Puerto Viejo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the stretch ahead for Puerto Viejo. We’ve got a solid window of action coming, but it’s not all gonna be gold. The water is running real warm, about 70°F, which is a solid few degrees above what you’d expect this time of year. It’s a noticeable jump, good for not needing a wetsuit.

We start things off on Monday morning, August 17th. It’s not big, with waves around 3ft from the southwest, but the offshore breeze makes it clean and lined up. The energy is moderate, at 363. It’s a bit soft, but a fun little wave to get the blood moving.

Things pick up real quick for Tuesday, August 18th. The swell jumps to a solid 6ft to 6ft from the southwest. The energy takes a big step up to 946 in the morning and then hits 1108 by the afternoon. Winds stay offshore and clean all day, so this is shaping up to be a proper fun one. That morning session looks glassy, while the afternoon sees a touch more breeze, but it’s all still offshore. This is the first standout of the week.

Wednesday, August 19th, keeps the good times rolling with 6ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, still from the southwest. The period drops a bit into the 9-10 second range, but with clean conditions, there’s still plenty of push. The energy is moderate at 662. It’s not as powerful as Tuesday, but it’s still well worth a paddle out.

Thursday, August 20th, gets a little trickier. The morning has a cross-shore wind that’s messing with the surface. The swell is still 5ft, but it’s not looking clean. The afternoon cleans back up with a cross-offshore breeze, and the swell settles to 5ft, which will be more surfable. Just pick your session on this day.

Forget Friday, August 21st. The swell drops off hard to under 3ft, the energy is weak at 214, and there’s just no push. It’s small and messy, a good day for a rest or to fix your gear.

The weekend and the start of the next week, from August 22nd to the 27th, is a real flat spell. We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, and the energy is weak. The winds are often offshore or clean, but there’s nothing to ride. It’s a solid stretch of waiting, about five or six days where the surf check is gonna be a quick one. Periods are all over the shop, including some long 19-second groundswell, but that doesn’t mean much when the height is that small.

We get a flicker of life on Friday, August 28th. The morning is small, but the afternoon sees a better pulse, bumping up to 4ft from the SW with a long 17-second period. The energy jumps to a moderate 794, and with offshore winds, this could be a sneakily fun little session.

Now, here’s where it gets real interesting. Saturday, August 29th, is the one to circle. We’ve got a strong 6ft SW swell with a long 15-second period and clean, light winds. The energy is cooking at 1543, which is strong. This is the standout of the whole run. It’s got size, it’s got power, and it’s clean. This is a proper Puerto Viejo day.

Sunday, August 30th, continues the fun with a solid 5ft swell in the morning, dropping to 4ft by the afternoon. It’s still clean and good, but not quite at the level of Saturday. Monday, August 31st, is a bit smaller, but it’s still a good wave with the morning being the pick.

Now for the long-range promising stuff. We’ve got a big pulse showing for Tuesday, September 1st. The swell is up to 7ft to 8ft from the south, but the period is only 9 seconds. The energy is right up there, 1649 to 1871, which is very strong. It’s gonna be a powerful, lumpy surf that’s going to be a handful. This is more for the experienced crew, and with that shorter period, it might be a bit unruly. It’s promising for sure, but the kind of power that demands respect.

So, for the best of the best, you’ve got Saturday the 29th for that perfect combination of size, power, and clean conditions. Tuesday the 1st is your second pick if you’re an expert, but it’s more about raw power than quality.

I’m Rusty, and I’ll see you in the water.

Read more