El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for us.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window is a bit of a struggle. We've got a long, dry spell with hardly any surf worth talking about. The first real sign of life doesn't show up until the end of the month, and even then, it's not looking like anything to write home about. The whole run is a bit of a waiting game.

Let's start with El Palito. This spot is a beginner-friendly beach and breakwater setup, fairly consistent, but it's not into much in this forecast. The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is about normal for this time of year.

From August 22nd right through to the 29th, it's a write-off. We're seeing tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, the swell energy is in the double digits (43), and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" for every single session. There's nothing to get excited about here.

We get a tiny bump on the 30th of August. The swell picks up a bit to 3ft from the NE, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy climbs to 108, which is moderate, but the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore, and the forecast still says "poor surf conditions." It's a bit of a tease, but with that wind, it's not going to be clean. For a beginner, 3ft is manageable, but the chop will make it a challenge.

After that, it drops back to nothing. From August 31st all the way to September 6th, we're back to zeros and flat spells. There's a brief flicker on the morning of September 6th with 2ft from the NE, but again, the wind is onshore and the energy is weak (39). It's just not doing it.

The only moment that even comes close to a highlight is the morning of August 30th. The swell is a modest 3ft, and the period is 8 seconds – not long, not short. The energy is moderate (108), but with the onshore wind, it's going to be choppy and messy. For a more experienced surfer, it's a maybe, but for the average punter, it's a pass. The crowds can be around sometimes, but honestly, I doubt many will be out for this.

So, to sum it up: we've got a long gap of nothing, then a small, messy window at the end of August that's more of a "maybe if you're desperate" than a "get in the car." The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on the days with more wind. It's a tough outlook, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Read more