El Confital - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The North Atlantic fires up during the heart of winter, and while El Confital doesn't see the sheer size of an open-ocean break, the combination of long-period groundswell from the north and northwest and frequent offshore NE to NNE winds creates a window for quality waves. Despite the swells coming from less-than-ideal directions, periods in the 12-13s range allow for significant wrap around the Isleta peninsula, delivering rippable 1-1.5m faces on the best days. This is when the spot shows its true potential, especially if a rare southern hemisphere pulse lines up.

Fair Surf Season (March - June & October)

As the storm tracks shift northward in spring, average swell heights drop to around 1m and periods ease back to 10-11s, making the waves more fun-sized and groveling. The wind remains favorable a solid 46-56% of the time, with reliable NE trades grooming the surface. While consistent southern swells are still scarce, occasional small pulses from the SSW or SW can produce clean, punchy waves for the savvy local. October marks the transition back toward winter, with a sharp uptick in period and a slight increase in south swell energy, hinting at the coming goodness.

Low Surf Season (July - September)

Summer brings a shift to a more pulse-driven regime. The dominant swell direction locks in from the NNE and NE, but these are short-period (8-9s) windswell and small to medium in height, rarely breaking with authority over the reef. The trade wind machine cranks, with offshore breezes often blowing, but the lack of long-period groundswell from the south means long flat spells. Occasional distant tropical storms or south swells can break the monotony, but generally this is a time for groveling and micro-surf.

July: Trade Wind Wash

July marks the low point in both quality and consistency. The average period drops to just 8.9s – windswell territory – and average height is 1.1m, but most of that comes from short-period, locally generated sea. A whopping 63.9% of the swell comes from the NNE, with 52% of the wind from the same direction at speeds often 20-30kph. While that means offshore breezes (47% ideal), the short period and northerly direction produce choppy, messy waves that rarely wrap in well. The southern quadrant is almost silent (0.3% combined). This is a month for patient groveling and early morning glass-offs before the trade wind picks up.