Santana - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - October)

From April through October, Santana comes alive as the tropical Pacific stirs to life. The dominant swell shifts to the south-southwest and southwest, delivering consistent, long-period groundswells that wrap perfectly into the south-southwest-facing beach. The average wave period climbs into the 12-14 second range, providing powerful, rippable waves in the 1-2m range. The trusty trade winds blow from the ENE and NE, offering clean offshore conditions for most of the day. This is the prime window for Santana, with peak swell months like May-June and September-October seeing over 70% of waves from the optimal directions.

Fair Surf Season (March & November)

March and November act as transitional months. In March, the swell begins to swing from north-easterly to more southerly sources, with a notable increase in SSW and SW energy (around 18% combined). Waves are still a bit mixed, but the long-period groundswell averages 11 seconds, making for fun, punchy sessions. November sees the opposite transition, with the last of the southern hemi swell fading (still 38% combined SSW/SW) before winter sets in. Winds stay offshore, so those with flexible schedules can find plenty of good waves.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

The winter months are the quietest at Santana. The swell machine shuts down as the dominant swell direction shifts to the north and east-northeast – directions that barely wrap into the beach. Average wave heights hover around 1.4m, but periods drop to 8-9 seconds, resulting in short, weak, and often messy waves. While the trade winds continue to blow offshore from the ENE and NE, the lack of proper swell direction makes for frustrating conditions. However, occasional sneaker swells from the south can still provide a few fun sessions, especially in late February.

December: Winter Lull Returns

December marks the onset of the low season. Swell shifts back to the ENE (40.1%) and NE (22.9%), with only 11.2% of waves from optimal southern directions. The average wave period is a short 8.9 seconds, resulting in weak, choppy surf. Wave heights average 1.3m but lack power. The trade winds blow hard from the ENE (61.5%) and NE (32.3%), keeping the water glassy. However, without proper swell direction, the waves remain small and unorganized. A few sneaker swells from the south can appear, but overall, December is a month for waiting out the winter.