Playa Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's take a look at what’s shaping up for Playa Negra over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water is sitting at a balmy 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. So you might not even need a spring suit.

We’ve got a solid run of surf kicking off right away. The big news is Wednesday morning, July 29th. The swell is coming in at 5ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1232. That’s some serious groundswell. The wind is a light 9 mph cross-off from the NE, keeping things clean. This is the standout session of the whole outlook – excellent conditions for experienced surfers, but the size and power make it a no-go for beginners. The 16-second period means longer waits between sets, but the waves will have real shape and power, and paddling out will be easier between the bombs. This is a point and beach setup, so the long period will work nicely here.

The wind switches onshore by Wednesday afternoon, so get your session in early.

Thursday morning, July 30th, we drop to 4ft, still a nice 14-second period from the SW (675 energy). The wind is a stronger 16 mph offshore from the ENE, which will groom the waves beautifully. This is a very close second for the best wave of the period – clean, offshore, and punchy.

We see a steady drop in size through the end of July and into the first week of August. Friday and Saturday mornings are still fun with some clean offshore or cross-off winds, but the swell gets smaller. There's a bit of a lull from Sunday afternoon through most of the next week, with heights dropping to 1ft to 2ft. The combined energy dips into the low hundreds, even getting down to 83 – that’s weak. Nothing to get excited about, just small, ordinary waves.

Now, the second week shows some promise starting Friday, August 7th. The swell picks back up to 2ft to 3ft, but the period jumps up again. Friday afternoon, August 7th, is a real treat: 3ft from the SSW, a very long 17-second period, and glassy conditions with no wind. The combined energy jumps to 540. It’s only small in height, but the long-period groundswell will produce some tidy lines on the point.

Then Tuesday morning, August 11th, we get a strong pulse: 3ft from the SW with a 20-second period and a combined energy of 674. The wind is a 9 mph offshore from the E. That’s a special window of clean, super long-period swell. The 20-second period means the waves will be lined up and walled, best ridden on the point.

Wednesday morning, August 12th, is another clean one with a moderate offshore breeze and solid 17-second period (567 energy). Thursday morning, August 13th, also looks good with a clean cross-off and a 16-second period (553 energy). These two are solid.

Crowds are listed as "sometimes" here, so on the standout days, especially the Wednesday morning and the Friday afternoon in the second week, expect a few other keen locals to be out.

So, for the best on offer: Wednesday morning, July 29th, is the clear winner for size and quality – 5ft, 16-second groundswell, clean. For the second week, Friday afternoon, August 7th and Tuesday morning, August 11th are the ones to circle – smaller but glassy or offshore with that really long-period energy. The rest of the time is a mix of small waves or onshore chop.

Rusty.

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