
Surf Forecasts:
San Mateo surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,358 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s 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 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s 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 1.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s cooking.
First off, the water’s running at a toasty 81°, which is way warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a solid 8° warmer than normal, so you can leave the thicker wetsuit at home.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start this week. The first few days, Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd, are pretty flat and messy. You’ve got poor surf conditions with a weak cross-shore breeze and tiny swell. Not much to get excited about. The combined energy is low, under 300, so it’s more of a longboard or rest day scenario.
Come Thursday the 23rd, still small, but the morning shows a slight improvement with a 0.3m swell from the SW, but the period is a whopping 26 seconds – that’s a very long groundswell. It’s still weak energy (251), but that long period means it could offer some clean lines at the right tide if you’re patient. Friday the 24th morning is marginal, with energy picking up to 740, but still small at 0.7m and a cross-on wind.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 25th morning is a standout. The swell is a clean 1.0m from the SW, period 19 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-shore. The energy is solid at 775, and the conditions are described as marginal but with a score that’s a step up. It’s not the biggest, but it’s clean and the wind is light. This is a good one for a fun session.
But the real highlight, the best on offer, is Sunday the 26th morning. You’ve got glassy conditions, a light wind from the SSW, and a 1.1m SW swell with a 17-second period. The energy is strong at 781. The conditions are called “very good.” This is the one to circle. It’s a point break (San Mateo) and it’s inconsistent, but when it’s on, it’s on. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.
Moving into the next week, Monday the 27th morning is clean with a cross-off wind and a 1.3m SW swell, 18-second period, and energy now at 1165. That’s moderate to strong energy. It’s a bit more size, but the wind is clean. Tuesday the 28th morning is the biggest in the run – 1.7m from the SW, period 16 seconds, glassy wind, and energy at 1508. This is expert territory, over 1.5m, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. The long period will make it wall up nicely at the point.
Wednesday the 29th morning sees a drop back to 1.5m with a light cross-off wind and clean conditions. Energy is still strong at 936. Thursday the 30th morning is clean again, 1.2m, with a light cross-off. Good conditions.
After that, the swell fades a bit into the first week of August. The mornings on Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st are smaller and clean, but the energy drops. There’s a bit of a gap from the 1st to the 3rd, with only marginal or poor conditions. Monday the 3rd of August morning brings a pulse back, with 1.6m from the SW and strong energy at 1142, but it’s a bit bumpy with cross-shore wind.
The standout for the whole run? Sunday the 26th of July morning at San Mateo. Glassy, clean, 1.1m, long period, and strong energy. That’s the pick.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | NW 18 | NW 18 | NW 17 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
169 | 214 | 153 | 330 | 235 | 172 | 114 | 112 | 75 | 105 | 202 | 347 | 449 | 647 | 412 | 723 | 627 | 786 | 663 | 783 | 531 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:29PM2.18m | 8:50AM2.31m | 9:23PM2.03m | 9:39AM2.15m | 10:24PM1.92m | 10:35AM2.03m | 11:31PM1.86m | 11:38AM1.96m | 00:39AM1.87m | 12:40PM1.95m | 1:38AM1.93m | 1:37PM2.00m | 2:28AM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:23PM0.48m | 2:32AM0.59m | 3:13PM0.59m | 3:23AM0.76m | 4:08PM0.67m | 4:21AM0.89m | 5:08PM0.73m | 5:26AM0.96m | 6:12PM0.73m | 6:34AM0.96m | 7:11PM0.67m | 7:34AM0.91m | 8:03PM0.59m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 11 | SW 21 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 |
107 | 180 | 126 | 330 | 235 | 172 | 93 | 78 | 75 | 77 | 90 | 91 | 202 | 647 | 164 | 723 | 627 | 786 | 663 | 783 | 525 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 5 | NW 19 | WNW 18 | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 17 | NW 16 | SW 11 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 |
169 | 214 | 153 | 18 | 93 | 65 | 114 | 112 | 75 | 69 | 77 | 347 | 449 | 174 | 412 | 68 | 64 | 39 | 69 | 82 | 531 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 21 | WNW 21 | WNW 20 | NW 19 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 18 | NW 18 | SW 26 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 11 | SW 16 | NW 16 | NW 16 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WNW 14 | SW 22 | SW 9 | WNW 14 |
42 | 42 | 75 | 94 | 3 | 1 | 83 | 80 | 27 | 105 | 202 | 75 | 89 | 62 | 62 | 52 | 53 | 41 | 118 | 20 | 38 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SW 6 | SW 5 | — | — | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 5 | SW 4 |
9 | 14 | 12 | — | 34 | 57 | — | — | 81 | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 98 | 76 | 17 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 954 | 7 | 0 | 1073 | 141 | 7 | 139 | 139 | 7 | 912 | 141 | 102 | 815 | 46 | 7 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 1003 | 111 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Manabi | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ecuador | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










