Xivares - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic swings into action as autumn deepens, and Xivares reaps the rewards. From October through March, the average swell height sits comfortably between 1.3m and 1.7m, with wave periods regularly exceeding 11 seconds—often hitting the long-period 12-14s range. This is prime time for groundswell from the NW and NNW quadrants, which wrap directly into this north-facing beach. Critically, the percentage of offshore wind (from S, SSW, SW) peaks during these months, with December leading at 61% ideal conditions. Low-pressure systems tracking across the Atlantic send consistent, powerful swell, while high-pressure setups over the Iberian Peninsula often deliver light southerly breezes—the recipe for clean, rippable waves.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September serve as transitional windows. Average swell heights drop to 1.1-1.3m, and periods shorten to 10-11 seconds, but quality surf is still on the table. The dominant swell angles remain NW and NNW, though the energy is less consistent. Wind patterns become more variable, with ideal offshore conditions occurring roughly 31-33% of the time. April can see late-season winter swells mixed with spring weather, while September benefits from the first stirrings of autumn storms. Conditions are more hit-or-miss, but when the right combination of a solid NW groundswell and a southerly wind aligns, Xivares delivers fun, hollow waves.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer at Xivares is a mellow affair. From May through August, average swell heights hover around 0.8-1.0m, with wave periods dipping into the 8.7-9.8s range—often short-period, weak windswell. The dominant swell direction remains NW and NNW, but the energy is markedly lower, with most waves in the 0.5-1.0m category. Worse still, the percentage of offshore wind plummets to just 15-26%, as the prevailing wind turns onshore from the north and northeast, ruining wave quality. During these months, surfers face small, choppy conditions with occasional grovelers. The best chances come from brief southerly wind shifts or isolated long-period pulses from distant storms, but expect mostly small, fun-sized days at best.

December: Winter Peak

December hits the winter peak with an average swell height of 1.6m and the longest average period of the year at 12.4s. Swell direction is predominantly NW (39.2%), with significant contributions from WNW (17.6%) and NNW (18.1%). The combination of long-period groundswell and a very high ideal wind percentage of 61% makes December the best month overall. Southerly winds (S 13.7%, SSW 8.6%, SW 8.6%) blow offshore consistently, grooming the waves into clean, hollow lines. Onshore winds from the N (1.2%) and NNE (1.3%) are extremely rare. Xivares fires during December, offering epic, pumping surf when Atlantic lows align. This is the month to plan a trip for consistent, high-quality waves.