Los Naranjos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Los Naranjos.

We’re looking at a long stretch ahead, but it’s not all good news. For the first few days, from Monday the 27th of July right through to the middle of the week, it’s pretty ordinary. The swell is small and weak, with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is cross-on from the ENE. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The combined energy is low, around 109 to 169 (weak), so there’s just not much push. The waves are going to be choppy and messy. Honestly, not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 29th of July sees a bump in size, with swell around 7ft, but the period is still short at 7 seconds, and the wind stays cross-on. The energy picks up to around 352 (moderate), but the quality is still poor. Thursday the 30th is similar, with 7ft to 7ft, period lifting to 8 seconds, and energy around 547 (moderate). Still, the wind is cross-on, keeping things choppy. It’s marginal at best.

Now, Friday the 31st of July is where things start to look a bit more interesting. The swell bumps up to 8ft in the morning, with period stretching to 9 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1002 (strong). The wind is still light cross-on from the ENE, so while it’s not glassy, the chops are small. This is a bigger, more powerful swell, but it’s a beach/river break here, so that longer period (9 seconds) means the waves will have a bit more shape and energy, with longer lulls between sets. This is the best we’ve seen so far, but it’s still not perfect. The morning is your best bet.

Saturday the 1st of August drops back to 5ft, and the energy falls to 270 (moderate). The wind is light cross-on. It’s rideable, but nothing to write home about. Sunday the 2nd stays similar, around 5ft, with light winds.

The following week, from Monday the 3rd of August onward, the swell sits around 5ft to 6ft, with period at 8 seconds and moderate energy in the 400s. The wind is mostly light cross-on, so it’s cleanish but small. Not a standout.

Now, the real event comes on Friday the 7th of August. The swell jumps to 10ft in the morning, hitting 12ft in the afternoon, with period at 8 to 9 seconds. The combined energy is massive: 1095 in the morning, 1761 in the afternoon (very strong). But here’s the thing – this is too big for Los Naranjos. The wind is cross-on, and the waves are going to be powerful and unruly. This is not for beginners. In fact, it’s only for experienced surfers, and even then, it’s going to be a handful. The wind and tide may be favorable, but the size is a limit. If you’re an expert and you’re after a big, powerful wave, the morning of the 7th of August is your window. The afternoon is borderline dangerous.

Saturday the 8th of August stays big, with 10ft, and the afternoon sees another 10ft with energy around 1404 (very strong). Again, only for experts, and the cross-on wind will make it tricky.

Sunday the 9th of August drops to 8ft to 8ft, with period still at 9 seconds, and energy around 846 to 1121 (strong to very strong). The wind is lighter, so it’s less messy, but still a big swell. This is a better size for experienced surfers, but still not for the faint-hearted.

Beyond that, Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of August stay big, with 10ft to 12ft, and the same warnings apply – too big for most, and only for experts.

So, to sum it up: the best surf on offer is the morning of Friday the 31st of July, with 8ft NE swell, 9-second period, and light cross-on wind. It’s the most manageable size with decent energy. For the big-wave hunters, the morning of Friday the 7th of August is the standout, but it’s a serious one. Crowds are possible at Los Naranjos, so keep that in mind.

Overall, it’s a mixed bag. The first few days are a write-off, then we get a decent window at the end of July, and then a big, powerful, expert-only swell in the first week of August. Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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