Playa Santa Catalina Surf Break

Lat Long: 7.61° N 81.24° W

Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 22 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Santa Catalina sea temperature is
30.0° C
2.1° 

Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 24s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 943 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Santa Catalina this week:

The surf forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Catalina in the next 16 days are 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (EST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 22nd Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 12s
Best Surf10AM (Fri 24th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 24s
Most Powerful10AM (Tue 28th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon, so let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, the main event is Playa Santa Catalina, a classic point break that’s exposed to the SSW swell. It’s a very consistent setup, so it rarely goes flat. This is a spot for the advanced crew, and it can get crowded at times, so keep your head on a swivel. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

We start the forecast on Wednesday, 22 July, but honestly, it’s a bit of a write-off. The swell is tiny at 2ft from the SSW with a long period of 11 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, making for a messy surface. The combined wave energy is weak (176). Afternoon doesn’t improve much – still small and cross-onshore, with energy dropping to 153. Not worth paddling out.

Thursday, 23 July morning, things get a little better. The swell drops to 2ft from the SSW, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore from the NNE. The energy is still low (133), but the surface is clean. It’s surfable, but only just. Thursday afternoon sees a weird spike in period to 26 seconds, but the swell height is only 1ft and the wind goes cross-on again. That’s a long-period groundswell, but without any size, it’s just a tease.

Now, Friday, 24 July morning is where it starts to get interesting. The swell is only 2ft, but the period is a very long 24 seconds, and the wind is blowing offshore from the north. The combined energy jumps to 618 (moderate energy). The conditions are clean. This is a proper point break setup, so those long-period lines will wrap in nicely. Afternoon still cleans up with a cross-off wind, but the swell drops.

Saturday, 25 July morning keeps the run going. A 2ft SSW swell, 21-second period, and a cross-off breeze from the NNE. Clean surf with moderate energy (589). This is a good morning session.

Sunday, 26 July morning is a standout. The swell holds at 3ft from the SSW, period of 19 seconds, and a cross-off wind from the NE. The energy is up to 546. Clean, glassy conditions. This is a classic Catalina morning.

Monday, 27 July is a beauty. The morning has a 3ft swell, 17-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the NNE. Energy is solid at 741. The afternoon, though, is the pick of the first week. The wind goes glassy, the swell is 2ft with a 19-second period, and the energy is 594. Glossy, clean waves – you’ll be smiling ear to ear.

Tuesday, 28 July morning sees the swell size bump up to 4ft, still from the SSW with an 18-second period and a cross-off wind. The energy is almost 1000 (994). This is a proper push of swell and the biggest we’ll see. Afternoon, the wind switches onshore, so the morning is the window.

Wednesday, 29 July morning is another good one: 4ft, 16-second period, cross-off wind. Energy is 790. Clean.

After that, the size settles back. Thursday, 30 July morning has a 3ft swell, 14-second period, and glassy conditions. A nice session. Friday, 31 July morning is glassy again with a 3ft swell and 13-second period. Energy is 299.

The first weekend of August keeps the surf alive. Saturday, 1 August morning is clean with a 3ft swell. Sunday, 2 August morning is also clean with a 2ft swell. The following week continues with similar conditions: clean mornings, small but rideable 2ft to 3ft swell from the SSW, periods around 12-14 seconds, and light offshore or cross-off winds. The last day on the charts, Thursday, 6 August morning, has a 3ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and a clean offshore wind.

The best on offer is Monday, 27 July afternoon – glassy conditions, a long-period 2ft swell, and clean lines. The next standout is Friday, 24 July morning, with that very long-period groundswell and offshore wind. Don’t sleep on Tuesday, 28 July morning either if you want a bit more size.

There are no gaps in the surf here; it’s a consistent run. Get out there.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 77mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
2
1
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
11
0.7
SSW
12
0.7
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
7
0.3
SSW
26
0.9
SSW
7
0.6
SSW
24
0.4
SSW
24
0.9
SSW
21
0.7
SSW
21
0.7
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
20
0.7
SSW
19
1.1
SSW
18
1.3
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
98
133
127
82
132
75
368
217
718
404
346
590
415
491
480
351
325
751
943
742
635
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
15
SSW
15
NNE
10
ENE
5
NE
10
NW
5
NW
0
SSW
10
NNW
15
NE
5
S
10
NE
10
NNE
15
S
5
NW
10
NNE
0
SSE
5
E
10
ENE
5
S
10
N
Wind State
cross-off
on
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
on
glassy
off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
on
off
High Tide
10:14PM2.60m
10:33AM2.79m
11:18PM2.48m
11:34AM2.69m
00:25AM2.46m
12:36PM2.68m
1:28AM2.52m
1:34PM2.74m
2:20AM2.64m
2:24PM2.85m
3:05AM2.78m
3:08PM2.97m
3:45AM2.94m
Low Tide
4:05PM0.87m
4:15AM1.07m
5:04PM0.96m
5:17AM1.18m
6:07PM0.98m
6:21AM1.21m
7:08PM0.93m
7:22AM1.16m
8:01PM0.82m
8:15AM1.05m
8:47PM0.69m
9:01AM0.93m
9:28PM0.57m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
thunderstorm
mod rain
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:45
 mm
6
6
42
2
4
8
8
1
1
3
2
1
17
5
1
1
Temp °C
29
29
26
26
26
25
25
24
24
27
27
27
29
29
28
29
27
25
27
28
27
Feels °C
33
32
30
31
30
28
29
29
27
30
31
29
33
32
33
33
32
27
29
31
30
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Playa Santa Catalina Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Playa Santa Catalina provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Santa Catalina can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Santa Catalina 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 (Playa Santa Catalina) 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 Playa Santa Catalina 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 Veraguas? If you are looking for accommodation near Playa Santa Catalina, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Veraguas, consider staying in Manzanillo which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Veraguas where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Las Minas which is 57 km (35 miles) away, Santiago de Veraguas and Chitre.

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