Chacahua - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - September)

As the North Pacific high-pressure system strengthens and the Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts north, Chacahua comes alive. The southern hemisphere's winter storm track pumps consistent, long-period groundswells from the S and SSW directly into our SSW-facing beach. With average wave heights hovering around 1.6m and periods stretching well into the 13-14 second range, the surf is consistently in the fun to pumping category. The real kicker? Offshore winds from the N, NNE, and NE are frequent, with ideal wind percentages climbing to 53-65%. This is prime time – expect clean, lined-up sets perfect for firing lefts and rights. The occasional tropical disturbance can add an extra boost, keeping the energy high throughout these months.

Fair Surf Season (April, October, November)

These transitional months offer a mixed bag but plenty of hidden gems. April sees the swell direction shifting from winter's ENE-E patterns to the more favorable S and SSW, with the average height reaching 1.5m and periods of 14.0s – some of the longest of the year. However, the wind is more fickle, with only 31% ideal in April, often plagued by afternoon onshores from the WSW and W. October and November offer a similar story: solid swell (1.3-1.5m, 12.7-13.3s) and improving wind consistency (57-62% ideal). These months are a surfer's gamble – when the offshore wind aligns with a strong S swell, the waves can be world-class. Be patient and pick your windows.

Low Surf Season (December - March)

Winter months bring a different character to Chacahua. The dominant swell shifts to easterly quadrants (ENE, E, ESE) as strong cold fronts and high-latitude storms track further north. While these swells can wrap in, they're often smaller (averaging 1.2-1.4m) and less consistent, with periods in the 11-13s range. The wind still blows favorably from the N and NW about 38-59% of the time, but the swell quality takes a hit. Expect more small, fun-sized days with occasional punchy sets from a long-period S pulse. It's not a write-off – dawn patrol can still deliver glassy conditions – but the energy is noticeably lower. This is the time for groveling and working on your cutbacks, not chasing bombs.

January: Winter's Mixed Bag

January serves up average swell heights of 1.2m with a period of 11.9s – rideable but not world-class. The dominant swell directions are from the ENE (13.3%), E (8.9%), and ESE (6.2%), which are far from optimal. However, the S and SSW combined still account for 42.5% of the swell energy, providing occasional solid, long-period waves. Wind conditions are favorable 55% of the time, with offshore directions from N (8.7%), NNE (5.8%), and NW (15.1%) dominating the lighter wind categories. The problem is that many of these swells are small (0.5-1m) or mid-range (1-1.5m), so you'll need to pick days when a SSW pulse coincides with a clean N breeze. On those days, the beach can offer fun, rippable waves, but overall consistency is low.