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.

September: Late-Summer Power

September sees the highest average swell height of the year at 1.7m, though the period dips slightly to 13.1s. The SSW direction still holds at 58.0%, but SW (14.0%) and S (20.0%) also add significant energy. A notable shift: the 1.5–2m (29.9%) and 2–2.5m (4.5%) ranges expand – meaning more overhead sets and a heavier feel. Wind ideal drops to 48%, with offshore NW (9.0%) and NNW (5.6%) competing against more frequent onshore W (13.8%) and WNW (14.5%). Early morning is critical. When the north wind holds, the waves are powerful and hollow. Late summer hurricanes can also send in extra pulses of long-period swell, creating epic, pumping conditions if the wind aligns.