Tocones - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May, June, September, October)

At Tocones, the surf is a fickle affair. The beach faces due north, yet the swell window is dominated by easterly and east-southeasterly swells, which are generally weak and short-period. The best chance for rideable waves coincides with the months when offshore winds from the south to southwest are most frequent. Late spring and early fall offer the highest percentage of ideal wind conditions, with May and June leading the pack at 44-46% offshore. This is when a light southerly breeze can groom the predominantly small, crumbly east swell into something marginally fun. Still, don't expect any pumping north swells here — the North Atlantic storms that light up other breaks rarely send their energy directly to this coastline. The combination of small swell and fickle wind means that even in the best months, you'll be hunting for the right window.

Fair Surf Season (April, July, August, November)

During these months, the offshore wind frequency drops to between 25% and 34%. The swell remains small and easterly, but with slightly more consistency in summer due to tropical activity in the Atlantic. July and August see a uptick in easterly trade winds, which actually blow onshore and add chop, making conditions less appealing. April and November can see transitions between seasons, with occasional stronger cold fronts bringing shifts in wind direction and perhaps a pulse of longer-period swell from the east or southeast. However, the predominant conditions are still small and sloppy.

Low Surf Season (December, January, February, March)

Winter is the toughest time at Tocones. Offshore winds are rarest, with ideal conditions only 22-29% of the time. The prevailing winds shift more northerly, blowing directly onshore and rendering the already marginal easterly swell into a choppy, messy affair. The North Atlantic is active, but the storm tracks steer north swells away from this north-facing pocket. Instead, the region sees a dominance of east-northeast winds that kill wave quality. The few days when a high-pressure system settles over the coast and brings a southerly breeze can yield the odd clean session, but these are few and far between. Most days, it's best left to the windsurfers or kiteboarders, or to find another spot.

May: Peak Window

May is the best month of the year at Tocones, thanks to the highest percentage of ideal offshore wind: a full 46%. The average swell height is 0.8m and period 6.0s, but the key is that the wind is offshore more often than not. Swell comes overwhelmingly from the east-southeast (64.2%) and east (20.1%), with very little from other directions. The wind is now dominated by east (32.5%) and east-southeast (33.2%), but with a notable increase in lighter wind speeds. The shift to south and southwest wind becomes more frequent, reaching about 1.6% combined—but crucially, the wind speed is almost always in the 0-10kph range, delivering pristine offshore conditions. This means that despite the small swell, the wave quality is at its best. Clean, glassy faces on the east-southeast swell can produce fun, rippable waves for loggers and fish riders. It's not pumping, but it's the most consistent quality window of the year.