Horseshoe • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - February)

As the calendar flips into autumn, the northeast monsoon begins to load the Philippine Sea with consistent easterly windswell and longer-period groundswell. For Horseshoe, an east-facing beach, this is when the most meaningful surf of the year stacks up. Average wave heights climb from 3-4ft (1.1m) in October to 5-6ft (1.7m) by January, and periods hover in the 9.5-10.2s range, giving the waves real push. The catch is the accompanying northeast wind regime: NE/ENE offshore trades more often than not put a cross-onshore bump on the face. October is the true gem of this stretch, with 35% ideal wind, while late autumn and midwinter offer greater size but demand patience and a sharp eye on local wind. When a cold surge or passing low pressure flips the wind into the west or northwest, Horseshoe turns from a lumpy monsoon zone into a lined-up, east-facing reel.

Fair Surf Season (March - May and September)

During the transition months, the northeast monsoon gradually loses its grip and the swell mix becomes smaller but distinctly cleaner. March still produces solid waist-to-shoulder high waves, but by April and May average heights drop to 2-3ft (0.8-1.1m), and the percentage of surfable wind starts to climb. September is the best of this transition, as the southwest monsoon still supplies westerly offshore breezes 42% of the time while the first hints of new NE energy and longer 9.5s periods begin to filter in. These months generally reward low expectations and high flexibility: a longboard or fish will get the most waves, and you need to be in the water early before the onshore breeze builds.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer in the Philippines means the southwest monsoon, locally known as Habagat. For Horseshoe, the wind regime actually becomes more favourable - W, WSW and WNW flow blows offshore across the east-facing beach, and ideal wind jumps to 20-40% of the time. But the waves pay the price. Average heights slump to around 2-3ft (0.7m), periods drop to 8.4-9.0s, and the energy is dominated by short-period windswell from the ENE/E window mixed with weak westerly pulses. It is a groveling, glassy, small-wave season, perfect for beginners, longboarders, or a summer funboard, but not the time to expect pumping, overhead walls.