Troncones - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

This is Troncones’ sweet spot. As the North Pacific winter pattern settles in, the trade wind inversion weakens, allowing frequent offshore breezes from the N-NE quadrant. Swell heights average a solid 1.2-1.3m with long-period groundswell (13-14s) sourced from distant Southern Ocean storms and the occasional North Pacific fetch that wraps into the SSW shore. The result? Powerful, clean lines that peel down the beach. December and January peak with over 50% ideal wind, making for consistent, rippable waves.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, October)

Transition months bring a trade-off. In March and October, you still get reliable pulses of SSW-SW swell, but the wind becomes a gamble. Offshore mornings are common, but afternoons see increasing onshore flow from the S-SW. April sees the swell ramp up (1.4m average) and periods lengthen, but ideal wind drops to 32% – meaning you’ll need to pick your windows carefully. These months are worth chasing if you time the morning offshore window or a post-frontal shift.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

The summer doldrums and hurricane season bring the largest swell of the year (1.5-1.7m average) with plenty of punch, but the wind is persistently onshore from the S-SW over 60% of the time. Dominant wind directions (SW, WSW) destroy the wave shape, making for choppy, bumpy conditions. While you might score a clean morning if a tropical storm passes far to the south and creates a window of offshore flow, most days are ruled by textured, subpar surf. The occasional hurricane swell can deliver XXL waves, but only for the brave and experienced – and only if the wind cooperates.

March: Transitional Power

March marks the beginning of the shift. Average swell height climbs to 1.3m, period extends to 13.7s, but ideal wind falls to 39%. Swell directions narrow – SW dominates at 49.5%, SSW at 26.4%. These are powerful, long-period pulses that can handle a little wind. Wind still blows offshore in the early mornings (N-NNE) but afternoon seabreezes from WSW and SW become more frequent. The window for clean conditions is shorter, but the quality of the swell is hard to beat. Score an early session and you’ll be rewarded.