Punta Brava - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - April)

During these months the famed trade winds lock in from the north-northeast, blowing offshore across Punta Brava's south-west facing beach. The North Pacific winter storm track fires up, sending consistent SSW long-period groundswells that average 0.7-1.0m with periods of 12-14 seconds. This combination delivers clean, punchy waves in the fun to good size range – perfect for rippable walls and open faces. The wind is ideal over 45% of the time, making this the prime window for quality surf.

Fair Surf Season (May & November)

These transition months see the trade winds begin to weaken and oscillate, while the swell signal from the Southern Hemisphere remains steady. In May, offshore wind frequency drops to 29%, and in November it sits at 25% – still offering occasional clean sessions. Swell heights nudge up to 1.0m on average, with periods peaking near 14 seconds. The wind becomes more fickle, swinging from offshore to onshore, but when it aligns, expect fun-sized, powerful waves with fewer crowds than the peak season.

Low Surf Season (June - October)

The rainy season and the shifting of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) dominate the weather pattern. Offshore wind frequency plummets to 12-29%, while persistent onshore breezes from the west and southwest ruin the surface texture. Swell continues to pour in from the SSW, averaging 1.0m with long periods, but it's often accompanied by choppy, blown-out conditions. However, occasional early-morning windows or passing cold fronts can still produce a few worthwhile waves for the dedicated surfer.

May: Transition and Trade-Offs

May marks a shift: the average swell height climbs to 1.0m with a period of 14.1s, making this the most powerful swell month on paper. The SSW direction dominates 96.6% of the time, and 32.8% of waves are in the 1-1.5m fun-to-good range. However, the wind ideal percentage drops sharply to 29%. Onshore breezes from WSW and W begin to dominate (over 34% combined), often messing up the surface. Early mornings or days with a strong N-NE gradient still produce clean sessions, but you have to work for them.