10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for Rio Chico, Manabi, Ecuador
Rio Chico is a left point break at a river mouth south of Manta. The wave lights up with S-SW swells during the dry season, offering quality walls with fewer crowds than the more famous breaks.
Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-06 with a score of 30/100 (Poor)
Poor conditions overall: Average score 19/100. Look for spots with better forecasts.
Moderate alignment: Swell from 222° is 20° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Too small: 0.8m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Short period: 10s is below minimum 12s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 16 km/h from 221° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (222°), size (0.8m), or wind (16 km/h from 221°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.8m (2.6ft) swell from 222° (SW) at 10s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 215° is 13° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Too small: 0.7m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Short period: 11s is below minimum 12s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 224° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (215°), size (0.7m), or wind (13 km/h from 224°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.7m (2.3ft) swell from 215° (SW) at 11s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 226° is 24° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Too small: 0.9m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Moderate period: 14s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 222° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (226°), size (0.9m), or wind (13 km/h from 222°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.9m (3.0ft) swell from 226° (SW) at 14s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 233° is 31° off optimal 202°, barely within workable range 180°-225°.
Moderate period: 13s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 15 km/h from 224° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (233°), size (0.8m), or wind (15 km/h from 224°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.8m (2.6ft) swell from 233° (SW) at 13s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 230° is 28° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Too small: 1.0m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Good period: 15s is 94% of ideal 16s. Clean, powerful groundswell.
Onshore/cross-shore: 20 km/h from 211° (SSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (230°), size (1.0m), or wind (20 km/h from 211°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.0m (3.3ft) swell from 230° (SW) at 15s period
Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 227° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (233°), size (0.7m), or wind (13 km/h from 227°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.7m (2.3ft) swell from 233° (SW) at 14s period
Onshore/cross-shore: 14 km/h from 223° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (233°), size (0.7m), or wind (14 km/h from 223°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.7m (2.3ft) swell from 233° (SW) at 15s period
Onshore/cross-shore: 18 km/h from 210° (SSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
-5 points: Short-period windswell is present, creating choppy, disorganized conditions.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (233°), size (0.7m), or wind (18 km/h from 210°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
Moderate alignment: Swell from 214° is 12° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Moderate period: 12s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 14 km/h from 227° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (214°), size (0.9m), or wind (14 km/h from 227°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.9m (3.0ft) swell from 214° (SW) at 12s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 217° is 15° off optimal 202°, workable but not ideal.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 221° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 90°-135°.
Poor conditions at Rio Chico. Either swell direction (217°), size (0.7m), or wind (13 km/h from 221°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.7m (2.3ft) swell from 217° (SW) at 15s period
Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)