La Chocolatera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer in the local zone.

La Chocolatera (Ecuador)

So, we’ve got a pretty quiet run ahead. The standout window is right at the start, on Monday the 27th of July. We’re getting a south-west swell running about 5ft, but the real deal is the super long period—18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and this point break should handle it well. The combined energy is strong (1222). The water is a very unusual 78°, which is about 9° warmer than normal for this time of year—like bathwater. The downside is the wind. It’s blowing onshore or cross-on from the SW and WSW, which is going to put some chop on the surface. Even so, for a point, that long period will mean some decent lines between the bump. It’s a standout because of the depth of that energy, but don’t expect it to be glassy. Crowds are possible here, so keep your head on a swivel.

After Monday, the swell drops and the quality falls off a cliff. Tuesday through the end of the first week, the wind stays onshore and the swell drops below 5ft, with periods shortening. The combined energy falls from the 1000s down to the hundreds. It’s described as poor or marginal, so not really worth suiting up.

Then we hit a real gap. From about the 1st of August right through to the 6th, the surf is tiny—1ft to 2ft—with onshore winds and weak energy. The combined energy is in the 100-300 range, which is weak. It’s a blank run for a solid week. The swell starts to pick up again around the 7th and 8th of August, with a south-west swell returning to about 4ft, and periods getting back into the 14-16 second range. The combined energy climbs back into the 500-800 range, which is moderate. This is a promising second pulse, but it’s further out, so less certain. The wind remains a problem, mostly onshore or cross-on, so while the swell is there, the quality will be average. The 8th of August morning looks the best of that second window—light winds and a cleaner forecast—but it’s a long way off.

Given the persistent onshore winds and the beach/point setup, on the days with stronger swell and poor wind, this might actually look more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session.

Alright, keep an eye on it. Forecasts can change. This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more