La Chocolatera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s heading our way.

Honestly, the outlook for the next 16 days is a bit of a tough one. The pattern is dominated by onshore winds and messy conditions, meaning we’re going to see a lot of poor surf quality. The consistent southwest swell direction is a good sign for La Chocolatera—it’s exposed and loves that direction—but the wind is just not cooperating for most of the window. There’s a long stretch of days where it’s just not worth paddling out.

The first solid recommendation doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 13th. Even then, it’s a marginal call. The morning of Thursday the 13th sees a tiny 2 ft southwest swell with a very long period of 20 seconds, but the wind is light onshore. The energy is weak (301), so you’re looking at small, clean lines but questionable tide conditions. It’s something to check if you’re desperate, but it’s not a standout.

The real standout, the one that’s worth setting an alarm for, is Saturday morning, August 15th. We’ve got a 5 ft southwest swell (15-second period) pushing in with a solid wave energy (1005). The wind is onshore at 9 mph, which is a bit of a bummer, but the swell size and consistency make it the best on offer for an intermediate surfer. Expect some decent, rideable waves, though the onshore wind will keep it from being perfect. Crowds are possible at La Chocolatera, so get there early. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

After Saturday, it’s back to a rough patch. The wind stays onshore through the middle of the week, with swell sizes bouncing around from 3 ft to 5 ft but all with poor to marginal conditions. The morning of Monday, August 17th, has a 5 ft southwest swell (14 seconds) and moderate wave energy (867), but the onshore wind at 9 mph kills the quality. The morning of Tuesday, August 18th brings a 5 ft swell (15 seconds) with strong energy (1333), but again, the wind is onshore. It’s frustrating because the swell is there, but the wind is just not playing ball.

Looking further out, the second week is lean. The swell drops off significantly, with tiny waves in the 1 ft to 3 ft range and weak energy. There’s a glimmer on Wednesday, August 26th, with a long-period 3 ft WSW swell (19 seconds) and moderate energy (789), but the wind is cross-onshore and the surf is marginal. The afternoon of the 26th has a 4 ft WSW swell (18 seconds) and strong energy (1068), but the cross-onshore swell and chop will make it a messy affair. This one is promising but not certain—a long-range option to keep an eye on.

So, to sum it up: Saturday morning, August 15th is your best bet. It’s the only day that combines a decent swell with some consistency. The rest of the window is a waiting game with onshore winds and marginal surf. The good news is that La Chocolatera is a fairly consistent spot, so it tends not to stay poor for long. Forecasts can change, so keep checking back.

Rusty out.

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