Surf Forecasts:
Hornitos surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,066 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hornitos in the next 16 days are 2.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hornitos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, Rusty here again, giving you the same outlook but in feet and miles per hour for those who think that way.
First up, Hornitos. The first few days are a bit of a dud for a proper paddle. This is a consistent spot, so it’s not a total dead zone, but we’ve got to wait for the good stuff.
The best window is Friday the 28th of August, with a solid pulse of long-period SW groundswell. Wave heights hit around 7 ft to 7 ft, and the swell period is a very long 15 seconds. That’s real groundswell, and with the combined energy hitting 1835, there’s some serious power in the water. This is not a beginner wave – over 8 ft and it’s for experts only, so this is in the solid intermediate to expert range. The wind is looking light and onshore through the morning, so the surface might be a bit lumpy, but the water temp is about average for the time of year, so no complaints. Because the swell direction is straight SW, and the optimum for Hornitos is SW, this is a great match. Just know, with a long period like this, the waves will be more powerful and have longer lulls between sets, which makes paddling out easier, but the sets themselves will be meaty. Crowds are a possibility, so get in early.
The run-up to that Friday is quiet. Tuesday 25th through Thursday 27th we’ve got tiny, weak swell. The waves are barely 1 ft to 3 ft, with poor energy (90 to 319) and the wind is cross-on or onshore, so it’s flat and choppy. Not worth a second look.
After the Friday peak, the swell backs off but stays rideable through the weekend. Saturday 29th still has 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell, but the energy is dropping (784 to 968) and the wind stays cross-on. It’s marginal but still a fun option if Friday was too big. The next week, from Monday 1st September onward, it’s a slow grind. The swell drops to around 4 ft to 5 ft, and the periods get shorter. The combined energy is moderate (376 to 517), and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, so the surf will be messy and inconsistent. The best of that second week looks like Thursday 3rd of September, where a 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell shows up with a very long 17 second period. That’s a long-range groundswell, and the energy is moderate (664 to 803), but it’s a tiny wave. The wind is light onshore, so it might be clean but small.
Then on Sunday 6th September, we see another bump in size – 5 ft SW swell with a 15 second period and energy around 1133. That’s got some promise, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecast. The wind looks cross-on again, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the only other standout in the second week.
So, to wrap it up – the absolute best surf is Friday 28th August. It’s a solid, powerful SW groundswell with good period, and it’s the only day that really stands out. The rest of the time, you’re looking at marginal, choppy, or small conditions. This spot is consistent, so it won’t stay poor forever, but for now, circle that Friday and hope the wind cleans up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue night, min 17°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
31 | 68 | 63 | 56 | 99 | 158 | 101 | 129 | 169 | 1775 | 1835 | 1667 | 1126 | 961 | 784 | 637 | 488 | 464 | 505 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:50AM1.07m | 8:20PM0.68m | 8:26AM1.12m | 8:53PM0.73m | 8:58AM1.15m | 9:24PM0.79m | 9:29AM1.16m | 9:56PM0.85m | 10:01AM1.13m | 10:28PM0.91m | 10:32AM1.08m | 11:02PM0.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:07AM0.25m | 2:42PM0.15m | 1:48AM0.20m | 3:10PM0.12m | 2:25AM0.16m | 3:37PM0.09m | 3:02AM0.14m | 4:03PM0.07m | 3:40AM0.13m | 4:28PM0.06m | 4:18AM0.14m | 4:55PM0.07m | 5:00AM0.16m | ||||||
— | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
6:28 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
31 | 68 | 63 | 55 | 99 | 158 | 101 | 129 | 169 | 1775 | 1835 | 1667 | 1126 | 961 | 784 | 637 | 488 | 464 | 505 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SSW 12 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 9 | WSW 19 | NW 14 | — | — | NW 13 | NW 13 | — | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 12 | SW 20 |
8 | 14 | 14 | 56 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 146 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | WSW 9 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 5 | SW 5 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | NW 12 |
20 | 8 | 21 | 30 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 61 | 305 | 305 | 0 | 78 | 78 | 0 | 127 | 303 | 0 | 127 | 299 | 0 | 172 | 305 | 0 | 305 | 305 | 4 |
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.











