Puerto Rico
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tres Palmas, 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: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light WNW winds.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 8mph from the E. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the E.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light E winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with light winds out of the E. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
14s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Tres Palmas is the premier big-wave spot in the Caribbean, an outer reef break that doesn't even begin breaking until swells reach double-overhead (8+ foot faces) and can hold 20-30 foot waves. Located just offshore from Steps Beach, the reef's proximity to the Puerto Rico Trench — the deepest point in the Atlantic, 30 miles away — helps focus long-period swells into massive peaks. Protected as Reserva Marina Tres Palmas since 2004, this is strictly expert territory with three distinct reef sections.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tres Palmas is 0-1ft with a 7.45s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph 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 Tres Palmas is 0-1ft, 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 Tres Palmas is Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tres Palmas works best with a NW swell and NE 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 Tres Palmas. 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.
Tres Palmas is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Tres Palmas is the premier big-wave spot in the Caribbean, an outer reef break that doesn't even begin breaking until swells reach double-overhead (8+ foot faces) and can hold 20-30 foot waves. Located just offshore from Steps Beach, the reef's proximity to the Puerto Rico Trench — the deepest point in the Atlantic, 30 miles away — helps focus long-period swells into massive peaks. Protected as Reserva Marina Tres Palmas since 2004, this is strictly expert territory with three distinct reef sections.
The prime season at Tres Palmas 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 Tres Palmas include shallow reef, strong currents, heavy wipeouts, sea urchins, localism, large surf. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tres Palmas 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.
