Punta Huanchaco Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s talk surf for the next couple of weeks. It’s not a big, booming swell window, but there’s clean, rideable surf spread right through the period, especially for the crew on longboards, fishes, or anyone who likes trim and glide over brute force.

The Overall Pattern

We’ve got a drawn-out run of small, but persistent, SSW to SW groundswell across the entire outlook. No massive days, but consistent, clean conditions dominate the first week. The standout window lands slap-bang in the middle of the second week, when the size bumps back up a notch. The water is notably warm—much warmer than average for this time of year at 71°F, which is a solid 7°F above normal. That’s a major talking point for the first break we mention.

Monday 14th – Friday 18th September

The opening stretch from Monday 14th through to Friday 18th is all about small but workable surf. Morning sessions look best each day with consistent cross-off winds from the south at 9 mph. The swell holds around 2 ft to 4 ft, coming from SSW and SW directions, with long periods between 10 and 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, so the energy is clean and lined up despite the small size. The combined swell energy ranges from moderate to strong (243 to 584), which for the size is impressive—there’s more push in the water than the wave face suggests.

Monday 14th morning is the pick of this early run: Punta Huanchaco has 4 ft of SSW swell at a 10-second period, with clean cross-off breeze and clear skies. The combined energy hits 499, so it’s punchy for the size. Perfect for beginners and cruisers. Crowds can pop up here, but with the small surf, it should be manageable. As the week rolls into Tuesday and Wednesday, the swell drops slightly but stays clean and fun through the mornings. Thursday and Friday mornings also offer clean 2 ft SW swell—nothing epic, but very surfable.

Afternoons this week get a bit more marginal with tide or wind shifts, so stick to the mornings.

Saturday 19th – Monday 21st September

This weekend into Monday 21st stays small but clean. Saturday morning (19th) has light cross-shore winds and a 2 ft SW swell at a very long 20-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, but it’s small—so points and reefs will pick it up better than beach breaks. The combined energy is 412 (moderate). It’s a glassy, easy day for logging. Sunday 20th sees similar conditions with very light winds in the morning. Monday 21st morning returns to clean cross-off winds and a 2 ft SW swell at 16 seconds. Good energy again for the size.

Tuesday 22nd – Thursday 24th September

Now we hit a flat, poor run. Tuesday 22nd through to Thursday 24th sees the swell drop to 1 ft to 2 ft with poor conditions and cross or cross-on winds. The combined energy falls to between 101 and 162—weak. There’s nothing to recommend here. A proper lull in the middle of the outlook.

Friday 25th – Sunday 27th September

Things wake back up. Friday 25th morning shows a jump to 4 ft of SSW swell at 13 seconds, with light cross-off wind and a combined energy of 455. It’s still a little marginal on the score, but the size and wind are better. Saturday 26th morning is cleaner with 3 ft SW swell at 12 seconds, cross-off breeze at 9 mph, and combined energy of 357. Good fun, clean conditions.

The real standout of the entire outlook is Sunday 27th September. The morning has 3 ft of SW swell at a longer 14-second period, light offshore cross-off winds from the south at just 6 mph, and combined energy of 498. The afternoon swell bumps up to 4 ft at 13 seconds with cross-off breeze and a combined energy of 690—the highest reading in the whole forecast. This is the best day on offer: clean, punchy for the size, and lined up. If you’re only surfing once, this is it. Keep an eye on crowds because this spot can get busy, but the conditions will be choice.

Monday 28th – Tuesday 29th September

The final two days taper off. Monday 28th has 3 ft SW swell with cross-off wind in the afternoon, but the mornings are a little messy. Tuesday 29th morning has small 2 ft SW swell at a very long 20-second period, with light cross-shore wind, and combined energy of 396. Tuesday afternoon improves with clean cross-off wind and a combined energy of 446. It’s small but clean to finish the run.

Final Verdict

If you’re chasing the best clean small-wave session, aim for the mornings of Monday 14th through Friday 18th, then lock in Sunday 27th September as the best day of the whole period. After Tuesday 24th, the three-day lull is the only real dead zone. After that, it picks up again into the second weekend.

Rusty.

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