Chacopata Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window for Chacopata, a reef break, and mate, it’s mostly a write-off for surf.

The whole stretch is dominated by onshore winds out of the ENE and NE, blowing at 15 to 22 mph. That’s a fresh breeze that just won’t quit, and it is absolutely ruining any chance of clean waves. What little swell we have is tiny – we’re talking 0.3 to 0.6 ft – coming from the NE or ENE with a rubbish period of just 2 or 3 seconds. That’s pure wind chop, not a wave you want to paddle for. The combined energy is practically zero, sitting in the single digits (0 to 9) the whole time, which tells you there’s nothing behind it.

The water is sitting at 78°F, which is about 3°F cooler than average for this time of year – a bit colder than normal, so you might want a thin spring suit if you’re keen.

There’s a massive gap of surf that is just not worth mentioning until late in the game. Honestly, from July 17th right through to July 26th, it’s all “poor surf conditions” with onshore wind and knee-high slop. Not a single standout in that mess.

Now, things get a tiny bit interesting towards the end. On July 27th, we finally see a bit of period jump – a 0.3 ft swell from the NE with a 9-second period. The energy is still weak at 3, and it’s cross-onshore that morning with a light breeze, so it’ll be choppy. Then again on the morning of July 28th, another 0.3 ft, NE, 9-second swell, energy at 3. Still, it’s onshore wind again, so the quality is poor. Same story on July 29th and 30th mornings – 0.3 ft, 8-second period from the NE, with onshore winds.

The one period that might be worth a look is the morning of July 27th. That 9-second period is the longest we see, and while it’s tiny, a long-period swell on a reef can sometimes give you a workable little nugget if the wind drops. But with a cross-onshore breeze, it’s a long shot. This is not a day to get excited about, but if you had to pick the least worst option, that’s it.

All in all, this is a blank run. Chacopata is a consistent spot normally, but the winds and lack of swell have just killed it. For the whole 16 days, there’s nothing you’d call good surf. It might be more interesting for kite surfing if the wind holds, but for paddle surfing, leave the board at home and wait for the next forecast change.

Rusty.

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