Surf Forecasts:
Tongo Reef surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with 750 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tongo Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Tongo Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tongo Reef in the next 16 days are 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-06) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tongo Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at the charts for the Tongo Reef region.
We've got a bit of a slow burn over the next week or so. The opening days are pretty marginal, with the swell hanging around the 4ft to 6ft mark and a lot of cross-off wind. It's going to be there, but it won't be pretty. There's some energy in the water, with combined energies around 700 to 900, but it's not well organised.
Monday the 17th through to Thursday the 20th is looking like a write-off for a proper session. The swell is small, around 4ft to 6ft, and while the winds are cross-off, there's not enough push or shape to make it worth the paddle. The water is 78°F, which is a massive 9°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that's really unusual and something you should feel in the water.
Things get a little more interesting on Friday the 21st. The morning shows a drop in wind to a gentle breeze and the wave comment says to expect very good surf conditions. Swell is 5ft from the SSE with a 10-second period. It's the first real, clean window we get. It's not big, but better than what we've seen.
The weekend looks a bit ordinary again, but hold on to your hats for Friday the 28th. The swell kicks up to 5ft and then 6ft in the afternoon, and the energy jumps to 1482 – that's a serious charge of power. It's still cross-off wind, but the size is starting to show.
But the real standout is Saturday morning the 29th of August. This is the one. We're looking at a 7ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period and combined energy of 1907. That is a proper pulse of west energy. The winds are a gentle cross-off breeze from the S, which should keep it clean. The data says it's excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. This is the day to clear your schedule. Tongo Reef is a reef break, so that long-period, 15-second swell will wrap in nice and deep. This one is for the advanced crew.
It's a measure of how big that day is that the Sunday the 30th looks smaller by comparison (6ft), then it drops off again into Monday the 31st. The long-range into the first week of September shows another bump in size, with 6ft and 6ft on the 1st, but with shorter periods, so it might be a bit less lined up.
So, overall, the first week is a bit of a grind. The standout, the one you're waiting for, is the Saturday morning session on the 29th of August. Big, clean, and powerful. That's the one.
Signing off,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
466 | 477 | 441 | 412 | 422 | 442 | 709 | 736 | 743 | 562 | 588 | 407 | 334 | 260 | 254 | 274 | 274 | 330 | 319 | 346 | 390 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:59PM1.88m | 6:19AM1.96m | 6:44PM1.76m | 7:01AM1.82m | 7:33PM1.63m | 7:49AM1.69m | 8:32PM1.52m | 8:47AM1.58m | 9:46PM1.46m | 9:58AM1.52m | 11:05PM1.48m | 11:12AM1.53m | 00:11AM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:56AM0.28m | 00:06AM0.33m | 12:37PM0.38m | 00:47AM0.49m | 1:22PM0.50m | 1:32AM0.64m | 2:14PM0.61m | 2:28AM0.78m | 3:20PM0.68m | 3:45AM0.86m | 4:39PM0.70m | 5:13AM0.86m | 5:52PM0.65m | ||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 |
466 | 477 | 441 | 301 | 293 | 442 | 175 | 736 | 743 | 562 | 588 | 407 | 334 | 260 | 254 | 274 | 274 | 222 | 184 | 176 | 125 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
15 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 261 | 12 | 116 | 64 | 38 | 142 | 264 | 272 | 203 | 236 | 175 | 170 | 330 | 319 | 346 | 390 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | N 7 | NW 10 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | SW 18 | N 8 | N 9 | N 8 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 |
3 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 100 | 98 | 248 | 269 | 99 | 94 | 69 | 84 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
279 | 333 | 370 | 412 | 422 | — | 709 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 94 | 1271 | 94 | 977 | 1264 | 94 | 1238 | 1238 | 0 | 977 | 1238 | 0 | 0 | 1253 | 0 | 94 | 94 | 977 | 977 | 94 | 94 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Galapagos - San Cristobal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ecuador | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Tongo Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tongo Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tongo Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tongo Reef 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 (Tongo Reef) 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 Tongo Reef 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 Galapagos - San Cristobal? If you are looking for accommodation near Tongo Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Galapagos - San Cristobal, consider staying in Galapagos Islands which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Galapagos - San Cristobal where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include San Cristobal which is 53 km (33 miles) away and Bahia de la Academia, 79 km (49 miles) away.











