Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

First off, we’re looking at Zippers-Costa Azul for the whole run. The water is sitting at a very warm 86°F, which is a solid 6°F above the norm for this time of year – that’s properly unusual, feels more like a tropical bath than a typical winter dip.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a lull. There’s surf on the 20th, but it’s nothing to write home about. The real story starts to build from Wednesday morning, July 22nd. That’s the first true standout. We’ve got a clean 6ft swell from the SW with a 12-second period and glassy conditions. The wave energy is solid (1188), and it’s clean. That morning is the pick of the early week for any intermediate surfer.

The swell sticks around through the week, but the winds get a bit scratchy. The next proper highlight is Sunday afternoon, July 26th. The swell holds at 5ft from the SSW, 18-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves but longer waits between sets. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is pumping (1915), and this is the best session for the second half of that week.

We hit a bit of a rough patch after that. The 28th and 29th see the swell jump up to 10ft and 12ft, but with onshore winds and a stormy setup. That’s expert-only territory, and honestly, the conditions are poor. It’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

The next big opportunity comes on Thursday, July 31st in the afternoon. The swell has dropped to a manageable 6ft from the WSW, but the key is the wind – it’s offshore from the NW and light. That’s clean, lined-up surf, and the energy is still decent (1540). This is a solid option for confident intermediates.

Looking further out, the first week of August is a write-off. The 1st and 2nd are a mess with strong onshore winds and huge, unruly swell. It’s not until Tuesday, August 4th that things turn around. The morning session is a proper standout: 8ft from the SW, 12-second period, and clean cross-offshore winds. The energy is still strong (1978). This is a heavy wave for experts only, but if you’ve got the skill, the conditions are excellent.

So, to sum it up: the best windows are Wednesday morning July 22nd, Sunday afternoon July 26th, and Tuesday morning August 4th. The long-range stuff on August 4th looks promising, but we’re a couple weeks out, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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