Punta del Confital - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October – March)

The North Atlantic winter machine fuels the best chance for quality surf at Punta del Confital. While the dominant swell direction is from the north – far from ideal for this SW-facing reef – a slight uptick in W and WSW energy, combined with the highest average wave heights (1.7–1.8 m) and longest periods (11.4–12.6 s), means that when a storm tracks far enough south or west, we see long-period groundswell sneaking around the island. North-northeast winds – offshore for this spot – prevail during these months, keeping the surface glassy. The catch: ideal swell angles remain rare, so expect a highly conditional but potentially pumping lineup when the stars align.

Fair Surf Season (April – June & September)

During spring and early autumn, the trade winds lock in with consistent northeast flow, providing clean offshore conditions over 44–66% of the time. Swell heights moderate to 1.4–1.7 m, but wave periods drop into the 8.4–10.7 s range, limiting power. The north swell still dominates, with almost no SW component. This is a time for fun-sized, rippable waves on the better days, but don't expect any XL perfection. The window for a proper SW groundswell is very narrow; most of the time you'll be groveling on shorter-period wrap.

Low Surf Season (July – August)

Summer brings the most reliable offshore winds – N and NNE blow over 70% of the time – but the swell flattens out. Average heights hover around 1.5–1.6 m and periods drop to a sluggish 7.6–8.0 s, producing weak, fat waves with little push. The swell direction is almost exclusively from the N and NNE, meaning the wave angle is wrong for Confital's preferred SW exposure. Expect small, groveling conditions most days; when the wind shifts SW it turns choppy and messy. This is the quietest period, best left for a flat spell or a trip to the north coast.

October: Swell Comes Alive, Pick Your Moment

October sees a sharp jump in average period to 11.4 s and height to 1.5 m. The wind ideal percentage stays high at 61%, with NNE (25.0%), NE (23.0%), and N (12.7%) providing offshore texture. The swell rose shows a massive 53.7% from NNW, followed by N (25.8%) – a classic autumn pattern of strong cold fronts. The SW quadrant contribution is still tiny (0.8% total), but the longer-period NW and NNW energy wraps in with power. This is when the first true long-period groundswells of the season arrive. When the wind stays light from the north, the surf is clean, heavy, and pumping in the 1.5–2.5 m range. October is a prime month for XL sessions if a westerly component sneaks in – keep an eye on the Azores High positioning.