Papa Tangaroa Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.17° S 109.38° W

Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 02 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Papa Tangaroa sea temperature is
20.8° C
0.7° 

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 3 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 8,403 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Papa Tangaroa this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Papa Tangaroa in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 12PM. 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (-06) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 3rd Aug)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Papa Tangaroa.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up over the next fortnight. The week starts off with some solid swell but the wind is a right mess, so we’ll have to be patient. The real standout is building towards the end of the second week, and it’s got some serious potential if the conditions line up.

The first call is for Sunday, August 2nd. The morning is a bit average with a 6ft swell from the WSW and that cross-on breeze from the ESE making things a little bumpy. The wave energy is strong (1759), but the quality isn't there yet. The afternoon cleans up nicely though, with a moderate offshore wind from the N and a 5ft SW swell. That’s where you want to be for a few clean ones. The water temp is 69°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Monday, August 3rd, is a write-off. The wind howls from the SSW, then shifts to the SSE, and the swell gets big and messy. Solid energy (3571-5741) but it’s all stormy chop. Not worth a paddle. That messy trend continues right through until the end of the first week – strong cross-onshore winds and big, lumpy surf. The swell hits 12ft on Thursday and Friday with gale-force winds. This is kite-surfing territory, not for paddle surfing.

The second week starts to look a bit more promising. Saturday, August 8th, has a huge 13ft ESE swell, but it’s a cross-off wind and clean. The energy is through the roof (3861), but this is expert-only, big, and powerful. Sunday and Monday, August 9th and 10th, are still clean with cross-off breezes, but the swell is still pumping. The Monday afternoon session on the 10th is a real highlight: 8ft SW swell with a 17-second period, clean with a NE breeze. That’s a proper groundswell with serious juice (3908 energy). The long period will make it a bit more walled-up at the beach, but at a reef like Papa Tangaroa, those long, clean lines will be a dream for experienced surfers.

The real standout, though, is the Thursday, August 13th through to Saturday, August 15th window. Thursday morning is glassy with a 7ft SW swell. That’s a beautiful, clean start. Then Friday, August 14th, is an absolute gem: a 10ft to 12ft SW swell, with a light offshore to cross-off wind from the N and NNW. The energy is massive (3841-4651), and the conditions are clean. This is top-tier, big-wave reef surfing. Saturday, August 15th, holds onto that quality with a 10ft SSW swell and a clean cross-off breeze. Crowds are possible here, but on a day like that, it’s worth sharing.

The last couple of days, August 16th and 17th, back off a bit in size but hold clean conditions. Still a solid option for a wave.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout. The second week gets better, with Monday the 10th being a great session, but the absolute best is the Thursday to Saturday run from the 13th to the 15th. That Friday, August 14th, is the one to circle.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun morning, near gales from the NNW by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (gales from the SE on Fri morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Fri night).

Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
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
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
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)
1.7
WSW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.1
SW
14
2.4
SSW
13
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.3
SW
14
3
SE
10
3
SE
10
2.5
SE
9
2.5
SE
9
3
ESE
8
3
SE
8
3.5
ESE
9
3.5
ESE
9
3.5
ESE
9
3.5
ESE
10
4
ESE
11
4
ESE
11
3
ESE
11
3
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
847
648
443
1872
3668
3034
2125
1688
1382
1088
1040
1335
1282
2007
2074
1976
2325
3412
3352
2265
2244
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
20
N
55
NNW
35
SSW
40
SSE
35
SSE
35
SE
40
SE
40
ESE
45
ESE
45
ESE
50
ESE
55
ESE
50
ESE
60
SE
70
SE
45
ESE
45
E
35
ENE
40
ENE
35
ENE
Wind State
cross-on
off
off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:49AM0.61m
11:01PM0.57m
10:51AM0.60m
11:46PM0.64m
11:40AM0.60m
00:24AM0.72m
12:23PM0.60m
1:01AM0.80m
1:02PM0.61m
1:38AM0.87m
1:40PM0.61m
2:17AM0.91m
2:19PM0.61m
2:58AM0.94m
Low Tide
4:39PM0.29m
4:51AM0.35m
5:16PM0.26m
5:54AM0.30m
5:50PM0.22m
6:44AM0.26m
6:22PM0.17m
7:27AM0.22m
6:56PM0.13m
8:08AM0.19m
7:33PM0.09m
8:49AM0.17m
8:12PM0.07m
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:56
7:56
7:56
7:54
7:54
7:52
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:50
6:50
6:51
6:51
6:52
6:52
6:52
 mm
2
3
19
1
3
2
2
1
3
2
1
Temp °C
20
21
21
18
18
18
17
18
17
17
18
18
18
18
18
19
20
20
20
20
20
Feels °C
20
19
15
12
11
13
11
10
8
7
8
8
8
8
7
11
15
16
15
15
15
  • 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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