Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get into what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks at Montanita (Ecuador).

Right now, it’s a bit of a slow dance. The surf is small and messy, with a lot of cross-onshore breezes chopping things up. The water is way warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 79°, which is a solid 9° above the norm — that’s very unusual, and it adds a tropical feel to the whole deal.

The first real standout doesn’t come until Friday, August 7th, and even then it’s marginal. We’ve got a 3 ft to 3 ft SW groundswell, with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (487 to 549). The wind is light but cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be clean. It’s a reef and point break, so that long period won’t make it too straight, but the quality is just not there. Honestly, it’s a skunk for the first week.

Saturday the 8th through to Thursday the 13th is a real desert. The swell stays tiny, between 1 ft and 3 ft, with periods dropping. Winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the energy is weak to moderate. The forecast keeps calling it poor or marginal. You’d be better off waxing your board for a different day.

Now, things start to look a bit more interesting around Friday, August 14th. We get a 4 ft to 4 ft SW groundswell, period holding at 16-17 seconds, and the energy jumps up to strong (698 to 879). The wind is light and onshore or cross-onshore, but it’s still only marginal. It’s not the clean, glassy perfection we dream of. This spot is fairly consistent, so it tends not to stay poor for long, but this stretch is testing patience.

The best of the whole run looks like Saturday, August 15th, morning. We’ve got a 5 ft SW swell, period 15 seconds, and light onshore wind. The energy is strong (811). This is the best size and power we see across the whole outlook. The swell direction matches the optimum SW direction for this point. The crowds are often a thing here, so expect company. For an advanced surfer, this is the session to aim for, but it’s still only a marginal call — the wind isn’t cleaning it up. If that wind swings offshore, it’s game on. But as it stands, it’s the closest we get to a green light.

After that, the second week fades back into the same pattern of 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell with light onshore winds, marginal quality, and a lot of poor surf. The energy stays moderate. Nothing else really stands out.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The second week has a few promising pulses, but the lack of any good offshore wind holds it back. Montanita is a reef and point that handles long period swell well, but we need the wind to cooperate. If you’re itching for a paddle, Saturday the 15th morning is your best bet, but don’t expect perfection.

Rusty.

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