Ixtapa Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Ixtapa Island. It’s a reef setup, always a bit of a gamble with consistency, but when it lines up, it’s a beauty. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon, but it’s a game of mornings and patience.

The first call is Tuesday the 14th. Tuesday morning is where it’s at. The water is a balmy 89°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—like stepping into a bath. We’ve got a clean 3ft SSW swell, period at 13 seconds, and the wind is a light NNE breeze at 3 mph, blowing straight offshore. That’s glassy perfection. The combined energy is moderate (700). It’s inconsistent though, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but the ones that come will be lined up.

Tuesday afternoon turns to junk. The wind swings onshore from the SW at 9 mph, turning it choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 15th morning is glassy again with a NNW wind at 3 mph. The swell drops to 2ft from the SW, but with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. Combined energy is moderate (434). It’ll be clean and small, best for a longboard or a fun shape. The island reef should handle that long period nicely.

Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th mornings follow the same recipe: glassy conditions, offshore winds from the NE/ENE, and clean 3ft to 3ft SSW swell. Periods around 12-13 seconds. Nothing huge, but perfect for a smooth session.

Saturday the 18th morning is a standout for the purists. Dead calm, zero wind, glassy as a mirror. Swell is only 2ft, but the period is a massive 19 seconds. That’s a very long, deep groundswell. Combined energy is moderate (344). It’ll be tiny but super clean, and the reef will make the most of that energy.

Sunday the 19th morning is where it starts to get exciting. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SW at 17 seconds, with a glassy north wind. Combined energy is a solid 993—getting up there. This is very good surf, clean and with some push.

Now, Monday the 20th morning is the first real standout. The swell is 5ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and the wind is a glassy N breeze at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong (1212). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers—clean, powerful, and the reef is going to be working. The consistency is still iffy, so you’ll have to be patient, but the waves that come through will be worth the wait.

Things build through the week. Saturday the 25th morning is another highlight. The swell is 3ft, but the period is an incredible 21 seconds from the SSW. That’s a very long groundswell, combined energy is strong (1205), and the wind is a clean offshore NNE at 6 mph. This is excellent for experienced surfers, and the reef will shape those long-period lines beautifully.

The absolute best of the whole 16-day window lands on Monday the 27th. The swell is a solid 10ft from the SSE, period 12 seconds, and it’s glassy as glass with a NNE wind at 3 mph. The combined energy is massive (4356). That’s a lot of water moving. This is excellent for experienced surfers only—it’s going to be big, powerful, and not for the faint-hearted. The reef should hold it, but you’ll want to be on your A-game.

Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th mornings are still good, with 4ft to 5ft SW/SSW swell, 16 seconds, glassy, and combined energy in the strong range (1514, 1573). Excellent surf for experienced surfers.

Overall, the mornings are the go. The afternoons are almost always a write-off with onshore winds. The best bet is Monday the 20th and Monday the 27th—but for the 27th, it’s a big swell, so only for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Rusty.

Read more