La Santa - El Quemao Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s heading toward La Santa - El Quemao.

The first couple of weeks are looking rough. We’ve got a long stretch with nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is coming from the north and north-northeast, blowing cross-onshore, which is killing the surface. This spot really needs a solid swell from the WNW, and we’re getting the complete opposite.

From Monday, July 6, through around Thursday, July 16, it’s flat, mushy, and choppy. Swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft, with short, weak periods – often only 4 to 5 seconds. The combined wave energy stays under 100 for most days – just weak, gutless surf. Water temps are about 72°F, so a touch warmer than normal. But who cares when there’s nothing to ride? The wind stays cross-onshore, sometimes a fresh breeze, and it’s all lumpy and choppy. Not a single session worth getting wet for in that first week and a half.

Things pick up by Friday, July 17. The swell pushes to around 6 ft by morning, with periods stretching to 7 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 315, then 333 in the afternoon – moderate wave energy kicking in. The catch? The wind is still fresh cross-onshore from the NNE, so it’s going to be lumpy and messy. That’s not the clean La Santa we want.

Saturday, July 18, the swell builds more. We’re looking at about 6 ft in the morning and 7 ft by the afternoon, with periods reaching 8 seconds. Combined energy is strong: 387 in the morning, 456 in the afternoon. For an expert reef break, that’s a step in the right direction, but the wind stays cross-shore, so expect lumpy cross-chop. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so don’t expect it empty.

Sunday, July 19 – this is the standout window, but it’s a long-range call, so keep your hopes in check. Morning brings around 8 ft from the NNE at 9 seconds, with massive energy at 1109 – that’s powerful surf. The afternoon sees 10 ft, energy at 1397. The wind is cross-shore in the morning (lumpy) and cross-onshore by afternoon, so the surface won’t be clean. The forecast warns of “marginal” conditions due to questionable tides. Still, if you’re an expert and the tide lines up, that’s a serious session. Anything over 8 ft is expert-only here. Beginners, stay dry.

Into Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21, the swell stays chunky – 7 ft to 12 ft with energy numbers in the 800 to 1700 range. But the cross-onshore wind from the NNE continues to ruin the surface, keeping it choppy and lumpy. The swell direction still isn’t what this break dreams of, so quality will be lacking.

Bottom line: Sunday, July 19 is the best bet if the wind turns and the tide works out. But it’s a long way off, and right now the wind is the spoiler. There’ll be plenty of juice in the water, just not the clean La Santa perfection we all want. Check back closer to the day.

Rusty.

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