Ciruelo - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - November)

Ciruelo hits its stride from April through November, when the dominant swell shifts to the optimal southern quadrants and the Pacific storm track delivers consistent, long-period groundswells. During these months, the swell window remains wide open to the S, SSW, SW, and WSW, generating waves that wrap directly into the beach with power and shape. The average wave period climbs into the 13-14 second range, ensuring clean, punchy lines on the 1-1.5m fun-sized faces that dominate the charts. Wind patterns become lighter and more variable, but still manage to blow offshore from the north or northwest a solid 50-70% of the time, especially during morning hours. This is the prime window for surfing at Ciruelo.

Fair Surf Season (December & March)

December and March offer a mixed bag. December boasts the highest percentage of ideal wind (80%), with strong offshore flow from N and NNW, but the swell direction is split between northern and southern sources. Only about half the waves arrive from the favorable SSW-SW quadrant, while the rest come from north of west—these wrap in but lack the same punch. March sees a nice bump in SSW swell (38% of total) and long periods (12.4s average), but wind quality drops to 54% ideal, with more frequent onshore afternoon breezes. Both months can still produce memorable sessions when the right combination aligns.

Low Surf Season (January & February)

January and February represent the weakest period for Ciruelo. The swell is dominated by north-northwest and north-northeast directions, which sit outside the optimal entry window. Only about a quarter to a third of the waves come from the preferred S through WSW directions, and these are mostly small, averaging 1.1m with periods dropping to 9-10 seconds. Although offshore winds from the N and NNE are frequent (60+% of the time), the lack of quality swell makes for small, weak surf that rarely exceeds 1.5m. It’s a time for smaller boards and patience, or for exploring other breaks.

October: Transitional Swell, Wind Challenges

October sees the swell still heavily dominated by the SSW (93.4%) and SW (6.1%), with an average period of 13.2 seconds. Wave heights remain in the familiar 0.5-1.5m range, with 48% at 1-1.5m. The biggest challenge is wind: ideal percentage is only 51%, the lowest of the year. Onshore winds from the SW and WSW surge—SW 20.8%, WSW 20.8%—and these are often moderate in speed (10-20kph). This makes for bumpy, sectiony waves on many days. Still, the swell is there, and on days when a cold front passes or a high-pressure system builds to the north, offshore winds from the N and NW can clear things up. October is a month for the dedicated surfer who is willing to check the forecast every day and pounce on the windows of opportunity.