Surf Forecasts:
Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 20s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, W swell with 3,484 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 1PM (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 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, breakin' it down in feet for ya. We're talking about Papa Tangaroa, a reef break that's wide open to the south.
The first few days are tough to call. We got a lot of juice in the water, the combined energy is up there around 1127, but it's just messy with the wind. Water's around 69°, pretty average for now.
You gotta wait until Wednesday the 16th for the first real good window. The morning session is the call: a clean 3ft south groundswell with a real long period of 20 seconds, and the wind is light and blowing cross-offshore. That's clean, lined-up reef waves right there. Energy is still strong at 1052. This is expert territory, that long period will have the waves zipping.
Thursday and Friday, the 17th and 18th, we see a drop to about 4ft, still clean but the wind is picking up. It's still rideable for a good intermediate.
Then we hit a rough patch. From Saturday the 19th all the way to Wednesday the 23rd, the wind turns on or the swell gets too wild. We see a huge jump to 13ft on the 20th and 21st, but with strong cross-shore winds, that reef will be a washing machine. Energy peaks at 3657, but that's kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing. That's a solid five-day gap of poor conditions.
Looking into the second week, the 25th of September brings a massive 16ft swell, but the wind is still cross-onshore. Energy is a whopping 6320, but it's chopped up.
Now, the one that makes you want to call in sick is Saturday the 26th. The morning is calling for glassy, flat-calm conditions, with a 10ft SSW groundswell at a 12-second period. That is the standout. Energy is a meaty 3646, and with offshore breezes in the afternoon, Papa Tangaroa will be absolutely cooking. This is for the experienced chargers only. The weekend after will have leftovers, but that Saturday is your best bet by a long shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed morning, strong winds from the NNW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 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 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1127 | 1266 | 1576 | 1685 | 1280 | 875 | 730 | 500 | 471 | 700 | 945 | 1052 | 1087 | 865 | 803 | 565 | 719 | 614 | 536 | 430 | 465 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:46PM0.64m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:08PM0.27m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |  | |  |  | |
 | 8:17 | — | — | 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 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 40 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 9 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 1127 | 1266 | 1576 | 1685 | 1280 | 875 | 730 | 500 | 471 | 352 | 291 | 1052 | 1087 | 865 | 803 | 565 | 719 | 614 | 536 | 430 | 465 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 12 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | S 10 | SW 14 | S 9 |
| kJ | 35 | 51 | 44 | 45 | 58 | 373 | 287 | 379 | 153 | 700 | 945 | 183 | 302 | 168 | 110 | 177 | 161 | 163 | 17 | 379 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 21 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 | SW 18 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 12 | E 7 | S 12 | N 5 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | NW 11 | S 9 | W 16 |
| kJ | 47 | 46 | 185 | 285 | 355 | 52 | 33 | 108 | 249 | 29 | 30 | 90 | 25 | 69 | 23 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | WNW 4 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | NNW 6 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 17 | 24 | 37 | 66 | 618 | 383 | 1271 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3525 | 2 | 2 | 3525 | 3525 | 3562 | 3635 | 3602 |
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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