Puerto Sandino • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (April - October)

Puerto Sandino faces southwest, so its best surf arrives when long-period south and south-southwest swell meet clean offshore trade winds. From April through October, average wave heights sit between 4 and 4.3ft (1.2-1.3m) with periods of 13-14 seconds. The directional data is heavily loaded toward SSW, often 60-78% of all swell, with S and SW filling in the rest. This is the southern hemisphere storm track doing its work, sending groundswell across the equator straight into the Nicaraguan coast. ENE and NE trades remain the dominant winds, and ideal wind conditions run from 56-72% during this window. Water temperatures climb to a warm 28-30°C, and although the rainy season brings showers, they rarely shut down the surf.

Fair Surf Season (March & November)

The transition months of March and November offer slightly smaller but still very rideable surf. March shows the first strong SSW pulse - SSW jumps to 39% - while average period reaches 13.5 seconds. November is the mirror image, with size easing to 3.6ft (1.1m), but ideal wind at 75%, the cleanest of the year. Both months are excellent for surfers who prefer clean, consistent, medium-size waves without the occasional raw power of the summer peak.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

There is no true flat season at Puerto Sandino, but December through February is the smallest stretch of the year. Average heights dip to 3.3-3.6ft (1.0-1.1m), periods fall to 12.2-12.7 seconds, and the swell becomes less concentrated on the SSW direction, with more SSE and SE energy mixed in. The compensation is a very reliable ENE trade wind regime, especially in December when ENE blows over 60% of the time. Expect clean but smaller surf - a good time for a fish or longboard while waiting for the southern hemisphere machine to fire up again.