Palplanche - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - October)

During the austral winter, the South Atlantic storm track becomes more active, sending pulses of long-period swell towards the Gulf of Guinea. While the dominant swell direction at Palplanche is predominantly from the SW and SSW—far from the ideal NW window—the combination of slightly elevated wave heights and a higher frequency of offshore winds from the SE and SSE makes this the most reliable period. The average wave height sits between 0.5-0.6m, and with periods often exceeding 12s, the small but clean lines can offer fun-sized waves for those willing to position correctly. The trade winds strengthen, and the percentage of ideal wind conditions peaks near 30% in May, meaning more clean, glassy mornings before the sea breeze kicks in.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & November)

The transitional months bring a mix of leftover winter swell and fading summer patterns. March sees ideal wind only 12% of the time, but the average period stretches to 12.3s, hinting at occasional long-period groundswells that can wrap in. April improves with 18% ideal wind and a bump in wave heights to 0.5m, though the swell direction remains locked in the SW quadrant. November mirrors April with 17% offshore wind and a similar swell profile, but the wind patterns become more variable as the Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts. These months require patience and a keen eye on the forecast to catch the short windows of clean, rideable conditions.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

The height of austral summer is the toughest time for surf at Palplanche. The ITCZ sits close to the equator, keeping winds light and variable but predominantly onshore from the SW and W. Ideal offshore wind occurs less than 10% of the time, and wave heights average a meager 0.4m. The swell direction is almost exclusively from the SW and SSW, which offers little to no direct exposure for this NW-facing beach. Long-period swells (11.9s) do arrive, but they are too small and poorly aligned to generate anything more than tiny, choppy waves. This is the season to focus on other activities or travel to more exposed breaks.

October: The Final Act of Winter Swell

October sees a drop in average wave height to 0.5m, though the period remains respectable at 11.9s. The swell is overwhelmingly from the SW (91%) with a small increase in WSW (5%). The 0.5-1m range still makes up over 55% of the swell, but the 0-0.5m category grows to 36%. Ideal wind conditions are at 24%, with a notable increase in SSW and SW winds blowing at 10-20kph and 20-30kph. The offshore wind from SE through SSE is still present, but the overall wind pattern is more variable. The combination of smaller swell and shifting winds makes October a month of inconsistency. The best sessions will occur when a late-season long-period swell aligns with a light SSE breeze. These conditions can still produce waist-high waves with clean surfaces, but the window is narrowing as the autumn progresses.