
Surf Forecasts:
Hornitos surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, SW swell with 383 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hornitos this week:
The surf forecast for Hornitos over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hornitos in the next 16 days are 1.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hornitos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again – putting it in feet and degrees for the old-timers.
To get right to it, this whole run is more about small clean windows than anything firing. The water’s a warm 19° or 66° – a good 3° warmer than normal for September. That's seriously mild.
We start off on Friday the 11th with a bit of a letdown. Hornitos is getting a 2-3 ft swell from the Southwest with a 13-second period, but a 12 mph cross-onshore wind blows the surface up. It’s just ugly.
Saturday morning the 12th is where the first call is. The wind drops to a total glass – 3 mph – around a 3 ft SW swell with a nice 12-second period. The energy's moderate at 248. This is the only good session before the wind kicks onshore in the afternoon (15 mph). A small-wave special with perfect shape. Crowds are possible, but worth it.
Sunday the 13th looks similar: a glassy morning with a 4 ft SW swell, but the period's shorter at 9 seconds. The water is "ordinary" again. Afternoon’s onshore wind does it in.
Monday morning the 14th – we got one that counts. Yes, the face height is only about 2 ft, but the period is 18 seconds – that's a serious groundswell. The energy is strong (447). Glassy conditions and a long-period SW swell like this will want to produce long, smooth walls at Hornitos (it's fairly exposed, suited to reefs). This is the best of the whole outlook. It's a standout. Be there early.
Tuesday the 14th – another glass-off in the morning, 3 ft swell from the SW at a long 14 seconds. Clean surf expected (360 energy), then it’s gone again wind.
After that, from Wednesday the 16th all the way to Saturday the 19th, it’s small and weak. Face heights dip to around 2 ft to 3 ft, and the energy drops to between 78 – 252. The wind relations often turn the afternoons into a cross-onshore mess. Not much.
Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st – a little more size returns (3 ft), but the period starts to fade (8 to 9 seconds). Glassy mornings, still average.
From Tuesday the 22nd through to Saturday the 26th – it's consistent but small. Every morning is glassy with very short mush-busters: 2 ft to 3 ft from the SW, but the period can't get longer. The energy stays in the low-to-mid double digits (maximum 212).
The one true standout without question is Monday morning the 14th at Hornitos. That 18-second pulse of long groundswell in glassy conditions will be the wave to chase.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
208 | 124 | 169 | 383 | 318 | 217 | 200 | 166 | 246 | 211 | 287 | 293 | 241 | 205 | 205 | 205 | 132 | 116 | 71 | 65 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:44PM1.01m | 10:54AM1.15m | 11:22PM1.06m | 11:32AM1.05m | 00:00AM1.08m | 12:11PM0.94m | 00:39AM1.07m | 12:50PM0.82m | 1:20AM1.03m | 1:34PM0.71m | 2:07AM0.97m | 2:26PM0.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:41PM-0.03m | 4:42AM0.05m | 5:13PM-0.00m | 5:28AM0.07m | 5:45PM0.04m | 6:14AM0.11m | 6:15PM0.10m | 7:02AM0.17m | 6:47PM0.17m | 7:55AM0.24m | 7:20PM0.24m | 8:59AM0.30m | 7:59PM0.30m | |||||||
— | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
7:32 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 7 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
208 | 124 | 73 | 383 | 318 | 217 | 200 | 166 | 130 | 101 | 287 | 293 | 241 | 205 | 205 | 205 | 132 | 116 | 71 | 65 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 13 | NW 12 | SW 12 | NW 12 | NW 12 | WSW 18 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 3 | SW 4 |
7 | 6 | 169 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 98 | 129 | 246 | 211 | 79 | 61 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 25 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 21 | NW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | NW 12 | NW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | NW 12 | WSW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 11 | SSW 7 | WSW 14 |
— | 9 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 71 | 105 | 57 | 6 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
56 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 305 | 179 | 0 | 305 | 221 | 0 | 305 | 305 | 0 | 305 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 305 | 0 | 0 | 305 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Antofagasta | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Chile | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Hornitos Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Hornitos provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hornitos can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hornitos 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 (Hornitos) 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 Hornitos 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.
Hornitos is 22 km (14 miles) from the city of Mejillones. If you plan a holiday in Antofagasta, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mejillones. Mejillones has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










