conditions and a 2ft, 6-second swell, but it’s the same story – not enough grunt.

Honestly, if you’re determined to get out, the best on offer is the morning of Friday, August 28th. The wind is clean, the water is warm, and you might snag a few knee-high lumps. It’s a beginner-friendly size, but don't expect any power.

If you’re an expert, there’s nothing here for you. The swell never gets over 5ft, so it’s not big, and the quality is consistently poor. With the constant cross-onshore winds and small, short-period swells, this setup honestly looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

It’s a quiet period for El Palito. A blank run like this is pretty normal for the area when the swell windows are this narrow. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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