Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what's coming down the pike.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a bummer. We’ve got a full 16-day window, but the first week is a total washout for any decent paddle surfing. There’s a big gap from now until the end of the month with nothing worth getting wet for. The water is a balmy 79°, which is a whopping 9° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a heated pool, but the waves just aren't playing ball.

The only real standout in this whole forecast is Montanita (Ecuador), and it’s a late bloomer. We're looking at Tuesday, July 28th, for the best chance of something worthwhile. The morning session sees a pulse of swell from the SW, around 5ft, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s some proper groundswell, and the combined energy reading is a solid 1068, meaning there’s some real grunt behind it. The wind is light from the SSW, so it’s cross-onshore, but light enough to keep things clean. For a reef and point break like Montanita, that longer period will wrap in nicely and give you some good shape. This is one for the advanced crew though – that size and power can be a handful. The crowds can get heavy here, so be ready for that.

The few days before that, from Friday the 24th through Monday the 27th, are all marginal. The swell is smaller, hovering around 2ft to 4ft, and the wind is mostly onshore, making for lumpy, uninviting conditions. The scores are low for a reason – it’s just not going to be worth the paddle out.

After the 28th, the swell drops off again quickly. The 29th is still okay, with 4ft of SW swell and light onshore winds, but it’s nothing special. From the 30th of July through to the 5th of August, it’s back to poor surf conditions with tiny waves and weak energy. There’s a tiny flicker of hope on the 6th of August – a 2ft swell from the SW with a 17-second period – but the wind is cross-onshore, and the energy is still modest at 451. It’s a long way out, so don’t hold your breath.

So, the bottom line: if you’re an experienced surfer and you can wait, the morning of Tuesday, July 28th at Montanita is your best bet. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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