Playa Mar Verde
Playa Mar Verde is Cuba's south coast surf option—a beach break near Santiago that picks up SE swells during hurricane season. While less consistent than the north coast, it offers uncrowded waves in Cuba's second city.
Playa Mar Verde surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to SCU, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Caribbean is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Caribbean — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
¿Prefieres español? Recibe el Strike Report en español, gratis →
Get the full Playa Mar Verde trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Direction range
- 100° - 170°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.3m - 1.7m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Offshore range
- 280° - 350°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.2m - 2.5m
Water temp
27°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
1/10
Access: Santiago de Cuba. South coast option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Playa Mar Verde?
Playa Mar Verde is a beach break in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Playa Mar Verde?
Playa Mar Verde picks up swell from the E round to the S, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SE. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.7m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Playa Mar Verde?
A NW wind is dead offshore at Playa Mar Verde, and anything from the W round to the N keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Playa Mar Verde?
Playa Mar Verde has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.2m to 2.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Playa Mar Verde?
The most reliable run of swell at Playa Mar Verde comes Sep to Nov. There's a second window in Dec to Feb too. South coast option during hurricane swells.
How cold is the water at Playa Mar Verde?
The water at Playa Mar Verde averages around 27°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Playa Mar Verde good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 1/10). South coast option during hurricane swells.
How do I get to Playa Mar Verde?
The nearest airport on our list is SCU, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive. Santiago de Cuba. South coast option.
Best Season
Peak: Sep-Nov
Secondary: Dec, Jan, Feb
South coast option during hurricane swells.