Playa Avellanes • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

The heart of the dry season brings a classic Central American setup to Playa Avellanes. A strong eastern Pacific subtropical high pumps the northeast trade winds down the coast, setting up the offshore and cross-offshore flow this west-southwest-facing beach loves. At the same time, the North Pacific storm track sends pulses of long-period W and WNW groundswell, while more southerly energy puts SW and WSW swell into the mix. December and January are particularly reliable; February and March see a touch more period and a similar west-angled mix. Expect fun, rippable surf in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range, with the occasional overhead set when the period stretches toward 13-14s. Water temps hover near 28C (82F) and rain is scarce, making this the most consistent, user-friendly window of the year.

Fair Surf Season (April - June and October - November)

As the trade winds ease and the ITCZ drifts north, the swell window shifts south. April through June are dominated by long-period SSW and SW energy generated by Southern Hemisphere winter storms. It is not perfect for this WSW exposure, but the 13-15s periods and occasional west in the swell keep waves wrapping around the points. October and November are the flip side of the transition: October brings the first strong SW pulses of the northern autumn and the heaviest rains, while November dries out quickly as the trades re-establish and surf quality jumps. These are the months for flexible surfers willing to pick windows; morning offshore breezes and solid 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) swells can show up.

Low Surf Season (July - September)

Mid-year is the green season at Playa Avellanes. The Intertropical Convergence Zone sits overhead, rainfall peaks, and the dominant swell is long-period SSW with almost no W or WNW energy. The strong trades of winter are largely gone, replaced by lighter, more variable winds, and the onshore S/SW flow can put a lump on the lineup. July and August are the slowest for pure west swell, although the water is bathwater warm and the odd SSW swell can still be fun. September marks the beginning of a slow improvement as southwest swell percentages climb again, but the rain and unstable winds keep it from being truly reliable. If you score a clean day in this window, hold onto it.