Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m gonna be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Montanita. We’ve got a good two weeks of swell to look at, but frankly, the conditions are going to test your patience.

First up, the water. When we finally get a wave worth talking about, the water temp is sitting at 79°, which is a massive 9° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you’ll be surfing in what feels like bathwater.

The first few days are a write-off. From Monday, August 3rd, right through to the end of the first week, it’s mostly poor surf. We’re looking at small, weak swells around 1ft to 2ft, mostly from the SW, with a period that’s all over the place. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 200 to 300 (331) at best, and the wind is a constant cross-on or onshore. You’ll be battling light chop and ripples for nothing. It’s a real flat spell to start.

Things start to get a *little* more interesting around Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th. The swell picks up a touch to 3ft – 3ft from the SW, and the period jumps to 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, giving the waves some shape. The combined energy is moderate (489 to 565) and the wind is light and onshore from the W. It’s still only marginal, and the crowds here are often an issue, but for the advanced surfer, this is the first sign of life. Friday morning is the pick of the early run, with 3ft SW groundswell and that light onshore breeze.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a few days of nothing, then a promising pulse shows up on Friday, August 14th. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SW with a period of 17 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (834). That’s the biggest and most powerful swell of the whole forecast. The wind is light onshore from the WSW, which is a bit of a bummer, but for a reef and point break like Montanita, that long-period SW groundswell should wrap in nicely. This is your standout, but it’s still a marginal call, so don’t get your hopes too high.

The weekend after that (August 15th-16th) sees the swell drop back to 3ft-3ft, with energy fading. The period is still decent, but the wind stays onshore.

So, to be honest, there’s no screaming, perfect day here. The best on offer is Friday, August 14th, with that 4ft SW groundswell and strong energy. It’s a big, powerful swell for a point break, so it might be a bit much for beginners, but for the advanced crew, it’s the only real window of opportunity. The Thursday, August 7th morning is a distant second.

This is a long, quiet run. Stay patient.

Rusty

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