Playa Cambutal - surf spot statistics

Playa Cambutal in Panama offers consistent surf conditions year-round, with ground swells dominating the wave energy nearly every month. The swell is highly reliable, with ground swell percentages ranging from 89% in January to 100% in April, ensuring quality waves almost daily. Wind swells are minimal, contributing less than 11% at most, and there’s virtually no flat spell, making it a dependable destination for surfers. The mean swell size hovers between 1.3m and 1.5m, with the largest waves occurring from April to October, peaking at 1.5m during these months. However, wind conditions are the main variable affecting surf quality. Good offshore or light wind days are relatively scarce, with the best odds in July (37% good winds) and November-December (35-36%). The worst wind conditions prevail from January to March, where only around 23-24% of days have favorable winds. April through August sees a slight improvement, with good wind chances between 30-37%, though onshore winds still dominate. Overall, the best months to surf Playa Cambutal are likely April through August, when swell size is slightly larger and wind conditions are marginally better, especially in July. November and December also offer decent wind windows, paired with solid ground swell consistency. While waves are rideable year-round, mid-year months provide the most optimal balance of swell size and wind conditions for high-quality sessions.

July at Playa Cambutal offers consistent surf with an average swell height of 1.5m and a strong, well-spaced period of 14.6s, indicating powerful, clean waves. The swell is predominantly from the SSW and SW directions, with 32.99% of SSW swells in the 1-1.5m range and 26.09% in the 1.5-2m range—ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. SW swells also contribute, though slightly smaller. Wind conditions are favorable 37% of the time, with the majority of winds coming from the W and WSW at 10-20kph, which can create some onshore chop but generally remain manageable. Stronger winds (20-30kph) occur occasionally, mostly from the W and WSW, potentially affecting wave quality. Overall, July delivers reliable, medium-sized waves with good power and shape, best suited for experienced surfers who can handle variable wind conditions.