Nestles • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (December - April)

When the Northern Hemisphere winter takes hold, the ITCZ sits south of the coastline and the northeast trade winds blow offshore across the SSW-facing beach at Nestles. Average swell heights are modest - around 0.7-0.8m (2.3-2.6ft) - but periods stay in the 12-14s range and the wind is ideal up to 47% of the time. That combination produces clean, long-period, fun-sized waves and makes this the most consistent window of the year, with February and March as the standout months.

Fair Surf Season (May - August)

Southern Hemisphere winter storms fire up, sending more frequent SSW and SW groundswell toward Panama. Average wave heights climb to 0.9-1.0m (3-3.3ft) and a healthy portion of the swell reaches 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). However, the ITCZ shifts north and the wind more often comes from W, WSW and SW - the onshore directions that mess up Nestles. Ideal wind drops below 20%, so you have to chase windows between showers and pulses.

Low Surf Season (September - November)

The core of the wet season is the weakest link for surf quality. The swell is still present - average heights of 0.9-1.0m (3-3.3ft) with long periods - but ideal wind plummets to 9-12%. Westerly to west-southwesterly onshore flow dominates, rain is frequent, and the surface is often lumpy and blown out. There are occasional clean days, especially late in November when the dry season begins to reassert itself, but overall this is the time to be patient.