Playa Tivives - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - April)

The dry season brings the most reliable offshore wind regime to Playa Tivives. As the Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts south, the trade winds from the north-northeast dominate, creating clean, glassy conditions on the southwest-facing beach. Swell is consistently long-period (10-14s) but small in height—averaging just 0.2-0.3m. However, with the wind out of the north to northeast, even these micro-fun sized waves become perfectly groomed and rideable, especially on a high tide. The best windows are often early morning before the sea breeze kicks in.

Fair Surf Season (April & November)

These transitional months see a shift in wind patterns. April still holds some of the dry season's offshore flows but begins to see more southerly influence. Similarly, November marks the return of the trades after the rainy season. The swell remains small and long-period, but the wind direction becomes more variable. You might score a few small, clean waves in the morning, but expect afternoon onshores to soften things up.

Low Surf Season (May - October)

The rainy season (invierno) dominates. The ITCZ sits overhead, bringing persistent southerly and southwesterly winds—right onshore at Playa Tivives. Swell direction remains from the south, but the accompanying wind chops up the surface, making the already tiny waves (<0.5m) nearly impossible to ride. Occasional long-period groundswell can arrive, but the onshore wind typically ruins the shape. This is the least reliable period for surf; best left for flat days or exploring other nearby breaks with different wind protection.

September: Transition Hints

September shows the first signs of a shift. While the swell is still small (0.3m average) and long-period (14.2s), the wind directions start to include a slightly higher percentage from the NW and NNW. Still, onshore winds from S, SSW, SW, and WSW account for over 40% of observations. The best chance for surf comes from late-season tropical systems that can generate longer-period swell with the right wind. But climatologically, September remains a marginal month for clean waves at Playa Tivives.