Ixtapa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up here in Ixtapa.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming through, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The first real action kicks off on Monday the 27th of July, but conditions are rough. The swell is already pushing 6ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at a strong 2099. The problem? It’s a messy cross-on shore wind, and the water is a balmy 89°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Not the day to paddle out unless you’re desperate.

The standout window is Tuesday the 28th of July. Tuesday morning is pure magic. The swell holds at 7ft from the SSW, still with that long 17-second period, and the energy is massive at 2425. But the wind? It’s glassy, dead calm from the NE. That’s expert territory at 7ft, but for those in the know, it’s going to be clean, powerful, and lined up. Tuesday afternoon stays glassy too, with a 16-second period. This is the best on offer—no question.

By Wednesday the 29th, the swell drops a touch to 6ft, but the wind turns onshore and we get risk of thunderstorms. It’s still surfable, but it’s not the same quality. Thursday the 30th morning cleans up again with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, and the swell is 5ft with a 14-second period. That’s a solid, clean day for experienced surfers, but the energy is dropping to 1017.

From Friday the 31st into the weekend, the swell fades. Friday morning is glassy with 4ft, but the energy is down to 596. By Saturday the 1st of August, it’s dropping to 3ft, and the afternoon gets choppy with a 12 mph cross-on wind. Sunday the 2nd of August morning is glassy but tiny at 2ft.

There’s a long gap of small, weak surf from the 1st through the 5th of August. Mornings offer glassy conditions but the swell is barely there, often under 3ft. The energy is weak, in the 200–300 range. Not worth paddling for.

The next real pulse comes on Friday the 7th of August. Morning sees 3ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, clean cross-offshore wind, and energy climbing back to 671. That’s a good sign. Saturday the 8th of August morning is glassy with 4ft and a 15-second period—clean and promising. Then Sunday the 9th of August morning gets a clean offshore wind from the NNE with 4ft, and the energy is 569.

The second highlight window is Tuesday the 11th of August. Tuesday morning is glassy, with a 4ft SW groundswell, a very long 19-second period, and energy at 1130. That’s a powerful, clean morning for experts. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 4ft, but the wind turns onshore from the south. Still, the morning of the 11th is a real gem if you’re looking ahead.

Overall, Ixtapa is a fairly consistent spot. The best windows are the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July, and the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August. Both deliver glassy conditions, solid SSW swell, and serious energy. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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