Ixtapa Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the stretch ahead for Ixtapa Island. The water’s a balmy 89.1°F, which is a lot warmer than we’d normally expect for this time of year – over 3.6°F above average, so you can leave the spring suit at home.

We kick things off on Monday morning, July 20th. It’s a proper glass-off with no wind, and a clean 4.3ft swell rolling in from the southwest. The period is a long 16 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell with plenty of energy (1034). That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but because it’s an inconsistent reef break, you’ll want to be patient between sets. The crowd factor is “sometimes” so you might have a few others out there, but nothing too hectic. The glassy conditions are a major positive here.

The swell drops off a touch for Tuesday morning, July 21st, with a 3.6ft southwest swell still holding a decent 14-second period. It’s glassy again with only a slight air, so the wave quality will still be very good. The energy is still moderate (757).

Wednesday morning, July 22nd, is a write-off for the morning with a light cross-shore wind, but the afternoon turns glassy again with a 3ft swell from the southwest. The period is still 14 seconds, so it’ll be clean but on the smaller side.

Thursday morning, July 23rd, is another glassy morning with a 3ft swell, but the direction shifts slightly to the west-southwest and the period drops to 11 seconds. Still clean, but the energy is getting lighter (426).

Now, Friday morning, July 24th, is a bit of a wild card. The swell height is only 2.3ft, but the period jumps up to a massive 24 seconds. That’s an incredibly long-period groundswell, and the energy is strong (925). It’s glassy, so it’ll be clean, but with that kind of period, it’s prone to breaking a bit straight on the reef. Not a standout for shape, but the energy is undeniable.

The real standout window opens up on Saturday morning, July 25th. We’ve got a 3.6ft southwest swell with a 21-second period, and the energy is strong (1437). The wind is glassy from the east. This is the best on offer for the first week: a long, clean groundswell with plenty of grunt for experienced surfers. The afternoon sees the swell bump up to 5.2ft, but a cross-onshore wind kicks in, so it’s the morning sesh you want.

Sunday morning, July 26th, is also excellent. A 5.2ft southwest swell, 18-second period, glassy conditions, and the energy is still strong (1895). This is right up there.

Monday morning, July 27th, the swell holds at 4.6ft from the south-southwest, and the wind is a light cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is very strong (2077). Another top-tier morning.

Tuesday morning, July 28th, brings a 6.6ft south-southwest swell with a 17-second period. This is getting into the expert-only territory, as it’s over 5ft. It’s glassy, and the energy is very strong (2426). This is a heavy, powerful wave for the experienced crew.

Wednesday morning, July 29th, is still excellent with a 5.6ft south-southwest swell, glassy, and strong energy (1487).

Thursday morning, July 30th, the swell drops to 4.9ft, but it’s still glassy with a 14-second period and strong energy (1037). Another good morning.

Friday morning, July 31st, the swell is back up to 5.9ft from the south-southwest, glassy, and the energy is strong (1358). This is a solid morning for experts. The afternoon turns into a stormy mess, so get out early.

The first week of August sees a change. Saturday, August 1st, is a write-off with strong, lumpy cross-onshore winds and a small, weak swell. Sunday, August 2nd, is cleaner with a light cross-offshore wind, but the swell is down to 2.3ft. Monday, August 3rd, brings a moderate offshore wind, but the swell is still small at 2.3ft to 3ft. The energy is weak.

Tuesday morning, August 4th, the swell picks up again to 3.9ft from the west, with a 12-second period and glassy conditions. The energy is moderate (581). A decent end to the run, but nothing like the earlier week.

The best surf by far is the period from Saturday, July 25th, through to Wednesday, July 29th. The mornings are all glassy with long-period, strong southwest groundswells. That’s your window.

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