El Olon de Ilo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, and I've been staring at the charts for El Olon de Ilo and there's a proper run of waves coming through. This is a reef break that rarely sees crowds, so you’ve got a real chance to score some quality ones without jostling for position. The water is sitting at 65.5°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit might be a bit lighter than usual.

We kick off on Wednesday the 29th of July with a solid pulse. The swell is a clean 5.9ft from the SW, with a 13-second period pushing a heap of energy in – that’s a strong 1068 (moderate energy) on the scale. The wind is a light cross-off from the south, keeping the surface nice and clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, so if you've got the skills, this is the day to be out.

Thursday the 30th stays good but drops a touch. The morning is a standout with glassy conditions and a 4.6ft SW swell at 12 seconds. The wind is almost nothing, just a slight air from the SW, making it perfectly clean. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze. Friday the 31st and into the weekend sees the swell ease into the 2.9ft to 3.9ft range, but it’s still clean and rideable with the same SW direction. The energy drops to moderate (around 282-475), but for a longboard or a funboard, it’s still a good time.

Now, Monday the 3rd of August brings a new push. The morning sees the swell jump back to 4.9ft from the SSW, with a 12-second period and energy at 730 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-off, keeping it tidy. Tuesday the 4th is a bit of a write-off with onshore winds and questionable conditions, so give that a miss.

But then, hold onto your board. Wednesday the 5th of August is a beauty. The afternoon is glassy, with a 4.3ft SW swell and a 13-second period pushing energy up to 933 (moderate). The wind is just a slight air, so the surface will be like a mirror. This is the kind of session you dream about.

We get another big spike on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning has a 5.6ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, and the energy jumps to 1804 (strong). The wind is a light cross-shore, which might put a small ripple on it, but it’s still good. The afternoon, however, is the real pick – glassy conditions, a 4.3ft SW swell, and a 16-second period with energy at 1529 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers. Friday the 7th of August is another cracker, with a 6.6ft SW swell at 14 seconds and a gentle cross-off breeze. The energy is 1659 (strong). This is a big, powerful wave, so only for the confident crew.

The second week sees a few more options. Saturday the 8th of August has a clean afternoon with a 4.6ft SW swell. Sunday the 9th of August has a tiny, weird 2.0ft swell with a massive 21-second period, but it’s clean and glassy in the afternoon – worth a look for a longboard if you want a calm session. Monday the 10th of August has a glassy 2.9ft SW swell with an 18-second period, which is a proper long-period groundswell. It’ll be very clean but might be slow between sets.

The real standout in the second week is Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning is glassy, with a 4.9ft SSW swell at 12 seconds and energy at 1232 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers and promises to be a clean, powerful session. It’s a bit far out, so keep an eye on the charts, but it looks promising.

Overall, the best windows are Wednesday the 29th of July, Wednesday the 5th of August, and the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August. Get out there and get some.

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