San Mateo Surf Break

Lat Long: 0.95° S 80.83° W

San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 27 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's San Mateo sea temperature is
26.9° C
4.6° 

San Mateo surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


San Mateo surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,245 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for San Mateo this week:

The surf forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at San Mateo in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (-05) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 28th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 17s
Best Surf 4AM (Tue 28th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 17s
Most Powerful 7AM (Tue 28th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up at San Mateo over the next couple of weeks.

The outlook is a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got a solid long-period groundswell running through the beginning of the week, but the wind is going to be a constant battle. The standout window is looking like Wednesday morning, the 29th of July, with clean conditions. After that, it’s a long, drawn-out fade with a lot of cross-chop and onshore junk.

The first real action is on Monday, the 27th of July. The morning brings a 4 ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1147. The problem is the wind is a light cross-shore, not clean, so expect some ripples on the face. It’s a little messy early. The afternoon goes downhill fast with a moderate cross-onshore wind and a score that suggests it’s not worth paddling out.

Tuesday the 28th stays pretty average. That 5 ft SW swell is still pushing through with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore all day. It’s choppy and lumpy, a real battle.

Now, Wednesday the 29th of July is the highlight. Early morning, the wind goes light and cross-offshore, and the sea cleans up. We’ve got a 5 ft SW swell, 15-second period, and the energy is still solid at 845. The forecast says “very good surf conditions,” and honestly, that’s the truth. This is your best shot. The face will be clean, with those longer-period lines making it easier to paddle out. After that, the wind switches onshore again by the afternoon, and it’s back to average.

From Thursday the 30th of July right through to the middle of the second week, the swell is dropping out and the wind is a constant issue. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The swell drops from 4 ft to 2 ft over several days, and the energy falls from 467 all the way down to 117. The wind is mostly cross-shore, often from the SW, with a moderate chop. It’s a classic summer lull, and the consistency is just not there.

There is a slight lift in the second week, around the 6th and 7th of August. The swell tries to push back up to 3 ft-3 ft, and we see some longer-period energy again (16-18 seconds), but the wind is still not playing ball. It’s cross-shore or cross-onshore, keeping the surf choppy and marginal. The combined energy peaks around 680-791, which is moderate, but the quality is just not there.

The very end of the run, around the 11th of August, the swell is tiny (1 ft) and the energy is weak (134). Not worth getting the board wet for.

So, to wrap it up: Wednesday morning, the 29th of July, is your one true standout. Get on it early, because the rest of the forecast is a long wait for something better. San Mateo is an inconsistent spot, and this is one of those stretches where you have to pick your window.

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

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri morning, light winds from the SSW by Sat morning).

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
3
2
1
3
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
18
1.3
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
1.5
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.5
SW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.8
SW
12
0.8
SW
12
0.7
SW
12
0.6
WSW
15
1
SW
12
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1099
1099
1187
1123
1096
1014
836
736
485
451
386
320
305
231
210
197
132
148
273
206
144
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
20
WSW
10
WSW
10
SW
20
SW
15
SSW
5
S
20
WSW
10
SW
15
SSW
25
SW
25
SSW
25
SSW
30
SW
15
SSW
10
SSW
20
W
10
WSW
15
SSW
25
SW
15
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
2:26PM2.08m
3:11AM2.14m
3:09PM2.17m
3:49AM2.26m
3:48PM2.26m
4:24AM2.36m
4:25PM2.31m
4:58AM2.44m
5:01PM2.35m
5:31AM2.49m
5:37PM2.35m
6:03AM2.51m
6:13PM2.32m
Low Tide
8:25AM0.83m
8:48PM0.49m
9:10AM0.73m
9:28PM0.39m
9:50AM0.65m
10:05PM0.32m
10:27AM0.57m
10:39PM0.29m
11:03AM0.52m
11:13PM0.28m
11:38AM0.48m
11:46PM0.31m
12:14PM0.46m
00:20AM0.37m
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clear
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clear
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:30
6:30
 mm
Temp °C
27
26
24
25
25
25
27
26
25
27
27
25
26
25
24
26
26
25
27
26
24
Feels °C
29
27
27
27
26
27
30
27
28
28
27
26
26
23
25
28
27
27
28
26
25
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the San Mateo Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for San Mateo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at San Mateo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our San Mateo 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 (San Mateo) 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 San Mateo 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Manabi? If you are looking for accommodation near San Mateo, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Manabi, consider staying in Manta which is 11 km (7 miles) away. Other places in and around Manabi where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Montecristi which is 21 km (13 miles) away, Portoviejo, Jipijapa and Sucre.

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