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.

October: Fall Gold

October boasts 42% ideal wind, the highest of the fall months. The average swell height is 0.7m and period 5.9s. Swell direction is similar to september: east (31.6%), east-southeast (50.5%), and southeast (12.1%), with a noticeable increase in south (0.9%) and southwest (0.2%) swell from distant lows. The wind is much lighter overall, with a significant drop in the moderate and strong wind categories. The east wind remains dominant at 28.8%, but winds from the south (2.2%) and southwest (1.1%) become more common. These light offshore winds can create clean conditions for several days in a row, especially when a high pressure system settles over the region. The swell is still small, but the combination of light offshore wind and modest east-southeast swell can produce the most pleasant surfing of the year—perfect for logging or cruisy shortboarding.