Ixtapa Surf Break

Lat Long: 17.66° N 101.61° W

Ixtapa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Ixtapa sea temperature is
31.5°C
2.2° 

Ixtapa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Ixtapa surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with 969 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ixtapa this week:

The surf forecast for Ixtapa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Ixtapa in the next 16 days are 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sun 13th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 15th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 18s
Most Powerful 3AM (Wed 16th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ixtapa over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let's get into it. The long-range picture for Ixtapa shows we've got a slow start, but there's some real potential hiding in the mornings if you play it right. Right now, it's looking like the afternoons are mostly going to be a write-off with onshore breezes and messy conditions, so your best bet is to get up early and catch the glass.

For the first couple of days, Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th, the surf is pretty underwhelming. We're looking at small, weak swell around 2ft to 3ft, and the energy is nothing to write home about. The water is 89° with the anomaly being much warmer than normal, so it feels like a bath out there. Saturday afternoon is a no-go, but Sunday morning has that glassy wind and a bit of a pulse, but it's still small. It's more of a longboard or a foamie kind of session if you're desperate.

Now, here's where it starts to get interesting. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, the mornings are looking clean with light offshore or glassy conditions. The swell bumps up slightly to 3ft to 4ft, and the period stretches out to 17-18 seconds. That's some proper groundswell, and it's going to make the waves feel a lot more solid than the size suggests. The energy is climbing into the moderate range, around 572 to 897. This is where you want to be out there on the points and reefs, because that long period stuff can get a bit straight at the beach break. Tuesday morning is a standout for the early part of the week.

The middle stretch, from Wednesday the 16th through Friday the 18th, keeps the morning windows decent. Swell holds around 4ft to 4ft with a period that drops back to 14-16 seconds. It's still surfable, and the mornings are consistently glassy. The afternoons remain pretty average with cross-onshore winds, so stick to the dawn patrol. This isn't world-class, but it’s consistent.

Then we get to the good stuff. Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st are the highlights of this whole forecast. On the 20th, you've got a clean 4ft southwest swell with a 19-second period, and light cross-offshore winds. The energy jumps to 1069, which is a solid jump. This is looking like the pick of the week. Then Monday the 21st rolls in with 4ft of southwest swell, 17-second period, and glassy conditions in the morning. Energy is even higher at 1139. The winds are light and variable, and it should be all-time for the area. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, the energy starts to fade a bit as we get into the following week. The mornings from the 23rd to the 25th still have some clean windows, but the swell drops back to around 4ft, and the period shortens to 13-15 seconds. It's still fun, but the power is waning. The last couple of days, the 26th and the 27th, see the swell dip down to 2ft to 3ft, though the period recovers to 17-19 seconds on the 26th afternoon and 27th. It’s small but clean in the mornings, so a longboard will be your friend to finish out the run.

Overall, the standout is definitely the Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st mornings. Get on it early. The crowds aren't always a problem, but I'd expect some company if the waves are as good as they look.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
2
0
2
3
1
4
3
2
4
3
1
3
3
1
3
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
0.9
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
1.1
SW
18
1.1
SW
17
1.2
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
14
0.8
SW
20
0.8
SW
20
0.8
SW
19
0.9
SW
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
272
212
178
236
293
444
375
760
663
771
853
778
584
561
638
487
469
455
450
502
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
10
NNW
5
ENE
10
S
10
E
5
ENE
15
S
0
NE
10
NNE
10
WSW
10
NNE
5
NW
15
WSW
10
NW
5
NNW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
S
5
W
5
ESE
Wind State
on
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
glassy
on
glassy
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
10:56PM0.45m
7:42AM0.56m
8:08PM0.39m
7:09AM0.64m
7:04PM0.40m
7:19AM0.71m
7:05PM0.42m
7:39AM0.76m
7:17PM0.44m
8:01AM0.78m
7:31PM0.46m
8:23AM0.78m
7:42PM0.48m
Low Tide
4:18PM0.34m
00:55AM0.45m
3:24PM0.34m
11:29PM0.37m
2:35PM0.32m
11:58PM0.29m
2:26PM0.29m
00:25AM0.22m
2:31PM0.28m
00:50AM0.16m
2:39PM0.28m
1:12AM0.12m
2:48PM0.29m
1:33AM0.09m
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:51
6:50
6:49
6:47
6:47
6:46
6:45
 mm
1
1
3
1
11
1
14
8
Temp °C
31
29
31
31
28
30
30
29
29
30
28
30
30
29
30
31
29
27
29
27
Feels °C
35
35
34
34
33
34
33
35
33
32
32
33
33
34
34
35
35
30
32
32
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Ixtapa Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Ixtapa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ixtapa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ixtapa surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Ixtapa) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Ixtapa may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Ixtapa is 7 km (4 miles) from Zihuatanejo. If you plan a holiday in Guerrero, look for hotels and other accommodation in Zihuatanejo. Zihuatanejo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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