Surf Forecasts:
Rio Chico surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 22s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,057 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 24s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 24s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 24s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 22s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rio Chico over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s a slow start. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, with tiny, messy waves and onshore winds making a mess of things. The water temperature is a real standout though – we’re sitting at 79°, which is a massive 9° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you’ll be surfing in a bath.
We’re looking at a long gap with no real recommendations until the end of July. The first faint glimmer comes around Saturday, July 26th and Sunday, July 27th. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SW, and the wind switches to a clean offshore direction. The combined energy is moderate (565 on Sunday morning), but the swell is coming from the optimum direction for the break. It’s a point break, so it should handle the direction well. This is still only marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got for a while. Not a standout, just a window for a small, clean wave if you’re desperate.
The real pulse of energy hits Tuesday, July 29th. The swell jumps to 5ft from the SW, with a decent 16-second period. The combined energy is strong (1068). The wind is a light cross-onshore, which is a bit of a letdown, but for a 5ft groundswell from a good direction, the Rio Chico point should start to work. It’s an advanced wave, so this is for the crew who know what they’re doing. The size is into the zone where beginners should sit it out, but for the experienced surfer, it’s the pick of the run.
After that, it drops back down. The end of the first week and into the second week looks pretty bleak. Swell sizes drop to 2ft and under, with mostly poor surf conditions. The energy is weak (values under 400). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is no good. There’s a tiny spike in the swell on Thursday, August 7th with 2ft from the SW and a 17-second period, but the cross-onshore wind and weak energy (451) means it’s likely to be a messy, inconsistent little wave. It’s a point break, so the long period won’t help it much.
Overall, the standout is Tuesday, July 29th for the biggest swell and best energy of the period. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 6 | SW 24 | SW 11 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 19 | WSW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 74 | 198 | 198 | 449 | 449 | 380 | 531 | 446 | 516 | 429 | 387 | 369 | 826 | 905 | 986 | 1057 | 843 | 816 | 614 | 597 | 471 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:39AM1.81m | 11:41PM1.67m | 11:42AM1.75m | 00:49AM1.69m | 12:45PM1.74m | 1:47AM1.75m | 1:41PM1.79m | 2:36AM1.84m | 2:29PM1.87m | 3:17AM1.95m | 3:11PM1.95m | 3:55AM2.05m | 3:50PM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:14PM0.66m | 5:34AM0.91m | 6:18PM0.66m | 6:43AM0.91m | 7:18PM0.60m | 7:43AM0.85m | 8:09PM0.52m | 8:33AM0.77m | 8:53PM0.43m | 9:16AM0.69m | 9:32PM0.34m | 9:56AM0.61m | 10:08PM0.28m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | SW 7 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 47 | 63 | 198 | 171 | 174 | 104 | 531 | 446 | 516 | 429 | 387 | 287 | 826 | 905 | 986 | 1057 | 843 | 816 | 614 | 597 | 471 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 16 | WSW 11 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WSW 10 | SSW 5 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | W 8 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 53 | 47 | 195 | 449 | 449 | 380 | 104 | 87 | 100 | 122 | 303 | 369 | 42 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 24 | WNW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | WNW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — |
| kJ | 21 | 198 | 51 | 64 | 48 | 24 | 44 | 33 | 28 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | SW 5 | SW 11 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 13 | 119 | 25 | — | 9 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 1033 | 35 | 62 | 942 | 0 | 62 | 1063 | 33 | 35 | 689 | 224 | 62 | 738 | 33 | 51 | 876 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 33 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Manabi | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ecuador | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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