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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light WNW winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 8mph E winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light E winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light E winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light E winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 1-2ft with a 7.45s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Parking Lots is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft NE primary swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 5s, a 1.3ft NNE tertiary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft W wind swell swell at 2s. 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 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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.
