
Surf Forecasts:
Ixtapa Island surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, S swell with 3,163 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ixtapa Island this week:
The surf forecast for Ixtapa Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ixtapa Island in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ixtapa Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's coming up for Ixtapa Island. This spot is an inconsistent reef break that can really turn it on when the conditions line up, and we've got a pretty wild run ahead, starting with a bit of a wait.
First up, the water is 89°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – you'll barely need a spring suit, if any.
The opening salvos are nothing to write home about, but Sunday morning the 19th is where we get our first real taste. The swell is a modest 4ft from the SW, but with that 17-second period (a proper groundswell), the combined energy is strong at 1050. What really makes this one shine is the glassy, offshore wind from the NE. For a reef like Ixtapa Island, that is a recipe for clean, lined-up waves. It's a bit long in the period, which can make it pitchy on a beach break but on a reef, it’s a dream. Being inconsistent, you might have to wait your turn, but with only 'sometimes' crowds, it won't be a zoo.
Monday morning the 20th is a similar story – 4ft SW, 16-second period, and glassy NE winds. More of that same clean, quality vibe.
Now, we get a troughy midweek, with messy winds and dropping swell. You'll want to sit that out.
It’s not until Friday morning the 24th that things get interesting again. The swell drops to 2ft from the SW, but the period jumps to an incredible 24 seconds. The energy is still moderate (713), but that's a super long, clean groundswell that will wrap beautifully into the break with glassy NNW winds. For a reef, that's a special morning.
Then we jump to the real standout of the whole period: Sunday morning the 26th. This is the one to circle on your calendar. We're looking at a solid 8ft swell from the SSE with a 12-second period. The combined energy is very strong at 3865, but it's backed by glassy ENE winds. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – solid, powerful, and clean. It's not for beginners; at over 5ft, it's getting serious.
The run continues into Monday the 27th. Morning brings 7ft from the SW with a 16-second period and clean cross-offshore winds (NE). The real highlight of that day is Monday afternoon: 10ft from the SSW with a 16-second period and clean cross-offshore winds. That's expert-only territory, with a combined energy of 5905. If you are an expert, this is the session of the forecast.
Things ease off after that, but we get another solid morning on Wednesday the 29th with 8ft from the WSW and clean cross-offshore winds. Again, experienced surfers only at that size.
Into the second week, the swell backs down but stays clean. Friday morning the 31st offers 5ft from the SSW with clean offshore winds, and the first day of August has a clean, punchy 4ft. The quality drops off toward the end, with smaller, onshore wind-affected afternoons. Overall, that stretch from the 26th to the 29th is the absolute peak, but the glassy windows on the 19th, 20th, and 24th are also worth a paddle.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 22 | SSW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
655 | 648 | 661 | 813 | 793 | 733 | 529 | 471 | 363 | 382 | 288 | 234 | 138 | 138 | 448 | 563 | 485 | 2092 | 974 | 1845 | 1845 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:34PM0.57m | 8:14AM0.63m | 7:11PM0.55m | 8:52AM0.69m | 7:40PM0.53m | 9:25AM0.73m | 8:00PM0.52m | 9:55AM0.73m | 8:11PM0.50m | 10:23AM0.73m | 8:11PM0.50m | 10:49AM0.71m | 8:07PM0.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:46PM0.39m | 1:12AM0.22m | 2:00PM0.39m | 1:40AM0.17m | 2:51PM0.39m | 2:05AM0.12m | 3:29PM0.40m | 2:27AM0.09m | 3:57PM0.41m | 2:47AM0.07m | 4:17PM0.43m | 3:07AM0.05m | 4:30PM0.45m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 7:23 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 3 |
Temp °C | 26 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | SW 24 | SW 22 | SSW 21 | SE 15 | SE 13 | SSE 12 |
655 | 648 | 661 | 813 | 793 | 733 | 529 | 471 | 363 | 382 | 288 | 234 | 121 | 104 | 117 | 563 | 485 | 2092 | 606 | 1288 | 1657 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
321 | 297 | 301 | 178 | 224 | 276 | 222 | 166 | 163 | 106 | 104 | 103 | 138 | 138 | 136 | 94 | 81 | 56 | 974 | 1845 | 1845 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 4 | WSW 8 | WNW 15 | W 5 | W 5 | WSW 8 | S 11 | S 9 | SW 24 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 13 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 |
74 | 128 | 84 | 59 | 37 | 35 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 40 | 87 | 38 | 448 | 56 | 53 | 134 | 78 | 82 | 73 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 10 | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — |
— | 18 | — | — | — | 6 | 13 | 14 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 238 | 0 | 0 | 501 | 0 | 2 | 529 | 22 | 39 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 533 | 0 | 0 | 688 | 7 | 7 | 533 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guerrero | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ixtapa Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ixtapa Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ixtapa Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ixtapa Island 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 (Ixtapa Island) 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 Ixtapa Island 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.
Ixtapa Island is 9 km (6 miles) from Zihuatanejo. If you plan a holiday in Guerrero, look for hotels and other accommodation in Zihuatanejo. Zihuatanejo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










