Colotepec - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Colotepec delivers its most consistent and rewarding surf from October through March, as the North Pacific storm track fires up and sends long-period SSW groundswell marching toward the Oaxacan coast. During these months, the dominant high-pressure systems over the southern US and northern Mexico set up a reliable gradient that pumps cool, offshore winds from the N, NNE, and NNW across the beach. Average wave heights hover in the 1.1–1.5m range with periods stretching past 13 seconds, creating clean, powerful lines that peel along the sandbars. The wind is ideal 48–62% of the time, meaning plenty of windows with glassy or lightly-textured waves. This is prime season for scoring rippable, firing waves in uncrowded morning sessions.

Fair Surf Season (April - June)

As spring unfolds, the swell engine shifts into a higher gear – average heights climb to 1.5–1.6m and periods reach 14 seconds, with a staggering 68–78% of the swell arriving from the optimal SSW direction. However, the trade-off comes in wind consistency. The percentage of ideal offshore wind drops to 41–46% as the land heats up and thermal troughs develop, bringing more frequent onshore and cross-shore flows from the SW and WSW. When the early morning N/NE breeze holds, the surf can be absolutely pumping with thick, powerful walls. But expect afternoon windswell to creep in. This window is for the committed surfer willing to navigate the variability for those premium dawn patrol scores.

Low Surf Season (July - September)

Summer and early fall bring a mixed bag of conditions to Colotepec. The SSW swell train remains active – average heights still around 1.6–1.7m and periods above 13 seconds – yet the wind patterns become more mercurial due to tropical moisture and the occasional hurricane influence. While the offshore wind percentage recovers to a decent 48–57%, the arrival of southern-hemisphere swells and local sea breezes often degrades surface quality. Watch for episodes of choppy, onshore wind from the SSW and SW that can spoil otherwise solid lines. This is the low season in terms of consistency, but the rewards can be epic when a distant cyclone sends in reinforced pulses of long-period energy and the wind aligns from the north.

October: Building Fall Rhythm

October signals the start of the best season as the autumn pattern locks in. Average swell height is 1.5m with a 13.3s period, and SSW dominates at 64.9% of the total. The 1–1.5m (36.3%) and 1.5–2m (25.9%) ranges are well balanced, offering plenty of head-high, rippable waves. Wind ideal bounces back to 54%, with offshore NW (13.3%), NNW (9.3%), and N (5.4%) becoming more consistent. The mellow onshore winds of summer fade away. October delivers the best of both worlds: solid SSW swell and clean, offshore mornings. The North Pacific storm track is revving up, so keep an eye on buoy data – this month often sees the first pumping, long-period swells of the season.