Ixtapa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ in Ixtapa over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a classic southern hemi run setting up, and for a change, a lot of it lines up with the kind of wind that’ll keep things clean.

The first couple of days are a bit messy thanks to stormy afternoons and cross-onshore breezes, but once we hit Tuesday the 7th, everything starts clicking. The water’s sitting at a balmy 89°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bath, just how we like it.

The standout window kicks off Tuesday morning, the 7th of July. It’s not the biggest swell, but at 6ft from the SSW with a very long 18-second period, that’s real groundswell energy, and the combined energy is pumping at 1802 (strong wave energy). The wind is glassy from the ENE – that’s the ticket for clean lines. This is for experienced surfers though; 6ft with that kind of weight will be too much for beginners after the first few waves.

Wednesday the 8th keeps the run going. Morning glass-off with a N wind, still 5ft from the SSW, period dropping slightly to 16 seconds, energy still strong at 1295. This is another excellent window for those who know what they’re doing. Both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the true standouts here. The wind is offshore or glassy, the swell is solid, and the period is long enough to give you proper shaped waves.

Thursday the 9th is still very good in the morning – 5ft, 15-second period from the SSW, and a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW keeping things clean (913 energy). Friday the 10th is a dead calm glass-off in the morning, 4ft from the SSW, but the period is still a healthy 15 seconds. That’s a dreamy dawny for the experienced crew.

We roll into a solid stretch of mornings through the weekend and into the start of the next week. Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th both serve up glassy mornings with clean 4ft surf from the SSW, periods holding at 15 seconds. The energy drops into the 706 to 660 range (moderate wave energy), but the quality stays high thanks to the wind.

Monday the 13th to Tuesday the 14th offer more morning glass, though the swell starts to back off to around 3ft to 3ft, with periods dropping to 13 seconds. Late Tuesday afternoon, the wind swings around and messes things up.

Now, for the second week: a pulse of bigger swell shows up on Wednesday the 15th of July – 6ft to 7ft from the S/SSW, but the wind is onshore and strong, making it a lumpy mess. Not worth your time. But Thursday the 16th morning is the hidden gem in this second week. We’ve got a clean cross-offshore breeze from the E, 7ft from the SSW, with a 12-second period and combined energy of 1408 (strong wave energy). That’s excellent for experienced surfers – a proper heavy day if you’ve got the skills.

After that, the swell drops off for the weekend. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th mornings are clean but small, around 4ft to 3ft. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th bring back that glassy SSW groundswell at 3ft to 4ft with very long periods again (16-17 seconds). The energy is moderate in the 600-700 range, but these are clean, easy mornings for anyone wanting a long glide. The very long period will make it a bit walled up on the beach breaks, but Ixtapa’s setup usually handles it well enough.

Tuesday the 21st wraps it all up with another clean, glassy morning, 4ft from the SW.

All in all, the morning windows are your friend here. If you’re an experienced surfer, get in the water Tuesday the 7th and Wednesday the 8th mornings – that’s as good as it gets. For the second week, Thursday the 16th morning is the big day, but be ready for the power.

Stay stoked, keep your eyes on the horizon, and I’ll catch you in the lineup.

- Rusty

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