Surf Forecasts:
Pico Alto surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 643 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pico Alto this week:
The surf forecast for Pico Alto over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pico Alto in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pico Alto over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with the local skinny for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, this ain't a classic run of form for us. We've got a long stretch of small, cross-shore chop that's barely worth paddling out for. The real story is the window starting around the 25th of September, where things start to look a whole lot more promising. For the first week plus, you're lookin' at a bit of a flat spell, honestly. From the 14th through to the 24th, it's mostly in the 1ft to 4ft range with weak energy, think values like 154 to 783 for combined energy. The winds are a constant pain, cross or cross-on, leaving the surface chopped up. Not worth wettin' a suit for.
The first real glimmer comes on the 25th of September. The swell starts to make a move, and by the morning of the 26th we're seein' a clean 4ft from the WSW. The wind's light cross, which is a huge plus – think clean, lined-up walls. This is the standout moment, no doubt.
Now, the real gem here is Pico Alto. This is a heavy, advanced reef break, and I gotta tell ya, the ocean is running abnormally warm. The water temp is sittin' at 68°F, a solid 7°F warmer than what you'd expect for this time of year. That's a big deal. It’s a session where you won’t be fighting the cold, just the size and power. The swell direction from the WSW is exactly what this break loves, and with that 12-second period, you're getting proper groundswell energy. It's pumping in the moderate range, with a combined energy reading of 462 in the morning.
But you've gotta be clued in. This is an expert-only wave at this size, and it's a spot that *rarely* gets the green light like this. When it lines up, there’s a proper pulse of energy. Keep an eye on the early part of the second week – that 5ft pulse on the 29th of September from the S with 10-11 second period and a combined energy of 680 is a big red flag for size, but with that cross-on wind, it'll be a battle. For the advanced crew, the clear pick is Saturday the 26th of September.
For the rest of us, it's a waiting game. The near-term is a write-off, but the long-range has some serious potential.
Stay frothy,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 408 | 643 | 557 | 466 | 453 | 350 | 290 | 286 | 235 | 214 | 217 | 207 | 240 | 228 | 236 | 208 | 197 | 186 | 125 | 161 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:23PM0.79m | 7:59AM0.65m | 9:11PM0.76m | 8:27AM0.56m | 10:08PM0.73m | 8:53AM0.49m | 11:23PM0.69m | 9:24AM0.43m | 00:58AM0.69m | 11:51AM0.39m | 2:16AM0.72m | 2:05PM0.41m | 3:05AM0.76m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:26AM0.32m | 2:14PM0.17m | 3:24AM0.38m | 2:45PM0.21m | 4:51AM0.43m | 3:21PM0.25m | 7:55AM0.43m | 4:18PM0.29m | 9:33AM0.38m | 6:02PM0.30m | 9:55AM0.35m | 7:31PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 311 | 269 | 215 | 173 | 453 | 350 | 290 | 286 | 235 | 214 | 217 | 207 | 240 | 228 | 174 | 171 | 40 | 56 | 62 | 49 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 23 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 21 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 21 | SW 20 | S 5 | S 6 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 408 | 643 | 557 | 466 | 21 | 113 | 111 | 18 | 63 | 63 | 32 | 61 | 115 | 188 | 36 | 39 | 116 | 112 | 82 | 80 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | — | S 24 | SW 24 | W 18 | SW 23 | SW 22 | W 13 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 13 | W 11 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 45 | — | 11 | 23 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 3 | 42 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 3 | 2 | 236 | 208 | 197 | 186 | 125 | 161 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | S 8 | — | — | S 4 | — | S 8 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 140 | — | — | 82 | — | — | 7 | — | 60 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lima | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Peru | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pico Alto Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pico Alto provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pico Alto can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pico Alto surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pico Alto) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pico Alto may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Lima? If you are looking for accommodation near Pico Alto, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Lima, consider staying in Lima which is 35 km (22 miles) away. Other places in and around Lima where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Mala which is 42 km (26 miles) away, Callao, Chosica and Ancon.
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