Surf Forecasts:
Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SW swell with 1,742 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papa Tangaroa in the next 16 days are 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Papa Tangaroa.
Alright, so the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Tanga-Roa. The swell is pulsing through, but the wind is gonna play a big role in whether we get clean waves or a choppy mess. The water temp is sittin' around 69°, which is pretty much right where it should be for this time of year, so the rubber suits will be just fine.
We’ve got a window of promising surf starting Wednesday afternoon, the 16th. That’s when things start to look tidy. The swell is going to be a long-period groundswell from the SW, about 4ft, with a period of 19 seconds. That’s a long roll, which means powerful, better-shaped waves, but it can break a bit straight on the reef or beach. The wind will be light and cross-offshore from the WNW, which is a beauty. The combined wave energy is strong at 1241 (moderate to strong), so there'll be plenty of push. This is really the standout session for the more experienced crew as the swell is clean and the conditions will be excellent. Thursday morning the 17th still looks clean with a similar 4ft SW swell, but that wind picks up into a moderate breeze, so it gets a bit bumpier.
Now, the next real standout is a bit of a wildcard. On Monday the 21st, the swell jumps up to a massive 12ft from the west, but the wind will be hammerin’ from the west at 28 mph, making it a messy cross-shore. The energy is huge – over 3600 (very strong) – but that onshore breeze just tears it apart. This is a serious, big-wave beast that's only for absolute experts, and even then, the conditions look more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle session. That trend of big, windy surf continues through Tuesday and Wednesday, but the wind keeps it from being a true surfer's playground. For the beginners, anything over 8ft, especially with that wind, is a hard pass.
So, to wrap it up, the best bet for clean, quality waves is the Wednesday afternoon (16th) session at Papa Tangaroa. The long-period groundswell and light offshore wind are a match made in heaven for those who can handle the reef. The big pulse on the 21st is pure power, but you’ll be fighting the wind for it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed night, near gales from the NW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 13 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1685 | 1280 | 949 | 730 | 576 | 409 | 700 | 945 | 1052 | 1087 | 854 | 803 | 565 | 710 | 606 | 529 | 537 | 356 | 549 | 234 | 1119 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:22AM0.55m | 11:48PM0.69m | 12:20PM0.57m | 00:36AM0.74m | 1:04PM0.58m | 1:14AM0.78m | 1:39PM0.59m | 1:47AM0.80m | 2:08PM0.59m | 2:16AM0.80m | 2:34PM0.59m | 2:42AM0.80m | 2:56PM0.59m | 3:06AM0.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:23AM0.26m | 5:16PM0.25m | 6:25AM0.21m | 6:06PM0.22m | 7:11AM0.17m | 6:47PM0.19m | 7:48AM0.15m | 7:20PM0.18m | 8:20AM0.14m | 7:49PM0.17m | 8:48AM0.14m | 8:14PM0.16m | 9:12AM0.16m | 8:38PM0.17m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:11 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — |
 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 23 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 8 | SW 16 | WSW 7 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 10 | NNW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 1685 | 1280 | 949 | 730 | 576 | 409 | 352 | 945 | 1052 | 1087 | 854 | 803 | 354 | 710 | 193 | 529 | 537 | 356 | 245 | 234 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 20 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | ENE 7 | SW 15 | S 11 | SW 15 | SSE 10 | N 6 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 45 | 44 | 373 | 287 | 379 | 249 | 700 | 296 | 183 | 340 | 211 | 16 | 565 | 20 | 606 | 9 | 79 | 336 | 325 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | SW 21 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 12 | E 7 | ENE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 7 | SSE 10 | — | SW 14 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 285 | 355 | 54 | 33 | 32 | 113 | 29 | 19 | 116 | 26 | 16 | 31 | 18 | 9 | 19 | — | 368 | 40 | 24 | 22 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | W 8 | NNW 4 | W 9 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 | N 7 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 271 | 9 | 364 | 156 | 789 | 41 | 306 | 549 | 770 | 1119 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3525 | 3525 | 3541 | 3525 | 3541 | 3602 | 3635 | 3610 | 3610 | 3525 | 3525 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Easter Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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