Papa Tangaroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.17° S 109.38° W

Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papa Tangaroa sea temperature is
20.8°C
1.0° 

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 30 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,888 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (-06) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 1st Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 1st Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 31st Aug)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let's talk surf. The Atlantic is gonna throw a lot at us over the next couple of weeks, and we gotta pick our moments. It’s not a straight shot, but there’s some real muscle coming, and a few windows where it’ll all line up.

First real swell to get excited about is this Sunday the 30th. We got chest to head high waves, around 4-5 ft, from the southwest, with a long 16-second groundswell and some serious energy in the water at 1766. The problem? Fresh cross-onshore wind at 19 mph with rain showers. It’s gonna be lumpy and a battle. Monday the 31st is the big one, though. That swell jumps to a solid 13 ft from the southwest, and the energy readings are off the charts at 9003 in the morning. Forget the morning, it’s blown out. But the afternoon? The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph cross-onshore, skies clear, and it’s game on. That’s your standout day of the early run. This is a serious, powerful swell—only for the experienced. If you’re not comfortable in heavy water, this isn’t your day.

Tuesday the 1st keeps the size, with 11 ft dropping to 10 ft, but the wind gets messy again, making it lumpy. Wednesday the 2nd eases to 8 ft, and the wind finally goes fully offshore from the south at a gentle 9 mph. The surface will be cleaner, but still only marginal. Water temps are about average for this time of year. The weekend of the 5th and 6th sees the swell back in the 7-8 ft range from the southwest, but the wind is light and onshore. Not ideal, but you can find something if you look hard.

Here’s the real gem: Tuesday the 8th. Swell is a fun 6 ft from the southwest, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the northeast at 6 mph. The report says it’s “excellent surf conditions” and the lines will be clean. This is your best chance for a proper, crisp session. Not the biggest, but the quality will be there.

Now, don't plan a surf trip for the second week. From Wednesday the 9th on, the wind goes ballistic, with near gale-force and strong breezes from the west and northwest at 28-34 mph. The swell drops, and the ocean turns into a washing machine. By the 13th and 14th, it’s just a messy, small, blown-out mess. A proper dead zone.

So, circle Monday afternoon the 31st for raw power, and Tuesday the 8th for the cleanest conditions. Everything else is a gamble. Be smart about it.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat night, min 17°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sat night, light winds from the WSW by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 16°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
0
0
6
7
3
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SW
16
1.4
SW
16
1.4
SW
17
3.5
SW
15
4
SW
17
4
SW
16
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SW
12
1.1
SW
19
1.5
SW
17
1.6
SW
14
2
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1140
1017
1160
5261
8289
8496
6907
4559
3830
2903
2390
1948
1750
1019
827
920
1297
947
1895
Wind (km/h)
35
NNW
30
SW
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
SW
15
SW
15
WNW
20
WSW
25
SW
25
S
15
S
15
S
20
S
20
SE
25
SE
20
SE
20
SE
15
SSE
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:11AM0.55m
9:21PM0.55m
9:43AM0.54m
10:29PM0.63m
10:48AM0.55m
11:18PM0.71m
11:37AM0.57m
00:00AM0.79m
12:17PM0.59m
00:39AM0.85m
12:55PM0.60m
1:18AM0.90m
Low Tide
1:38AM0.35m
2:50PM0.32m
3:39AM0.33m
3:54PM0.29m
4:58AM0.28m
4:43PM0.25m
5:52AM0.22m
5:24PM0.20m
6:35AM0.17m
6:02PM0.15m
7:14AM0.14m
6:40PM0.10m
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:02
7:04
7:04
7:05
7:05
7:05
 mm
1
1
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
19
18
18
18
17
17
17
17
17
18
17
17
17
17
17
17
16
17
17
Feels °C
13
13
12
12
12
13
15
13
13
13
13
14
12
13
13
13
12
13
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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