Surf Forecasts:
Rio Chico surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, WSW swell with 826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rio Chico this week:
The surf forecast for Rio Chico over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rio Chico in the next 16 days are 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rio Chico over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on Rio Chico in feet and miles per hour.
Let’s be real, the first week is a bit of a bummer. We’ve got a long stretch of messy conditions, and only a couple of windows that look half-decent. The main event, and the only one that’s really got me excited, is around Friday, August 14th, with a possible follow-up on Saturday, August 15th.
The standout is Friday, August 14th. The morning is the time to be there. A solid SW groundswell is coming in around 4ft, with a long 17-second period. That’s proper energy (combined energy of 706), and it’s a point break, so it’ll handle that long period beautifully. The wind is light out of the SSW at about 6 mph, so it’s cross-onshore but light enough to keep the surface clean. The water is an absolute warm bath at 26°, which is a massive 5° warmer than it should be this time of year – that’s very unusual. The afternoon swell picks up a touch to 4ft, but the wind gets more onshore, so get on it early. This spot is very consistent, and it can get a crowd, so don’t sleep in.
Saturday, August 15th is your next look. It’s a bit smaller, around 4ft from the WSW with a 15-second period (combined energy of 614). The morning again has light cross-onshore winds from the SW. It’s not the star of the show, but it’s a solid option.
The rest of the 16 days is pretty grim. From the 7th through the 13th, it’s all small, choppy, and onshore. After the 15th, we slide back into that same pattern of weak swell and poor wind. The second week is mostly quiet, with nothing really to chase.
If you’ve got one session in you, make it the morning of Friday, August 14th at Rio Chico.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 306 | 480 | 472 | 301 | 288 | 178 | 132 | 128 | 106 | 220 | 167 | 252 | 180 | 163 | 269 | 132 | 130 | 144 | 173 | 299 | 719 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 10:46PM1.80m | 10:59AM1.93m | 00:08AM1.85m | 12:17PM1.95m | 1:21AM1.98m | 1:29PM2.05m | 2:23AM2.16m | 2:30PM2.16m | 3:15AM2.33m | 3:23PM2.27m | 4:02AM2.46m | 4:12PM2.34m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 4:21PM0.51m | 4:44AM0.77m | 5:37PM0.48m | 6:09AM0.75m | 6:51PM0.39m | 7:26AM0.65m | 7:56PM0.26m | 8:29AM0.51m | 8:51PM0.13m | 9:24AM0.37m | 9:41PM0.04m | 10:12AM0.26m | 10:26PM0.01m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | WSW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 306 | 480 | 472 | 301 | 288 | 178 | 132 | 43 | 106 | 220 | 167 | 151 | 180 | 163 | 52 | 49 | 43 | 23 | 173 | 299 | 719 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | WSW 12 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 5 | WSW 16 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 169 | 55 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 42 | 128 | 64 | 184 | 58 | 252 | 129 | 142 | 269 | 132 | 130 | 144 | 13 | 171 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | W 24 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 16 | SW 21 | — | N 6 | — | — | N 6 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 21 | SW 20 | — | — |
| kJ | 12 | 11 | — | — | 11 | 19 | 20 | 93 | 69 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 14 | 37 | 16 | 43 | 101 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 14 | 60 | 41 | 21 | 33 | — | 18 | 17 | 24 | 29 | 43 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 935 | 231 | 173 | 991 | 81 | 173 | 876 | 62 | 55 | 876 | 33 | 173 | 991 | 231 | 115 | 1128 | 33 | 62 | 1063 | 62 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Manabi | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rio Chico Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rio Chico provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rio Chico can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rio Chico surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Rio Chico) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Rio Chico may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Rio Chico is 45 km (28 miles) from Jipijapa. If you plan a holiday in Manabi, look for hotels and other accommodation in Jipijapa. Jipijapa has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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