Zumaya (Playa de Itxurun) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Zumaya (Playa de Itxurun). We’ve got a 16-day window, but the first few days are a bit of a mixed bag before we hit a real standout.

The water here is sitting at 74°F right now, which is a solid 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a notable little bonus – you’ll be surfing in a warm bath.

We kick off properly on Sunday the 30th. The morning is looking good with a clean 5ft NW swell, glassy conditions from a light NNE breeze, and the combined energy is moderate (415). It’s a decent start, but the afternoon spoils it with a cross-on wind and poor surf, so get your session in early.

Monday the 31st is the real pick of the first week. The morning brings a slightly bigger 6ft NW swell, glassy offshore wind from the west, and a solid boost in energy (557). This is clean, fun surf – not too big, not too small. The afternoon gets a bit wonky with onshore wind, so again, it’s a morning mission.

Tuesday the 1st of September drops off a little with smaller 5ft swell and cross-on winds. Wednesday the 2nd is tiny, with only 3ft and weak energy (102), and it stays small and ordinary right through until Friday the 4th.

Now, here’s the one you’ve been waiting for. Saturday the 5th of September. The morning is an absolute standout. We’re looking at a solid 7ft NW swell, glassy conditions, and the wave energy is massive (1688). This is a serious groundswell with a long 14-second period, meaning it’ll have plenty of power. That said, for a beach/jetty setup like Zumaya, a long-period swell can sometimes make the waves a bit too straight, but when it’s this clean and glassy, the potential is huge. This is for experienced surfers only – 7ft is pushing into expert territory. The afternoon still holds size but the wind shifts cross-on, so the morning window is your golden ticket.

Sunday the 6th is still worth a paddle with a 5ft NNW swell and clean cross-off winds, but it’s a step down from the previous day. After that, the surf fades off into a long, flat run. From Monday the 7th right through to the end of the window on the 14th of September, the swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, with weak energy and very ordinary conditions. There are a few glassy mornings, but the waves just aren’t there to make it worthwhile.

So, to sum it up: the best surf on offer is the morning of Saturday the 5th of September – that’s your big, clean, powerful session. Monday the 31st of August is a good second option for a fun, clean morning. Otherwise, you’re looking at a lot of small, flat days in the second week. It’s not a blank run, but it’s close.

Rusty, signing off.

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