Playa Santa Catalina Surf Break

Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 7.61° N 81.24° W

Issued: 6 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

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

2.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,192 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s 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 Friday (Jul 03) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 21s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Catalina in the next 16 days are 1.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (EST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Fri 3rd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s
Best Surf10AM (Tue 7th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 18s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 7th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 18s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, let’s have a proper look at what’s shaping up for Playa Santa Catalina over the next couple of weeks. This is a classic point break setup, exposed to the SSW, and the forecast is serving up a steady run of long-period groundswell, so there’s plenty to talk about.

The water’s sitting at 86° right now, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s notably warm, so you’ll be in for a balmy session when you paddle out at Playa Santa Catalina.

The first real standout lands on Saturday, 4th July. Swell drops a touch to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a long 15 seconds – quality groundswell. And the wind? Glassy. Dead glass in the morning and afternoon, with a light breeze that’ll keep the surface like a mirror. The combined energy is still moderate (613 and 547), so it’s not a monster, but with that clean, offshore-friendly setup, this is a beauty of a window for all levels, though the long period might make it a bit straight at the beach breaks – but on a point like this, you’ll get some lovely lines.

Come Monday, 6th July, we see a similar vibe: 3ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period and a light cross-off breeze from the NNE in the morning. Clean waves, moderate energy (632), and the point will be rifling. The afternoon goes a bit onshore, but the morning is the pick.

Now, Tuesday, 7th July is the one to circle. Morning brings 4ft at 18 seconds from the SSW – that’s proper groundswell with very long period, and the combined energy jumps right up to 1159, which is strong. The wind is a light cross-off from the NE, keeping things clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the size and period mean it’ll pack a punch, and on a point break, you’ll see some proper shaped waves with long waits between sets. Not one for beginners, as it’s over 3ft, but for the crew who can handle it, this is the session. Crowds are “sometimes”, so you might have company, but not chaos.

The following morning, Wednesday 8th July, is glassy again with 4ft SSW swell at 16 seconds and moderate energy (896) – another top-notch morning for those who missed Tuesday.

The pattern continues through the second week with smaller, cleaner swells. Saturday 11th July sees another glassy morning with 3ft at 16 seconds – a good, clean option. After that, the swell drops and holds around 2ft to 3ft for most days, with decent winds like light cross-off or glassy conditions. Nothing huge, but consistent and rideable. There’s a gap from around the 17th July afternoon into the 18th where conditions go a bit ordinary or poor, with onshore or cross-on winds, so that stretch is best avoided.

To wrap it up, the standout is Tuesday, 7th July morning – 4ft SSW groundswell with an 18-second period, strong energy, and clean wind. That’s the one to paddle out for. Saturday 4th July and Wednesday 8th July mornings are also crackers, just with smaller swell.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
3
3
3
1
0
3
3
1
3
4
2
4
3
1
3
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
21
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
1.3
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
803
823
696
507
456
565
277
213
404
353
596
590
1050
1192
1112
859
848
596
434
451
417
Wind (km/h)
10
E
10
SSW
5
NW
5
NNE
5
ESE
5
NE
20
NE
15
SSE
5
N
10
NNE
10
S
5
NNW
10
NE
15
SSW
10
WNW
5
NNE
15
SW
5
WNW
5
NNE
15
SSW
10
WNW
Wind State
cross
on
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
on
glassy
cross-off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:01PM3.06m
6:33AM3.11m
6:38PM3.00m
7:09AM3.11m
7:18PM2.92m
7:47AM3.10m
8:01PM2.84m
8:28AM3.09m
8:50PM2.76m
9:16AM3.07m
9:47PM2.70m
10:12AM3.06m
10:53PM2.69m
Low Tide
11:59AM0.77m
00:16AM0.50m
12:38PM0.79m
00:51AM0.57m
1:18PM0.81m
1:27AM0.66m
2:00PM0.82m
2:07AM0.74m
2:48PM0.83m
2:54AM0.82m
3:42PM0.81m
3:49AM0.89m
4:44PM0.76m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:13
6:13
<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
5
3
6
3
1
2
1
3
1
10
9
6
5
4
Temp °C
26
26
26
27
28
27
30
30
28
30
29
28
30
30
28
30
29
29
29
29
28
Feels °C
29
29
32
32
33
30
32
32
32
35
32
32
34
33
32
34
31
33
33
31
32
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
19
1.3
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.3
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
Energy kJ
803
823
696
507
456
565
277
213
223
353
376
590
1050
1192
1112
859
848
596
434
451
417
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SW
21
0.2
SSW
21
0.5
SSW
6
0.6
SSW
6
0.6
SSW
6
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
6
0.6
SSW
6
0.7
SSW
21
0.5
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
8
0.6
S
11
0.5
S
11
0.4
SSW
10
0.5
S
11
0.5
S
11
0.5
S
9
0.5
S
10
0.6
S
6
Energy kJ
18
45
23
31
31
124
22
29
404
239
596
293
21
88
58
37
57
58
44
50
25
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
SSW
20
0.3
SSW
20
0.3
SW
20
0.1
S
26
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
16
0.5
S
9
0.4
SSW
9
0.4
SSW
8
0.6
S
11
0.1
W
13
0.1
W
13
0.1
W
12
0.1
W
12
0.2
S
20
Energy kJ
38
75
60
13
126
151
149
40
25
24
88
3
3
3
3
30
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
Energy kJ
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
2
Distance (km)
40
83
0
0
0
0
40
85
0
0
85
0
0
85
0
0
131
0
0
166
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Veraguas
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Panama
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
9
9
5
6
6
7
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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