Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s size up what’s on the table at Zippers-Costa Azul. This spot is a consistent beach and reef setup, intermediate territory, and for this stretch, you've got a solid run of surf to look forward to. The water is a balmy 89° at the start – that’s much warmer than normal, so you'll be surfing in tropical bathwater.

The period starts off with a little teaser. Friday the 21st, the afternoon brings a clean 2 ft SSW groundswell, period of 13 seconds, combined energy of 299 (moderate). The wind is glass – dead calm. That’s as good as it gets for a small-wave session; clean as a whistle. It’s the standout right there, just for the pure, perfect conditions. The early outlook is optimistic.

From Saturday the 22nd through the 24th, the swell hangs around 3 ft to 3 ft but the wind gets messy – cross and cross-onshore breezes, which will scuff up the surface. It’s rideable for the keen ones, but not pretty. Then Tuesday the 25th morning sees a jump in size to 6 ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, and the combined energy cranks up to 1233 (strong). Wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s a bit choppy but there’s some push. A decent option if you need a fix. The Tuesday afternoon holds similar size at 5 ft, still light cross-shore wind, which is more manageable.

The real goods start showing around the 28th. Friday the 28th morning, you get a 4 ft SSW swell with a long 17-second period, energy at 1259 (strong). Wind is light cross-onshore, so the surface might have a bit of texture, but that’s powerful groundswell running. Friday afternoon gets even better: bumping to 5 ft, same 18-second period, and the energy surges to 1511 (very strong). The wind switches to a light cross-offshore, leaving it clean. That afternoon is a top call – the biggest, cleanest, most powerful lineup of the whole run so far.

Saturday the 29th keeps it pumping with 5 ft to 5 ft SSW swell, long 16-15 second periods, and only a light cross-shore wind. It’s a bit inconsistent between sets with that long period, but the wave shape will be excellent, especially peeling along the reef. This is a prime window.

The first week of September brings a complete change. The 1st and 2nd are blown out by howling near-gale cross-onshore winds, even though there’s plenty of swell. That's a write-off for a normal surf. But look at the 3rd and 4th: you get massive 15 ft and 12 ft SW swells, with very strong wave energy (over 9000 and 6000). For Thursday 3rd afternoon it’s still big at 15 ft, moderate onshore wind, and the score tips up to a decent level. This is expert territory only – that size and period is a washing machine for the unprepared. The combined energy is off the scale at 7856 (very strong). Only the most experienced paddlers should even look at it, and even then, it’s going to be a monster.

For the last two days, the 5th, it drops back to 7 ft and 6 ft from the WSW with a shorter 12-second period and light winds – more manageable, but still solid.

So if you’re picking the one true standout, it’s got to be Friday the 28th afternoon, or the whole Saturday the 29th. Big, clean, powerful groundswell with good wind. That’s as good as it gets in this window.

Rusty.

Read more