Papa Tangaroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.17° S 109.38° W

Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 25 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papa Tangaroa sea temperature is
20.8° C
0.5° 

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


Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,495 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papa Tangaroa this week:

The surf forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Papa Tangaroa in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (-06) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sun 26th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 26th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful12AM (Sun 26th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the same scoop in feet and miles per hour.

We’re looking at Papa Tangaroa. A bit of a quiet start, but this coming Sunday the 26th is the real deal. The swell is pushing 10 feet from the southwest, with a long 12-second period. Sunday morning is dead calm—zero wind—so the reef is gonna be glassy perfection. The water temp is about 69°F, which is normal for July.

That Sunday morning is the top pick. The combined energy is huge (5426), but it’s the glassy conditions and the solid 10-foot SW groundswell that make it the standout. This is an advanced spot, and crowds are rare, so you might just have it to yourself. But 10 feet on a reef is no joke—this is for the experienced crew only.

Monday the 27th fades quickly, dropping to 7 feet and then 5 feet, with a fresh NW cross-off wind cleaning it up but the power is gone. By Tuesday the 28th, the wind goes cross-on from the SW and the surf gets chopped up and messy.

There’s a stretch of poor to so-so conditions through the middle of the week. Thursday the 30th looks cleaner but the swell is small.

Then on Sunday the 2nd of August, another good window opens. The swell hits 7 feet from the south-southwest, period around 12 seconds, and the wind is a clean offshore from the north-northeast. The morning is great, and the afternoon stays clean. This is another one for the advanced surfers.

The following week has some strong, near-gale offshore winds that make paddling a real struggle—especially Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th. The swell is small (around 4 feet), but the period gets real long (16 seconds), which is great for the reef, but the wind is brutal.

There’s another little window on Wednesday the 5th of August—glassy conditions with a light southeast breeze, but the swell is only 4 feet. Clean but small.

Later, on Saturday the 8th of August, a new west swell shows up at 8 feet with a short 7-second period. The wind is light and clean. Not the same quality as the earlier SW groundswell, but could still be fun.

Bottom line: Sunday the 26th of July and Sunday the 2nd of August are your best shots. Don’t miss the first one.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NW by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sat
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
1
1
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
12
2.5
SW
12
2.3
SW
13
2
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
2.5
WSW
11
1.8
WSW
10
1.6
WSW
10
1.2
SW
14
1.4
SW
14
1.5
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.2
WSW
12
0.9
WSW
12
2
W
8
2.5
WSW
10
2
WSW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5407
3495
2418
2148
1736
1125
655
1695
694
473
548
754
724
572
514
380
193
501
1400
855
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
5
SSW
0
NNE
10
N
20
NW
30
NW
30
NW
30
SSW
25
SW
25
SW
20
SW
25
SW
25
SW
15
SW
20
W
30
WNW
35
WNW
35
WNW
30
WSW
25
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
High Tide
3:28PM0.54m
4:03AM0.80m
3:55PM0.52m
4:33AM0.79m
4:25PM0.50m
5:06AM0.77m
5:01PM0.48m
5:44AM0.73m
5:49PM0.46m
6:30AM0.70m
6:58PM0.45m
7:28AM0.66m
8:33PM0.46m
Low Tide
9:11PM0.20m
10:43AM0.27m
9:36PM0.21m
11:18AM0.29m
10:03PM0.23m
11:59AM0.30m
10:34PM0.26m
12:47PM0.32m
11:14PM0.29m
1:46PM0.33m
00:08AM0.33m
2:52PM0.32m
1:34AM0.37m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:00
8:00
8:00
7:58
7:58
7:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:45
6:45
6:46
6:46
6:47
6:47
6:49
 mm
6
Temp °C
19
18
18
19
19
20
21
21
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
21
20
19
Feels °C
15
16
18
18
17
17
17
17
16
16
16
15
16
16
16
16
16
17
17
15
  • 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 Papa Tangaroa Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Papa Tangaroa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Papa Tangaroa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Papa Tangaroa 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 (Papa Tangaroa) 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 Papa Tangaroa 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 Easter Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Tanga Roa, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Easter Island, consider staying in Caleton which is 7 km (4 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Easter Island which is 11 km (7 miles) away

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