Playa Santa Teresa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks for Playa Santa Teresa. Winter’s holding on with a solid run of consistent, clean SW groundswell, but it’s a game of two halves. The first few days are a bit of a write-off—small, choppy, and cross-onshore, so you’re not missing much. But from Sunday the 23rd onwards, the pattern shifts into something much more promising, with a string of mornings delivering glassy conditions and good, long-period energy. The standout window is the weekend of the 29th and 30th August, and then again on the 4th and 5th September, though that second week is a bit less certain.

Right now, Friday the 21st is a dud. The sea is a mess with a 4ft SSW swell and 15 km/h cross-onshore wind, and the water is a very warm 87°, which is 4° above normal—noticeably warmer than usual for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (480), but it’s just poor out there.

Saturday the 22nd, early morning you’ll see tiny 2ft SW swell, but it’s glassy with a light N wind and a risk of thunderstorms. The wave energy is weak (98), so it’s only really surfable if you’re desperate and on a longboard. The afternoon turns onshore again.

Sunday the 23rd is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is clean with a light ENE cross-offshore breeze and a small 2ft SW groundswell, but the period is a very long 19 seconds. The energy is moderate (304), and the comment says to expect good surf. That long period means the waves will have shape, but at a beach break like this, that long gap between sets can make it feel a bit inconsistent. Still, it’s a proper glassy morning.

Monday the 24th morning is similar—clean with a light E cross-offshore, 2ft SW, and a long period of 18 seconds (271 energy). Good, but small. The afternoon turns cross-onshore and marginal.

Tuesday the 25th morning is a standout for the early part of the week. Glassy conditions with a NE wind, 2ft SW, and a 16-second period (248 energy). It’s clean and fun, but you’ll want a bigger board.

Wednesday the 26th, the morning is dead calm, glassy, with a tiny 2ft SW swell. The energy is weak (122). The afternoon brings a 4ft SSW short-period swell (7 seconds) and onshore wind—total mess.

Thursday the 27th morning, glassy again with a NE wind, 2ft SW, and 18-second period (264 energy). Clean but small.

Now, Friday the 28th morning is a real highlight. Glassy, no wind, and a 3ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period. The combined energy jumps to strong (904), and the forecast says expect very good surf. That’s a proper groundswell pulse—waves will be well-shaped, with long lulls between sets. The afternoon gets ruined by a 20 km/h cross-onshore breeze.

Saturday the 29th, this is the best day on offer. The morning is clean with a light E cross-offshore breeze, a 5ft SW swell, and a 16-second period. The energy is very strong (1163), and the forecast says excellent for experienced surfers. That’s 5ft, so it’s getting solid—okay for confident intermediates, but the power is real. The afternoon goes marginal with a cross-onshore wind.

Sunday the 30th morning is another cracker. Glassy, with a SSE wind, 5ft SW, and 14-second period (926 energy). Expect very good surf. The afternoon turns onshore again.

Monday the 31st is a write-off, onshore wind and poor.

Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd are marginal. The morning of the 2nd is glassy with a 2ft SW swell and a 17-second period (461 energy)—good for a small clean wave.

Thursday the 3rd morning is glassy, 3ft SW, 15-second period (456 energy). Expect good surf.

Friday the 4th morning is a standout for the second week. Clean with a light NNW cross-offshore breeze, 4ft SW swell, and a 17-second period. The energy is strong (1002), and the forecast says excellent for experienced surfers. The swell direction is SSW, which is a touch off the optimum WNW, but the quality is there. The afternoon turns onshore.

Saturday the 5th morning, glassy with an E wind, 4ft SW, 16-second period (743 energy). Expect very good surf. The afternoon is also glassy—a rare double-glass day.

For the best of the best, I’d be circling Saturday the 29th August morning for the biggest, cleanest groundswell, and Friday the 4th September morning as a solid second option. Playa Santa Teresa is a consistent, exposed beach break, and the crowds are sometimes an issue, but that’s the price of a good wave. The water is running much warmer than normal, so you’ll be in a rashie, not a steamer.

Rusty.

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