Puerto Rico
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 16mph ENE winds.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 16mph ENE winds.
Best window·Tuesday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cibuco, Puerto Rico. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ENE swell at 4s and strong ENE wind at 16mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, light ESE winds, poor conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ENE swell at 8s with light winds out of the ESE. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on E swell at 7s with light SE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 4s with gentle ENE breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Cibuco turns Good.
Check Cibuco from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Cibuco is a rivermouth break on the north coast of Puerto Rico, located where the Río Cibuco meets the Atlantic Ocean near Vega Baja. The spot picks up north and northwest groundswells generated by winter Atlantic storms, producing fun, punchy waves that can barrel nicely when the sandbars align after river outflow shapes the bottom. Its off-the-beaten-path feel keeps crowds minimal, making it a rewarding find for surfers willing to explore beyond Puerto Rico's more famous northern breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cibuco is 0-1ft with a 4.3s swell period. Wind is ENE at 16mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cibuco is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.2ft ENE wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.6ft ENE wind swell swell at 7s, a 0.6ft NNE tertiary swell at 10s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Cibuco is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 4.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cibuco works best with a N swell and SE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Cibuco. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Cibuco is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cibuco is a rivermouth break on the north coast of Puerto Rico, located where the Río Cibuco meets the Atlantic Ocean near Vega Baja. The spot picks up north and northwest groundswells generated by winter Atlantic storms, producing fun, punchy waves that can barrel nicely when the sandbars align after river outflow shapes the bottom. Its off-the-beaten-path feel keeps crowds minimal, making it a rewarding find for surfers willing to explore beyond Puerto Rico's more famous northern breaks.
The prime season at Cibuco is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Cibuco include strong currents, shifting sandbars, river outflow after heavy rain, water quality concerns after rainfall, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cibuco forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
