Playa Teta - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

The heart of the south swell window arrives as the Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts north, firing long-period groundswells from the deep South Pacific. Playa Teta consistently sees waves in the 0.5-1m range, but with periods often exceeding 13 seconds, these are far from your average knee-high slop. The dominant SSW swell direction aligns perfectly with the beach's south-facing exposure, wrapping nicely into the bay. Meanwhile, the trade winds weaken and the Pacific high-pressure system relaxes, giving way to lighter, more variable winds. Thankfully, the prevailing NNW to N flow still blows offshore a solid 60-70% of the time, keeping the wave faces clean and lined up. It's a classic summer setup: warm water, consistent long-period swell, and glassy mornings. Don't let the modest wave heights fool you – when the period is right, these waves pack plenty of punch for grovelers and shortboarders alike.

Fair Surf Season (April, September - November)

These shoulder months offer a mixed bag but can still deliver excellent sessions. April sees the transition from north to south swell dominance, with SSW energy starting to ramp up and wind consistency still high (65% offshore). September and October, however, are a gamble: the fetch of the south swell machine remains full-on with a near-total dominance of SSW swell (over 95%), but the winds become more erratic as the ITCZ lingers. Onshore breezes from the SW and WSW creep in more often, dropping the ideal wind percentage to around 50-53%. Yet, when a strong high-pressure cell builds behind a cold front, it can drain northward, delivering clean offshore NW winds and glassy waves that rival the summer peak. November sees a return to steadier offshore flow (65%) as the trade regime reestablishes, but the swell energy begins to mix with shorter-period north pulses. The savvy surfer pays close attention to synoptic charts during these months – the right combination of a passing front and a lingering south swell can produce epic, shoulder-high surf with a tropical backdrop.

Low Surf Season (December - March)

The winter months bring a complete reversal – the dominant swell direction shifts to a north-northeasterly regime, generated by cold fronts and strong high-pressure systems over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Playa Teta, facing SSE, sits in the shadow of this north pulse, so the vast majority of that energy is blocked or diffracted into weak, short-period windswell. While the wind is offshore and strong from the N and NNW over 60% of the time, the wave quality suffers due to the wrong swell angle. Averages drop to a small 0.7-0.8m with periods in the 7-9 second range, making for choppy, blown-out conditions even with favorable winds – though rare longer-period windows from the SSE or S can sneak in if a southern hemisphere storm aligns perfectly. The only saving grace is that the offshore winds are so consistent that any minor south swell will be groomed to perfection. For the patient surfer, a winter session here is about waiting for that brief south window, not the prevailing north junk. Most of the time, you'll find smaller, less organized waves – better suited for a longboard or a day at the beach.

March: Transition Begins, Longer Periods Arrive

March signals the start of a slow transition. The north swell share drops to 47.7%, while the south-southwest direction surges to 26.8%. More importantly, the average wave period jumps significantly to 11.4 seconds, indicating a mix of decent groundswell. Wave heights remain modest (0.7m average), but the longer period adds some push. Winds are still predominantly offshore (N/NNW at 88.8%), creating clean conditions. The actual surf quality improves compared to the previous months – the south pulses are more frequent and can wrap in nicely. However, the north still dominates, so many days are still subpar. Look for days when the swell direction swings more SSW and avoid the north-windswell. Overall, March offers a better chance of a fun session, especially as the ITCZ begins to wobble northward, hinting at the swell machine to come.