Tortuguero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the Tortuguero stretch. We got one spot, and it’s lookin’ like a bit of a slow burner with a serious payoff later on.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a lull. The first few days look pretty ordinary, with cross and cross-onshore breezes messing with the shape on those 5 ft waves. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best (228 to 354). Honestly, for the first week of August, it’s a waiting game. The swell direction is out of the ENE, and while the break is open to it, the winds aren't playing ball enough to make it a must-paddle.

Now, come Saturday the 9th of August, things start to get real interesting. We’ve got a 7 ft ENE swell rolling in with a 10-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 794. What’s got me stoked is the wind. We’re talkin’ glassy conditions—dead calm or barely a whisper—Saturday morning and into Sunday the 10th. That’s the kind of clean, smooth surface that’ll make those 7 ft waves feel like proper groundswell runners. For the morning sessions, this is where you want to be.

Actually, if I had to pick one standout, it’s Wednesday the 12th of August. We get a bump in size to 7 ft from the ENE, with a solid 10-second period. The combined swell energy is strong (over 1000), with 1022 in the morning. The morning session is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the afternoon goes glassy. This is expert territory at 7 ft—it’s got push and power, and the long period (10 seconds) means good shape and longer waits between sets. The water temp is sitting at a warm 84°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.

That big swell holds through the week, and by Sunday the 16th, we’re seeing the biggest number of the run: 8 ft from the ENE with an 11-second period. The energy is very strong (1384). But the wind is a bit cross for the morning, so it won’t be as pristine as that Wednesday glass-off. That size is definitely only for the experienced crew.

If you’re a beginner, the best windows for you are the glassy mornings around the 9th and 10th when the swell is a friendlier 6 ft to 7 ft. The crowds at Tortuguero are listed as "sometimes," so you might have company on those clean days, but it’s not a zoo.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. Don't bother. But from the 9th of August onward, we’ve got a solid run of clean, punchy ENE groundswell. The absolute highlight is that glassy, 7 ft session on Wednesday the 12th. Mark it on your calendar.

Rusty.

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