Ixtapa Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what the next couple of weeks are packing for Ixtapa Island.

We’ve got a nice little run of clean, manageable surf kicking off this Sunday morning. The water is sitting near 89°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—so you’re getting that extra bit of tropical warmth right now. The island reef setup is soaking up a well-directed SSW groundswell through the period.

Sunday morning is the standout early hit. Glassy conditions with a NNE breeze barely 3 mph, and a 3 ft SSW swell rolling in with 14 seconds between pulses. The combined energy is solid moderate at 866, and with that wind state, it’s going to be clean as a whistle. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Through Monday and Tuesday the swell dips a little—around 2 ft to 3 ft—but winds stay light cross-off or even glassy in the mornings on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday morning the 26th is clean with 2 ft SW swell (284 combined energy). Thursday morning the 27th goes glassy again, 2 ft from the SW with a longer 18-second period, turning that little swell into something really fun for a reef break.

Onto Friday 28th August morning, and this is the second true standout: a 4 ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, combined energy at 1081, strong moderate, and clean off a 3 mph NNW cross-off wind. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers—not too big, not too small, and the direction is right on the optimum S flow.

Saturday 29th morning is glassy again with 6 ft SSW groundswell at 16 seconds. Combined energy jumps up to 1611. That’s a fair bit of power but the period is solid. This is a reef break that handles long-period swell real nicely. It’s going to be clean for the experienced crew, but at over 5 ft it’s a bit much for beginners.

There’s a bit of a lull through the first few days of September—Monday 31st to Wednesday 2nd mornings stay clean with 3 to 4 ft SSW swell, periods dropping to 13-16 seconds. Something to paddle out on for sure, but not the standout.

Then Thursday 3rd September morning turns up the volume. Massive 6 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 19-second pulse. Combined energy rockets up to 2551—that's strong wave energy. Glassy calm, offshore perfect. This is the big one for the second week, but it’s over two weeks away so treat it as promising but not a certainty. It’s big enough for experienced surfers only though.

On Friday 4th the swell holds at 7 ft with 17-18 seconds but the wind turns ESE cross-shore, which introduces ripples. Still a lot of energy (2683) but not as clean.

Saturday 5th September morning brings it back to clean with 6 ft SSW at 16 seconds, cross-off light, energy at 1650. Then Sunday 6th and Monday 7th mornings keep a clean front with 6 ft and 4 ft dropping off.

There are no other breaks on the map here, so this Ixtapa Island reef is your only spot. The afternoons almost always get a cross-on or onshore wind that messes with quality, so keep to the mornings for the clean windows.

Crowds can show up here sometimes, so on the standout mornings—especially that Sunday 23rd and Friday 28th—it pays to be early.

That’s the story, mates. Keep your eyes on those glassy dawn windows.

Rusty.

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