Papa Tangaroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.17° S 109.38° W

Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papa Tangaroa sea temperature is
21.0° 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 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SW swell with 5,299 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 3.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (-06) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 18th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Best Surf12PM (Thu 23rd Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 16s
Most Powerful 3PM (Wed 22nd Jul)10ft (3.0m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. We’re talking about Papa Tangaroa, a solid reef break that’s exposed to the south and handles the bigger stuff. Water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The forecast starts with a bit of a flat note, but we’ve got waves from Thursday the 16th. It’s a bit of a mixed bag to kick things off. Thursday morning sees a 6ft swell from the WSW, with a moderate 11-second period. The wind is a cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but the wave energy is strong (2008). The afternoon picks up a cleaner 12-second period, still a solid 6ft, but the wind picks up to a fresh breeze, making it a bit of a battle. Not the best start, but it’s surfable.

Friday the 17th is a write-off. The wind swings cross-on and gets fresh, with a lumpy 7ft swell that’s got a short, weak 8-second period. The energy drops off (1199) and it’s just a mess. Don’t bother.

Now, Saturday the 18th morning is a real standout. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a clean 6ft swell from the SW at 9 seconds. The energy is moderate (639), but with that glassy surface, it’s going to be a joy. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze and a 5ft, 10-second swell. This is your best early window – get on it.

Sunday the 19th is a no-go. Strong onshore wind from the south and SSE makes it a choppy, blown-out mess, despite the swell having a decent 12-second period in the afternoon. Not worth it.

Monday the 20th is a nice surprise. Morning has a light cross-off breeze and a 4ft, 11-second swell that’s clean. The afternoon is even better: a gentle offshore breeze from the north with a very long 16-second groundswell pushing 3ft. The energy is moderate (656) but the shape will be incredible on that reef. It’s a sneaky good session.

Tuesday the 21st is a tricky one. The swell jumps up with a very long 24-second period in the morning, coming in at 3ft, but the wind is a fresh cross-off. The energy is strong (1308), but that period is so long it might be a bit walled-up on the reef. The afternoon gets a raw 5ft, 22-second swell with a fresh cross-off, and the energy is very strong (2852). It’s a big, powerful, but tricky swell. For the experienced only.

Wednesday the 22nd gets big and ugly. The swell hits 7ft in the morning and 10ft in the afternoon, both from the SW with long periods, but the wind is cross-on and choppy. The energy is huge (4617 and 5494). This is expert territory, and the wind is going to make it a battle. Not our day.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are a washout for different reasons. Thursday has a big 8ft SW swell but the wind is light and cross-shore, then cross-off. The energy is monstrous (4150 and 4487), but conditions are marginal. Friday the 24th is just onshore and poor, with a big 7ft swell. Skip it.

Saturday the 25th is more of the same – a solid 8ft swell but cross-on wind and choppy. Not for paddling.

Sunday the 26th afternoon is another one to watch. A 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the wind goes light cross-off from the NE. The energy is moderate (1869), but the conditions are clean and excellent for experienced surfers. This is a solid option.

The rest of the run into the 31st of July is a bit of a fade. Monday the 27th is windy and messy, Tuesday the 28th is tiny and chopped out. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th have big, chunky swell (12ft and 10ft) but onshore or cross-shore winds. The afternoon of the 30th is clean with a 8ft SSW swell, but it’s for experts only. Friday the 31st has a tiny 2ft, long-period groundswell with a clean offshore breeze – a small, fun session for the logs.

The real standout is Saturday the 18th morning with that glassy, 6ft surf. The other best bet is Monday the 20th afternoon with the long-period, offshore gem. Everything else is either blown out, too big, or too small.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon night, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun night, strong winds from the WNW by Tue night).

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
0
0
2
3
3
1
0
0
1
3
3
1
2
2
2
0
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
WSW
11
1.9
WSW
12
1.2
SSE
13
2.2
WSW
8
1.9
WSW
8
1.9
SW
9
1.7
SW
9
1.6
WSW
10
1.6
WSW
10
1.6
WSW
10
1.6
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
11
1.3
WSW
11
0.8
SW
16
0.9
WSW
11
1
SW
24
1.6
SW
22
1.9
SW
20
2.2
SW
19
3
SW
18
3
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
813
1019
451
512
453
537
481
470
510
530
698
495
366
302
169
1083
2438
2714
3506
5299
4489
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
30
WNW
35
W
35
WSW
30
SW
15
W
5
WSW
10
WNW
15
WSW
20
S
15
SSE
15
SE
15
ENE
15
N
30
NNW
30
NW
35
WNW
40
WNW
20
SSW
20
SW
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:56PM0.56m
9:12AM0.78m
10:18PM0.61m
10:24AM0.74m
11:27PM0.67m
11:29AM0.71m
00:24AM0.73m
12:25PM0.69m
1:13AM0.77m
1:14PM0.66m
1:55AM0.80m
1:55PM0.63m
2:31AM0.81m
Low Tide
3:00PM0.20m
2:32AM0.26m
4:06PM0.18m
4:02AM0.27m
5:05PM0.16m
5:22AM0.26m
5:57PM0.15m
6:30AM0.24m
6:41PM0.14m
7:27AM0.23m
7:20PM0.15m
8:16AM0.23m
7:53PM0.16m
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:04
8:04
8:04
8:03
8:03
8:03
8:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:40
6:42
6:42
6:43
6:43
6:44
6:44
 mm
1
1
1
2
3
4
4
Temp °C
20
21
21
20
20
19
19
19
20
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
19
19
18
Feels °C
19
19
17
15
16
17
20
19
18
17
17
17
17
17
16
17
16
15
16
16
16
  • 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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