Puerto Viejo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. The forecast period starts with a pretty slow run. We’re looking at Puerto Viejo, and the first week is honestly a bit of a write-off for decent surf. The first few days have some waves, but the size is tiny and the energy is weak. The real standout is a late bloomer, but we’ll get to that.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

Wednesday morning the 19th of August is the best you’ll see early on, with a clean 6ft swell from the SSW, period at 9 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The combined energy hits 687 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. It’s not huge, but it’s the peak of this first pulse. The rest of the first week drops off fast. Thursday still has some waist-high waves, but by Friday and Saturday we’re down to knee-high stuff with long period swells over 15 seconds, which at a beach and point setup like Puerto Viejo means the waves will be breaking too straight and gutless. The combined energy drops to triple digits, weak.

From Sunday the 23rd through to the end of the month, it’s a flat spell. The swell height barely reaches 2ft, periods are mixed, but the energy is consistently below 200 (weak). The winds are light and often cross-off or offshore, so the ocean looks clean, but there’s nothing to ride. It’s a real lull.

Then, it looks like things finally wake up. On Friday the 28th of August, the afternoon sees a big jump: a 6ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, paired with a light cross-off wind. The combined energy is 1387 (strong), and the conditions are clean. This is for experienced surfers only, since the swell is over 5ft and the period is long, meaning it’ll pack a punch and be best on the point or reef sections. Saturday the 29th is even better in the morning, with 6ft from the SW, 14-second period, clean cross-off winds, and energy at 1385 (strong). These two days are the clear standouts of the entire 16-day window. The swell direction is right on the money from the SW, which is what Puerto Viejo likes best.

After that, the swell slowly fades through the 30th and 31st, dropping from 5ft down to 3ft, but still offering clean conditions and good shape. Then into September it’s back to smaller, ordinary waves.

So, the takeaway is this: the first week is flat and frustrating, but the last weekend of August and the start of September has some proper, powerful, clean surf. You want to be in the water Friday afternoon the 28th and Saturday the 29th, that’s the pick of the forecast. The crowds are often around here, so expect company on those days.

Rusty.

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