El Faro - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

The North Pacific winter pattern settles in, delivering consistent, long-period SSW and SW groundswells to this south-facing beach. With the average swell height hovering around 1.0-1.1m and periods often exceeding 13 seconds, the waves are punchy and well-defined. Offshore winds from the N, NNE, and NNW blow reliably 56-63% of the time, grooming the faces into clean, contestable walls. The combination of solid swell and glassy conditions makes this the prime window for scoring rippable, fun-sized surf at El Faro.

Fair Surf Season (April & October)

Transition months bring a mix of lingering winter swells and early summer pulses. April sees a jump in average height to 1.3m with 14s periods, but offshore wind consistency drops to 47%. October offers a similar trade-off: still good swell from SSW (80% of total) but wind ideal only 50% of the time. Expect occasional sessions with long-period groundswell and clean texture, but be ready for more variable conditions as the wind shifts between offshore and onshore patterns.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

Summer heat ushers in a persistent thermal trough that pumps onshore winds from the SSW and SW, trashing wave quality. While the average swell height remains a deceivingly solid 1.4-1.5m and periods stay in the 13-14s range, the wind blows offshore only 36-45% of the time. The dominant SSW swell direction aligns with the most common onshore wind, creating blown-out, choppy conditions more often than not. When the rare northerly wind does show up, the waves can be surprisingly good, but consistency is low. This is the season to chase early morning glass-offs or wait for tropical systems to deliver clean, powerful swell under favorable wind windows.

May: Swell Peaks, Wind Shifts

May is the swell peak month by average height at 1.4m and period 14.1s. SSW swell dominates an overwhelming 86.4% of the time, with 21.4% of waves in the 1.5-2.5m range — heavy, firing conditions. The catch: offshore winds drop to 42%, with SW onshore winds increasing to 20.1%. The thermal low sets in, and afternoon seabreezes are common. Early mornings offer the best chance for clean, long-period lines before the wind turns choppy. A classic shoulder-season month where quality requires timing.