Playa El Palmar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a 16-day window looking at Playa El Palmar, and I’ll be honest with you—it’s a tough stretch. The surf is small and the wind is mostly messy, especially for the first week. We’re looking at a long, quiet run before anything even starts to feel like a proper session.

Right now, from Tuesday the 21st to Saturday the 26th, it’s pretty grim. Swell heights are mostly under 3ft, with a short period around 5 to 6 seconds, and the wind is either cross-onshore or onshore, making it choppy and bumpy. The combined energy is weak, reading between 20 and 86 (low energy), so there’s just no push. The water temperature sits at 72°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Nothing to write home about.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Sunday morning, the 26th. It’s small, with 3ft swell from the WNW and a 6-second period, but the wind goes glassy—WSW at 3 mph. That’s a major positive. The combined energy is still only 58 (weak), but it’s clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d agree. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. Crowds are often a thing here, so expect company.

After that, Monday the 27th through to Thursday the 31st is a dead zone. Swell drops to 0.3ft or 1.0ft, with a few clean offshore winds, but there’s no wave energy to speak of—combined energy values are as low as 1 to 34. You’re not surfing anything.

Then we hit a bit of a promising patch on Monday, August 3rd. The morning shows 3ft swell from the WNW, 6-second period, with gentle offshore wind from the ESE at 9 mph. The combined energy jumps to 123 (moderate wave energy), which is the first real pulse we’ve seen. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” but with clean, offshore wind, it’ll be rideable. Again, crowds are often, so don’t expect solitude.

The only true standout in this whole 16-day outlook is that Monday morning, August 3rd, at Playa El Palmar. The swell is just over 3ft, direction is WNW, which is okay for the break’s optimum SW direction, but the wind is offshore and clean. That’s the best wave quality you’ll get. It’s still not big—under 5ft—so it’s fine for intermediates and beginners should be okay.

The rest of the second week, from August 4th onward, is back to small, weak swells with clean but insignificant energy. The combined energy stays under 70 (weak). Nothing to get excited about.

Overall, it’s a lean period. If you’re desperate, Sunday the 26th morning offers a glassy, small window, but the real pick is Monday, August 3rd, morning. That’s your best bet. Forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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