Playa Pantaleta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for you.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch of forecast. The next 16 days are looking pretty grim for decent waves at Playa Pantaleta. We’re looking at a long, quiet run with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The first few days are a write-off. Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are just messy – small, weak swell with a cross-shore breeze that’s putting a chop on everything. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be cold while you're staring at the flat ocean.

Sunday the 23rd is the first glimmer of hope, but it's a weak one. The wind goes glassy in the morning, and the swell is a tiny 3 ft from the ENE, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 75, so it's gutless. Still, if you're desperate for a slide, that glassy surface will make it look better than it is. But don't expect much.

Then we go into another long gap. From Monday the 24th right through to the end of August, it's all poor surf conditions. The wind is constantly cross or cross-off, and the swell height never gets above 4 ft with nothing but short-period windswell. The energy is weak, sitting in the low hundreds. It's just not happening.

The only real change comes on the 30th of August. The swell starts to build, hitting 5 ft on Sunday morning and 7 ft in the afternoon from the NE. The period stretches to 8 and then 9 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 607, which is a solid kick. But the wind is still cross-shore, and the forecast says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." That’s a lot of energy getting messed up by the wind. This one is for the experts only if they’re feeling frothy, but the cross-shore is going to chop it up. It’s a shame.

The 31st of August sees the swell drop back to 6 ft, still with a cross-shore, and the energy is at 405. Again, the wind just isn't playing ball. After that, from the 1st of September onward, it fades back into the same old story of small, weak, choppy surf.

So, if I had to pick a standout, it’s that Sunday the 30th. The swell is there, it’s got some power, but it’s a heartbreaker because the wind won’t cooperate. It’s a day for the experienced crew to maybe find a corner, but don't expect perfection. Other than that, it's a long dry spell. The spot is fairly consistent, but even consistent spots have their off-seasons, and this is one of them. For a beach and reef setup with this much wind, this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Keep an eye on the long-range, mate – it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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