Playa de Arrigunaga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s heading our way for Playa de Arrigunaga over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest with you, it’s a tough start and we’ve got a long wait for anything that’s genuinely worth paddling out for.

The short version is that we’re staring down a solid 11-day stretch of what I’d call a write-off. From now through to the 10th of August, the surf is tiny and the conditions are just poor. After that, we get a couple of days where it’s barely surfable, but then we have to wait until the 15th for a glimmer of hope, and then things get weird with a massive swell that’s way too big for this spot.

Right now, the water is at 74°, which is a couple of degrees warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a nice little bonus for the skin, even if the waves aren't cooperating.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a wave, don’t even bother looking this week. The first few days, from the 4th to the 10th, are a total blank. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 3ft windswell with weak energy, barely cracking 100 (combined energy of all swells directed here is in the 20s to 110s). The wind is a mess of cross-onshore and onshore, and the swell periods are short, around 5 to 9 seconds. It’s just messy.

The whole period from the 4th to the 10th is a gap. There’s nothing to recommend.

The 11th of August (Tuesday) morning finally shows a pulse. We get a 3ft groundswell from the NNW with a 10-second period, and the energy jumps to 168 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a light east cross-offshore, which cleans things up. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about right. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first real chance you’ll have to get wet. The afternoon gets a bit blown out again.

Then we’re back to flat and poor conditions from the 12th through the 14th. Tiny waves, onshore winds, and very low energy.

Now, the 15th of August (Saturday) morning is the first real standout of the whole forecast. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the NNW with a 10-second period. The energy is up to 244 (moderate wave energy), and the wind is a glassy west offshore. That’s the best window we’ve seen all forecast. It’s clean, it’s got some push, and for intermediate surfers, this is your moment. It’s not huge, but it’s the most surfable conditions we’ll see for a while.

But hold on, because the 18th and 19th of August are a different story. A massive swell rolls in. On the 18th, the swell hits 5ft to 7ft, with energy in the 300s to 700s, but the wind is onshore and choppy. It’s a messy, blown-out mess. Then the 19th of August (Wednesday) is wild. The data shows a 12ft swell from the NW with a 10-11 second period, and the energy is through the roof at 2550 (strong to very strong wave energy). The wind is glassy in the morning, but the report warns that the swell is too big for this break. This is for expert surfers only, and even then, at a sandbar break like Playa de Arrigunaga, an 12ft NW swell with that much power is going to be a washing machine. Honestly, it looks more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is the morning of the 15th of August. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The 11th of August is a consolation prize. Everything else is a wait-and-see or a total pass.

Rusty.

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