Puerto Rico
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.
Sat, May 16: 0–1ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 4mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light ESE winds.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on NE swell at 6s with light winds out of the E — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light E winds.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 6s with light E winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
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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 0-1+ft with a 10.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 1mph and 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 0-1+ft, produced by a 1.2ft S primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft NNE secondary swell at 5s, a 0.9ft NE tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Monday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 3ft waves, a 6.3s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
