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Playa Carmen Seasonal Surf Averages

Based on the last ten years data for this location this page gives seasonal trends and an idea of what kind of conditions you can expect and when. Of course these are just averages - it's worth reading carefully to understand exactly what they mean and to recognise the kind of variation you could expect on a trip because an average can never tell the whole story. Click on a month below to see more detail.
If you want a past forecast for a specific date range then click here.

Local Photo


Swell Consistency and Wind Overview

Wind Swell Ground Swell
58%
57%

1%

Jan
52%
52%

0%

Feb
79%
78%

1%

Mar
94%
93%

1%

Apr
96%
95%

1%

May
95%
91%

4%

Jun
88%
85%

3%

Jul
92%
90%

2%

Aug
85%
77%

8%

Sep
78%
72%

6%

Oct
78%
74%

4%

Nov
60%
57%

3%

Dec
This graph shows the percentage of days that had a ridable wind swell (7 seconds period or more) or groundswell (10 seconds period or more) of over 3ft. It also shows the dominant wind direction. Not all of these days will neccessarily give great surf, and very short lived wind swells or longer period secondary swells may produce surf not recorded, but it gives a clear idea of the seasonal trend and a rough guide to the chances of scoring something ridable.

Monthly Overview

Jan
Swell
Consistency
58%
Average Swell
Height
3ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Feb
Swell
Consistency
52%
Average Swell
Height
3ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Mar
Swell
Consistency
79%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Apr
Swell
Consistency
94%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
May
Swell
Consistency
96%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
14s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jun
Swell
Consistency
95%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jul
Swell
Consistency
88%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Aug
Swell
Consistency
92%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Sep
Swell
Consistency
85%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Oct
Swell
Consistency
78%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Nov
Swell
Consistency
78%
Average Swell
Height
4ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Dec
Swell
Consistency
60%
Average Swell
Height
3ft
Average Swell
Period
13s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell

Understanding this Data

These swell averages are calculated ONLY on swells of more than 7 seconds period. This means this is the average height of a swell that's likely to produce ridable surf NOT an average of every wave heading toward the beach in a month. Likewise the period is the average period OVER 7 seconds. There will be days that have short period wind swells that won't produce and ridable swell and these are excluded from the averages. The consistency figure gives the percentage of days that meet this condition.

For example if the consistency is 50% you could expect the 'average' swell for about 15 days in the month. Of course an average tells only part of the story. A combination of very large and very small swells may produce the same average as a consistent medium sized swell.

Monthly Data

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Nearby Spots

Playa Santa Teresa
Cedros
Playa Manzanillo
Playa Caletas
Playa Coyote
Playa Escondida
Tivives
Puerto Caldera
Playa Jaco
Roca Loca
Boca Barranca
Playa Hermosa
Boca Tusubres
Playa Guiones
Nosara
Esterillos Oeste
Ostional
Marbella
Playa Negra - Guanacaste
Avellana
Boca Damas
Langosta
Tamarindo
Playa Grande - Guanacaste
Quepos Bombie
Quepos Jetty
Playitas
Playa Brasilito
Playa Flamingo
Playa El Rey
Playa Matapalo
Witches Rock (Playa Naranjo)
Playa Dominical
Dominicalito
Punta Dominical
Ollies Point (Potrero Grande)
Playa Hermosa - Osa Peninsula
Punta Uvita
Playa Ballena
Sally Ann's
El Coco
El Yanke
Rio Sierpe Rivermouth
Playa Hermosa
Tamarind
El Remanso
Drake's Bay
Playa Maderas
Rio Claro Rivermouth
Manzanillo (Rivas Province)
Manzanillo
Playa Colorado
Playa Rosada
Playa Santana (Playa Jiquelite)
Popoyo
Tortuguero Beach
Cocaïne Point
Playa Bonita
Roca Alta
El Astillero
Westfalia
El Penon
Isla Uvita
Barco Quebrado
Carate
Hog Hole
Backwash (Golfo Dulce)
Pan Dulce
Playa Negra - Limon
Zancudo