Surf Forecasts:
Rio Chico surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SW swell with 309 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 21s 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 21s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s is also forecast. 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 0.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7AM. 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+) | 7AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 21s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rio Chico over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right now, the surf here at Rio Chico is pretty flat and sad, to be honest. The swell’s weak and disorganized, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, chopping up what little is out there. For the next several days, it’s going to be a real struggle just to find a wave, and even then it’ll be short-period, gutless stuff in the 2ft to 3ft range. The energy is weak, with combined swell readings sitting between 103 and 365, which is just a mess of jumbled, short-period lines.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s not cold, but it's not doing you any favors. The first week is a write-off for real surfing. There’s a bit of a pulse trying to fill in around the 20th, but it stays small, and the wind just keeps messing with it. The period bumps up to 16-21 seconds around the 19th, which is a nice sign of a proper groundswell, but the size is still tiny—2ft to 2ft. That long period at a beach break like this just means it’ll be breaking too straight, without any push. It's the kind of stuff you paddle out for, sit around, and then paddle back in.
By the 25th, things start to build a little more, and the model starts to show a touch more life. The 26th morning is the one real highlight of this whole stretch. It’s the only time we get a "glassy" report with the wind dropping to next to nothing. Swell is a meager 3ft from the WSW with a 13-second period, and the energy jumps up to 427. It’s not big, but it’s clean and rideable, and that’s a win.
After that, it looks like it fades back out again, with more onshore junk and weak, short-period waves through the start of October. The combined energy drops back, and we're left on the same old carousel of poor to marginal conditions.
So, for the next couple of weeks, temper your expectations. This spot is exposed and this is what a blank stretch feels like. It wouldn’t take much to change the picture, and a forecast can flip, but as it stands, the only standout is that clean window on the morning of the 26th. Don't hold your breath for anything else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 20 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 305 | 301 | 253 | 178 | 175 | 175 | 145 | 134 | 152 | 150 | 186 | 299 | 171 | 249 | 246 | 173 | 211 | 169 | 164 | 164 | 106 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:41AM2.11m | 7:13PM1.98m | 7:18AM1.95m | 7:57PM1.82m | 8:00AM1.78m | 8:52PM1.68m | 8:54AM1.65m | 10:08PM1.59m | 10:12AM1.57m | 11:38PM1.60m | 11:41AM1.58m | 00:48AM1.71m | 12:51PM1.68m | 1:36AM1.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:59PM0.37m | 1:14AM0.62m | 1:39PM0.51m | 1:57AM0.78m | 2:27PM0.64m | 2:51AM0.91m | 3:30PM0.76m | 4:09AM1.00m | 4:51PM0.80m | 5:43AM1.00m | 6:10PM0.76m | 6:55AM0.90m | 7:08PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 13 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 305 | 301 | 253 | 53 | 34 | 175 | 62 | 56 | 152 | 147 | 123 | 85 | 171 | 249 | 246 | 173 | 211 | 169 | 164 | 164 | 106 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | SW 23 | WSW 22 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 20 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 22 | 21 | 47 | 178 | 175 | 62 | 145 | 134 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 299 | 155 | 79 | 78 | 54 | 17 | 13 | 25 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | SW 9 | W 13 | SW 21 | SW 21 | — | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | W 16 | N 8 | N 8 | SW 5 | W 15 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 5 | SW 11 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 22 | 3 | 3 | 71 | 70 | — | 60 | 97 | 115 | 150 | 186 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 51 | 25 | 7 | 30 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | — | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | SW 7 |
| kJ | 16 | 39 | 33 | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 15 | 22 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 173 | 876 | 33 | 62 | 991 | 231 | 62 | 1063 | 62 | 62 | 1063 | 81 | 62 | 738 | 371 | 62 | 1063 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 59 |
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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