Playa Poniente Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real from the start: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for a paddle. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with very little to get excited about. The first solid bit of surf worth mentioning doesn’t show up for over a week, so you’ve got time to wax other boards or just enjoy the beach.

The only spot on the radar for this whole forecast period is Playa Poniente (Benidorm). It’s a beach and reef setup that’s more for beginners, but it’s inconsistent and doesn’t break often, so don’t bank on it.

Now, through the first week, from Saturday July 18 through to Thursday July 23, it’s basically a flat spell. Tiny, weak swell – we’re talking 0.3 ft to 1 ft max, with periods as short as 2 or 3 seconds. That’s just pure wind chop and not surfable. Combined wave energy is pitiful, reading between 1 and 7. Don’t even think about it. Winds are a mixed bag, and some mornings offer clean or glassy conditions, but there’s nothing to ride.

We finally see a bit of a pulse starting around the morning of Saturday July 25. Swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SE with a period of 6 seconds – that's more like a small groundswell pulse. Combined energy climbs to 31, which is still weak but at least noticeable. Morning winds are light offshore from the WSW, keeping it clean. This is the first window where a longboard or a foiler might get a little something, but don’t expect much. Crowds are possible here on a weekend.

Then on Monday July 27 morning, we get the standout of the whole outlook. Swell holds at 2 ft from the ESE, period 6 seconds and energy reading 60. Winds are light cross-onshore from the NE, so it’ll be a little lumpy, but for this area, that’s the best combo we see. Still small, but it’s the peak energy window in the whole two weeks.

After that, it tails off again. From July 28 onward we get more 2 ft to 3 ft swells, often from the E or ESE with periods of 4 to 7 seconds. Winds turn more onshore or cross-shore as we head into early August. The odd clean morning shows up – like Saturday August 1 morning with a light cross-offshore from the SW – but the swell is only 2 ft and trending down.

Bottom line: Playa Poniente has one mildly interesting window around July 25-27, but this place is inconsistent for a reason. If you're a beginner looking for tiny, clean waves on a summer morning, you might get a knee-high glide. Anyone else? Save your energy. The forecasts could change, but as it stands, it's a long, flat run with just a whisper of a swell. Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.

- Rusty

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