Cabo de San Antonio - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

As the North Atlantic storm track fires up, Cabo de San Antonio sees a welcome increase in average swell heights to around 1.1-1.2m. While the predominant swell direction remains from the northeast and east quadrant due to persistent trade winds, the occasional frontal passage can swing winds into a favorable offshore quadrant (N, NNE, NE, NNW), cleaning up the waves. South and southwest swells, though rare, are most likely during this period as old lows track across the Gulf or from distant Southern Hemisphere storms. The average period of 6-7 seconds keeps waves punchy and rideable, but don't expect long-period groundswells often. When the alignment is right, these months offer the best chance for quality surf at this south-facing reef.

Fair Surf Season (April, September)

Transitional months. April sees a drop in average height to 0.9m as the winter pattern weakens. Trade winds remain strong from the east, making offshore conditions less frequent. September, on the fringe of hurricane season, can bring sudden pulses of south to southwest swell from tropical systems in the Gulf, but also the risk of messy onshore winds. Wave periods are short, averaging 6 seconds, so conditions are usually small and choppy, but occasional clean small waves can be found.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

The summer doldrums settle in with average swell heights bottoming out at 0.6-0.7m and periods around 6-7 seconds. The dominant easterly trade winds (E, ESE, SE) blow almost constantly, creating onshore conditions that wreck what little wave energy exists. South swell events are extremely scarce (less than 1% occurrence). During this period, the spot is mostly flat or blown out, making it a poor time for surfing. The only hope is a fleeting tropical disturbance that might bring rare south swell and light winds, but reliability is extremely low.

July: The Flattest Month of the Year

July hits the bottom of the annual surf cycle with an average swell height of just 0.6m and period 7.1s. The swell is overwhelmingly from the east and southeast: E (25.4%), ESE (40.4%), and SE (18.7%) make up over 84% of all observations. South-southwest swell is virtually non-existent at 0.2%. The trade winds shift slightly, with ENE (20.7%) and E (28.7%) dominating, but crucially, the percentage of ideal offshore wind reaches its yearly peak at 29%. This is because north quadrant winds become more frequent, albeit light, during July's summer weather pattern. Unfortunately, even with clean offshore winds, the available swell is tiny – mostly micro to small under 0.5m. The rare day with a 1m south pulse from a tropical wave might produce a few rideable waves, but such events are extremely rare. July is a month for flat spells and log sessions on the smallest of swells, if any.