Zicatela Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, this time with the numbers in feet and Fahrenheit for those who think in those units. Let's break down what Zicatela's got for us.

We've got a two-week stretch that goes from small, glassy morning sessions to some big, serious groundswells that will get the heart rate up.

It all starts Sunday, July 12th. The morning is flat calm – dead glass. We've got a clean 4ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period rolling in. The combined energy is 639 (moderate), so there's some decent push. Water temp is average for this time of year. Solid for an intermediate surfer. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a chance of storms and a cross-shore breeze that'll put a little chop on it.

Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th are more of the same: glassy mornings with smaller surf. Monday morning is 3ft from the SSW (energy 522), and Tuesday drops to 3ft (energy 516). Both are glassy, making them perfect for a log or a fun board. Crowds can show up sometimes, so these smaller windows might be a bit more relaxed.

We have a string of tiny, clean mornings from Wednesday the 15th through Saturday the 18th, all around 2ft to 3ft, but mostly glassy in the mornings. Energy is in the 300-400 range – weak, but fine for a beginner or just floating around.

Now, the real windows of quality open up the following week. Sunday, July 19th is a cracker. Morning glass, a solid 3ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period (very long period), and the energy has climbed to 803 (moderate-strong). This is a proper groundswell. The long period means the waves will have real shape and power, but at a beach break like Zicatela, it can make the sandbars a bit tricky.

Monday, July 20th is even better. Same glassy setup, 4ft SW groundswell at a 16-second period, and energy at 887 (strong). This is the best consistent bet in the first week: clean, punchy, and fun.

But the heavy stuff is further out. Look at Friday, July 24th. Morning glass, 2ft SW groundswell with a 24-second period! That's an enormous groundswell period. Energy is 712 (moderate-strong). The sets will be few and far between, but the waves that arrive will be long, clean lines.

Saturday, July 25th is the first big day. We have 4ft from the SW at a 21-second period (very long period), with a combined energy of 1512 (strong). The wind is a light cross-offshore, keeping the faces clean. This is rated as "excellent for experienced surfers." For a good intermediate, it'll be a handful. Expect crowds.

Sunday, July 26th is the biggest. Morning glass, 5ft SW groundswell at a 19-second period. The combined energy is 2166 (strong to very strong). Over 5ft is too big for beginners, and with that power, it's a serious, expert-only, heavy Zicatela day. If you're not a pro, just watch. The afternoon gets blown out.

Monday, July 27th is another big pulse, but the direction swings to the SSE with a much shorter 11-second period and a height of 8ft. The energy is massive at 3128 (very strong), but the quality is poor – a choppy, short-period mess. Better for a kite-surfer than a paddle surfer.

Overall Pick: If you can only surf one day, make it Saturday, July 25th. The 4ft SW groundswell with the 21-second period and a light cross-offshore wind is the ticket for classic, powerful, clean Zicatela for the crew who can handle it. The Sunday morning, July 19th glass-off is the underdog pick for a super clean, consistent session.

Rusty.

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