Surf Forecasts:
Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 17,103 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Papa Tangaroa in the next 16 days are 6.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) 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 3.0m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty lookin' at the Tanga-Roa stretch for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you—this forecast is a wild ride, but you gotta pick your moments.
The water here is sitting at 69°F right now, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises jumping in. The spot is Papa Tangaroa, a solid reef break that only works on a S swell, and it's for advanced crew only. It's fairly consistent, but crowds are rare, so you might have it to yourself.
We start off with a rough patch. From Wednesday the 19th right through to Sunday the 23rd, it's a write-off. The wind is howling and cross-off or cross-on, making a mess of things. The swell is there but the conditions are just plain poor. The combined energy is weak to moderate at best, like 648 to 1010, but it doesn't matter with that wind.
Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are a different story, but not a good one. Massive swell rolls in, 10ft to 16ft, with a very strong energy reading of 2489 up to 13074. This is big, powerful stuff. The wind is cross or cross-on, though, so it's gonna be lumpy and choppy. This is strictly for the elite, and even then, it's not going to be clean. On Tuesday afternoon, the energy is still huge at 12248, and the wind is cross, so it's a bit of a mess. It gets a bit of a score, but it's not what I'd call a standout session.
Wednesday the 26th is still too big and windy, with 13ft to 12ft swell and 25 km/h cross-on winds. The energy is still massive, around 5000 to 3800, but the conditions are poor.
Thursday the 27th, the swell drops to 7ft in the morning, but it's still cross-on and choppy. Energy is moderate at 1125. Not great.
Now, here's the one to circle. Friday the 28th of August. This is the standout. Morning glass-off with NNW wind at 5 km/h, and a clean 8ft SW swell. The combined energy is strong at 1503. The afternoon is offshore too, with a moderate breeze keeping it clean. This is the best on offer, hands down. It's a bit big for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is the window. The swell direction is from the SW, which is the optimum for this spot.
Saturday the 29th, the wind swings back onshore, and the swell drops to 6ft. It's marginal, not worth the paddle.
Sunday the 30th, the swell picks up to 10ft, but it's cross-on and choppy. Energy is strong at 3548. Not clean.
The first week of September is a mixed bag of onshore winds and big swell, all cross-on and messy. Energy stays high, around 2000 to 2600, but the wind ruins it. The only glimmer is Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon, with a light NE breeze going cross-off, a 5ft SW swell, and a strong energy of 2027. That could be a sneaky good session, but it's a long way out.
So, bottom line: the best bet is the morning of Friday the 28th of August at Papa Tangaroa. Glassy conditions, a solid 8ft SW swell, and strong energy. That's the one to plan for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri night, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Sun afternoon, moderate winds from the WSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 19 | WSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
539 | 427 | 808 | 702 | 865 | 844 | 620 | 453 | 214 | 203 | 269 | 123 | 317 | 618 | 644 | 1810 | 7894 | 17103 | 13074 | 12248 | 8568 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:00PM0.63m | 1:25AM0.81m | 1:35PM0.61m | 1:57AM0.82m | 2:04PM0.60m | 2:25AM0.82m | 2:29PM0.58m | 2:51AM0.81m | 2:52PM0.56m | 3:17AM0.79m | 3:15PM0.55m | 3:44AM0.77m | 3:42PM0.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:54PM0.16m | 7:52AM0.18m | 7:24PM0.16m | 8:26AM0.19m | 7:50PM0.16m | 8:55AM0.20m | 8:14PM0.16m | 9:22AM0.21m | 8:37PM0.17m | 9:48AM0.23m | 9:01PM0.19m | 10:16AM0.25m | 9:28PM0.20m | ||||||||
7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
— | 6:58 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 19 | WSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
539 | 423 | 505 | 353 | 865 | 844 | 620 | 453 | 214 | 203 | 269 | 123 | 317 | 618 | 644 | 631 | 7894 | 17103 | 13074 | 12248 | 8568 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SE 7 | SE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | S 11 | SW 18 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — |
57 | 427 | 808 | 702 | 275 | 164 | 54 | 35 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 21 | 252 | 263 | 426 | 48 | 38 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 9 | NE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SW 19 | SSE 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | NNE 6 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
84 | 45 | 37 | 52 | 71 | 82 | 92 | 25 | 27 | 14 | 57 | 10 | 99 | 129 | 41 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
25 | 44 | 44 | 121 | 77 | — | 86 | 44 | 29 | 209 | 540 | 1461 | 1163 | 1093 | 547 | 1810 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3525 | 3525 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3541 | 0 | 3541 | 3562 | 3525 | 3541 | 3541 | 3525 | 3588 | 3577 | 3577 | 3635 | 12 | 3635 | 3562 |
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











