
Surf Forecasts:
Papa Tangaroa surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,288 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Papa Tangaroa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Papa Tangaroa, and honestly, the first few days are a total write-off. Don’t even bother paddling out until things settle.
Saturday the 25th is a total mess. That 15ft SW swell on Saturday morning is coming in with a 22 mph cross-on wind. The combined energy is massive at 7269, but it’s just a lumpy, blown-out wall of whitewater. It stays ugly through Saturday afternoon – 13ft, still cross-on, and choppy. Sunday the 26th is where it finally turns. The morning drops to 10ft from the SW, but the wind goes dead calm – glassy conditions. The combined energy is still pumping at 2562, so this is for experienced surfers only. The water’s 69°, which is about normal for this time of year. Sunday afternoon cleans up with a light offshore from the NNW, 8ft swell, and it’s looking excellent.
Monday the 27th still has decent 7ft to 5ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-off and bumping up to 19 mph, so it’s marginal. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are back to poor surf with cross-on winds and lumpy conditions – not worth your time. Thursday the 30th is marginal, with a slight chance of a clean window in the afternoon as the wind goes cross-off, but the swell is dropping to 3ft.
Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August bring a bit more size – 8ft on Friday morning, clean with cross-off wind, but the combined energy is moderate (1270). The afternoon gets lumpy again. Saturday the 1st has 7ft to 8ft SW swell, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so it’s a bit of a gamble.
Now, the standout in the second week. Sunday the 2nd of August is a gem – 5ft swell, clean with cross-off wind from the NW, and the combined energy is solid at 1400. It’s a marked improvement. Monday the 3rd of August has offshore winds from the NNW, 6ft SW swell in the morning, but the afternoon gets a strong 28 mph offshore with a 3ft, 16-second period groundswell – that’s very long period, making it clean but hard to paddle into, best for a point break or reef setting. Tuesday the 4th of August has a solid 7ft to 8ft SSW swell with a 15 to 16-second period, but the wind is onshore, so it’s messy. The energy is huge (3414), but it’s not clean.
The real highlight is the last weekend. Saturday the 9th of August morning has a 4ft, 18-second period SW groundswell – that’s very long period, and the combined energy is 1665, which is moderate. The wind is cross-off from the NE, so it’s clean. Sunday the 9th of August afternoon pushes 7ft from the SW with a 17-second period, strong energy at 2536, and still clean with cross-off wind. That’s the best on offer – a long-period groundswell wrapping in clean, perfect for a reef like Papa Tangaroa. Expect crowds possible, as it’s a rare, consistently good day.
The rest of the second week has some marginal days, but nothing beats that Sunday the 9th. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, that’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7249 | 5407 | 3495 | 2536 | 2148 | 1764 | 1125 | 655 | 1332 | 634 | 464 | 509 | 439 | 799 | 597 | 598 | 293 | 406 | 1053 | 990 | 868 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:28PM0.54m | 4:03AM0.80m | 3:55PM0.52m | 4:33AM0.79m | 4:25PM0.50m | 5:06AM0.77m | 5:01PM0.48m | 5:44AM0.73m | 5:49PM0.46m | 6:30AM0.70m | 6:58PM0.45m | 7:28AM0.66m | 8:33PM0.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09AM0.26m | 9:11PM0.20m | 10:43AM0.27m | 9:36PM0.21m | 11:18AM0.29m | 10:03PM0.23m | 11:59AM0.30m | 10:34PM0.26m | 12:47PM0.32m | 11:14PM0.29m | 1:46PM0.33m | 00:08AM0.33m | 2:52PM0.32m | 1:34AM0.37m | |||||||
8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | |
— | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SE 13 | WSW 10 |
7249 | 5407 | 3495 | 2536 | 2148 | 1764 | 1125 | 655 | 1332 | 634 | 464 | 509 | 373 | 799 | 597 | 464 | 293 | 153 | 100 | 183 | 868 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 11 | N 5 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 10 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SE 12 | SW 14 | SE 12 |
20 | 19 | 12 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 31 | 19 | 355 | 282 | 234 | 439 | 486 | 572 | 96 | 278 | 115 | 65 | 102 | 260 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | N 6 | NNW 6 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SSE 10 | SW 16 | SSE 10 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 12 | NNW 11 | SW 14 |
— | — | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 73 | 24 | 29 | 387 | 164 | 43 | 132 | 39 | 224 | 109 | 52 | 12 | 118 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | — | SSW 6 | WSW 10 | SSW 6 | — | WSW 12 | W 5 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 56 | — | — | — | 41 | 295 | 34 | — | 598 | 77 | 406 | 1053 | 990 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3602 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3610 | 3602 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 3525 | 12 | 3541 | 3588 | 3577 | 3541 | 3610 | 3635 | 3610 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Easter Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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










