Surf Forecasts:
Ixtapa surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,842 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 1.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ixtapa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s dive into what’s coming up for Ixtapa.
We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead, starting right from Tuesday the 1st of September. The first few days offer a mix of clean, glassy mornings and some punchy afternoon wind. The standout period is shaping up around Thursday the 3rd through to Saturday the 5th – that’s where the real magic happens.
For the best of the best, I’m pointing you at Thursday morning, the 3rd of September. The swell is a solid 5ft from the SSW with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy – around 1617 (moderate-strong) – and with the wind going dead calm, it’s going to be glassy perfection. This is excellent for experienced surfers only; it’s got power and size. For the more advanced crew, Friday morning the 4th is also a top pick with 6ft from the SW, a 17-second period, and glassy conditions again. The energy is up around 1989, so it’s got a serious push. Just remember, these long-period swells (over 15 seconds) can be a bit too straight for the beach breaks, so look for a point or a reef to get the best out of them.
The first week is a classic pattern: dawn patrols are the go. Almost every morning up to the 9th is glassy or with light offshore winds, and the swell stays between 3ft and 6ft. The afternoons mostly get a bit messy with onshore or cross-onshore breezes, so don’t bother with those unless you’re after a choppy session.
Around the 10th to the 12th, the swell drops a little, but the quality holds up on the mornings. The 10th and 11th have clean 4ft to 5ft SSW/SW swells with glassy or cross-off winds – very good conditions for a beginner to intermediate surfer.
From the 13th onwards into the second week, the swell fades into the 2ft to 3ft range. Still plenty of clean, glassy mornings (like the 14th and 16th), and the period hangs around 16 to 18 seconds, so the waves will be lined up but small. It’s more of a longboard or funboard sort of zone then. Not a standout, but still fun for a paddle.
Water temp is about average for this time of year – no big surprises there. It’s a popular spot, so watch for crowds, especially on the mornings when it’s clean.
Stay safe, and get out there for that Thursday morning glass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
357 | 346 | 444 | 261 | 386 | 508 | 295 | 1415 | 1235 | 1417 | 1799 | 1536 | 1498 | 1479 | 1225 | 911 | 911 | 701 | 732 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:04AM0.66m | 7:33PM0.39m | 8:05AM0.73m | 7:00PM0.39m | 8:16AM0.78m | 6:49PM0.43m | 8:32AM0.81m | 6:59PM0.48m | 8:52AM0.82m | 7:20PM0.54m | 9:14AM0.81m | 7:46PM0.60m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:44AM0.34m | 3:27PM0.33m | 00:27AM0.26m | 3:11PM0.34m | 00:39AM0.17m | 2:57PM0.35m | 1:01AM0.08m | 2:52PM0.36m | 1:28AM0.00m | 2:55PM0.37m | 1:57AM-0.04m | 3:03PM0.37m | 2:28AM-0.05m | ||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | |
mm | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 35 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
357 | 346 | 444 | 183 | 236 | 256 | 275 | 1415 | 1235 | 1417 | 1799 | 1536 | 1498 | 1479 | 1225 | 911 | 911 | 701 | 732 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | S 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 |
52 | 27 | 209 | 261 | 283 | 508 | 269 | 193 | 116 | 127 | 190 | 183 | 212 | 159 | 165 | 168 | 182 | 144 | 100 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SW 18 | SSE 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SSE 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | SSW 6 | — | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 20 | S 8 | W 8 |
7 | 154 | 15 | 243 | 386 | 230 | 295 | 9 | 196 | 145 | — | 4 | — | 11 | 10 | 10 | 38 | 32 | 35 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 509 | 0 | 0 | 509 | 0 | 0 | 537 | 0 | 0 | 537 | 0 | 0 | 534 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guerrero | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











