Puerto Rico
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 18mph.
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 18mph.
Best window·Tuesday 6AM–9AM·2-3+ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cueva del Indio, 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. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ENE swell at 4s with 18mph out of the ENE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on E swell at 4s with moderate SSE wind around 8mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the ENE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on ENE swell at 8s and moderate ESE wind around 9mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 24mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on E swell at 7s with 9mph from the ESE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with gentle ENE breeze and fair 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.
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 Cueva del Indio turns Good.
Check Cueva del Indio from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Cueva del Indio is a raw and dramatic reef break located along the rugged limestone coastline of Puerto Rico's north shore, near Arecibo. The spot faces south toward the land, meaning it actually picks up northerly Atlantic swells that wrap and refract around the rocky headlands and caves carved into the coastline, producing powerful and unpredictable waves. Its remote, cave-laden terrain makes it a unique and visually stunning surf destination, though the technical rock-strewn lineup demands respect from experienced surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cueva del Indio is 0-1ft with a 4.1s swell period. Wind is ENE at 18mph. 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 Cueva del Indio is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.1ft ENE wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.8ft 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 Cueva del Indio is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 4.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cueva del Indio works best with a N swell and S 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 Cueva del Indio. 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.
Cueva del Indio is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Cueva del Indio is a raw and dramatic reef break located along the rugged limestone coastline of Puerto Rico's north shore, near Arecibo. The spot faces south toward the land, meaning it actually picks up northerly Atlantic swells that wrap and refract around the rocky headlands and caves carved into the coastline, producing powerful and unpredictable waves. Its remote, cave-laden terrain makes it a unique and visually stunning surf destination, though the technical rock-strewn lineup demands respect from experienced surfers.
The prime season at Cueva del Indio 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 Cueva del Indio include sharp rocks, shallow reef, unpredictable swell refraction, strong currents, difficult access, caves and cliff edges. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cueva del Indio 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).
