El Faro • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

The coolest and driest months are El Faro's cleanest. High pressure over mainland Mexico and the subtropical eastern Pacific establishes a consistent offshore flow from the N/NNE/NW/NNW quadrant, with ideal surfing conditions 52-63% of the time. Long-period SSW/S swell in the 3-5ft (1-1.5m) range rolls in on 13-13.5s periods, while water temps stay a warm 27-28°C. The result is groomed, rippable lines with far fewer blown-out days.

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

These transitional months offer a trade-off. In April and May, average swell size climbs to 1.3-1.4m (4-5ft) and periods stretch to around 14s, but offshore wind reliability drops to 42-47% as the summer wet season approaches. October and November see the reverse: swell gradually fades while dry-season northerly winds rebuild and ideal wind percentages rise back toward 50-59%. You can still score excellent El Faro sessions, especially at dawn or when a NW/NNW breeze aligns with fresh SSW groundswell.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

The summer wet season delivers the most physical wave energy, averaging 1.4-1.5m (4-5ft) as the ITCZ, tropical waves, and eastern Pacific hurricane activity stir up the ocean. However, the wind pattern becomes predominantly southerly and onshore, ideal wind drops to just 36-45%, and rainfall frequently exceeds 4.95 mm/day. El Faro's surface gets chopped up and rain-soaked. Big tropical storm swells can still light it up with heavy 6-8ft (2-2.5m) sets, but you need precise timing and patience.