Gaztetape - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic cranks into high gear from October through March, delivering the most consistent and powerful swell windows to Gaztetape. Average wave heights consistently hover between 1.6m and 2.1m with long-period (11-13s) groundswells from the WNW, NW, and NNW directions dominating the spectrum. These are the months when the offshore wind probability peaks, especially from the S and SSW quadrants, with ideal conditions occurring 40-45% of the time. The combination of fetching deep-water storms tracking across the Atlantic and cold fronts sweeping southward creates the perfect recipe for clean, lined-up surf at this exposed beach break.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

During the shoulder months of April, May, and September, the surf quality takes a slight step back but still offers plenty of fun sessions. Average heights drop to the 1.2-1.5m range and wave periods shorten (9.9-10.8s), yet the dominant swell direction remains WNW and NW. The wind becomes more mixed: offshore flows from the S/SSW still occur roughly 29-32% of the time, but onshore breezes from the N, NNW, and NW increase as spring and early fall patterns shift. Expect punchy, rideable waves with occasional power pulses from passing lows.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer brings the quietest conditions to Gaztetape. Average swell heights bottom out at just 1.0m, with shorter periods (8.8-9.2s) dominated by local windswell from the NW and NNW. The wind turns predominantly onshore – N, NNW, and NW breezes become the daily norm, making ideal offshore wind (S/SSW) a rarity at only 18-21% of the time. Waves are generally small-to-micro, choppy, and better suited for a longboard or a day off. Occasionally, a weak southerly wind shift can clean things up, but overall this is the low season for quality surf.

January: Peak Winter Power and Offshore Windows

January is the heart of winter and delivers the largest, most consistent swells of the year. Average wave height sits at a solid 2.1m with a long-period 12.7s, meaning the NW Atlantic is firing on all cylinders. Over 62% of the swell comes from the WNW (25.8%) and NW (28.3%) quarters, which are directly exposed to Gaztetape’s NNW orientation. A further 7.9% arrives from the NNW. These swells range from 1.5m to over 2.5m – easily in the pumping to firing category. The S (17.9%) and SSW (12.5%) winds blow offshore a combined 30.4% of the time, mostly light to moderate speeds (10-30 kph), creating glassy-to-rippable faces. With ideal surf conditions 42% of the time, January is a prime month for experienced surfers seeking heavy, long-period waves.