Puerto Rico
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 0-1ft with 10mph from the WNW.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 0-1ft with 10mph from the WNW.
Best window·Tuesday 7AM–10AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Parking Lots, 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, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NE swell at 4s with moderate WNW wind around 11mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. 0-1ft waves to start the day on NE swell at 4s. The NNW wind builds to around 8mph by afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NE swell at 5s with light ESE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NE swell at 5s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on NE swell at 5s with light ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
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 Parking Lots turns Good.
Check Parking Lots from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Parking Lots is a popular surf spot on Puerto Rico's northwest coast near Rincón, known for its consistent beach break waves that peel nicely during the winter swell season. The spot faces south along its transect but receives excellent northwest Atlantic swells that wrap around the coastline, producing punchy, hollow peaks ideal for shortboarding and bodyboarding. Its accessibility and reliable surf make it a go-to destination for locals and traveling surfers exploring Puerto Rico's world-class northwest surf corridor.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Parking Lots is 0-1ft with a 4.2s swell period. Wind is WNW at 11mph. 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 Parking Lots is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.3ft NE wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.5ft SSE wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.5ft ENE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Parking Lots is Tuesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Parking Lots works best with a NW swell and E 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 Parking Lots. 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.
Parking Lots is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Parking Lots is a popular surf spot on Puerto Rico's northwest coast near Rincón, known for its consistent beach break waves that peel nicely during the winter swell season. The spot faces south along its transect but receives excellent northwest Atlantic swells that wrap around the coastline, producing punchy, hollow peaks ideal for shortboarding and bodyboarding. Its accessibility and reliable surf make it a go-to destination for locals and traveling surfers exploring Puerto Rico's world-class northwest surf corridor.
The prime season at Parking Lots 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 Parking Lots include strong currents, crowded lineups during peak swell, occasional shore break, rip currents, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Parking Lots 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).
