Surf spot

Río Chico

Forecast conditions and map view for Río Chico in Ecuador. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Ecuador
Coordinates: -1.6256, -80.8442

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.9	1	1	1	1	1	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.7
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	6	6.6	10.2	5.1	5.2	5.3	5	5	5.1	5.1	5	5.3	5.8	5.5	5	4.2	5.5	6.5	6.5	7.5	6.8	8.1	7.9	8	7.5	7.5	7.5	10.8	10.5	12.3	10.1	12.3	12.1	11.9	11.8	11.6	10.9	10.6	10.5	10.5	10.6	10.6	10.6	5	4.8	7.3	4.2	4.4	7.3	4.8	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.4	4.3	4.3
Wave energy (kJ)	43	45	65	46	57	57	55	48	48	52	66	69	81	62	43	23	30	33	29	33	36	35	36	37	43	40	37	78	74	116	78	124	127	123	121	117	124	116	108	108	103	97	98	22	23	47	21	19	46	30	33	32	30	25	20	18
Wind speed (km/h)	10.5	12.1	11.4	13.7	16.5	13.5	9.8	8.7	9.8	11.2	11.3	11.6	12.7	11	11	8.6	6.2	6.6	4.3	5.1	13.4	7.6	6.8	8	8.8	9	5.1	9.5	12.4	8	9.2	9.4	10	10.3	9.4	11.9	12.2	14.3	9.2	9.8	11.1	11.8	11.2	11.4	13.1	12	9.5	10.2	9.4	8.6	7.7	7.5	13.7	9.3	7.4	6.6
Wind direction	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-on	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SGlassy	SWCross	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross	SSWCross	SCross-off	SWCross	WSWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross	WSWCross-on	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SCross-off	SWCross	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	SWCross	SWCross

Río Chico, Ecuador is a laid-back surf spot on the central coast, known for its warm water, consistent beach-break waves, and relaxed local vibe. It’s typically less crowded than Ecuador’s more famous surf towns, making it a good option if you want a quieter session with plenty of space.

What it’s like

Wave type: Mostly beach break
Best for: Beginners to intermediate surfers, depending on conditions
Consistency: Can be pretty reliable, especially during the main swell seasons
Water: Warm year-round, so usually boardshorts or a thin spring suit are enough
Atmosphere: Low-key, rural, and uncrowded

Conditions

Río Chico can offer fun, peeling waves when the swell lines up, but like many beach breaks, it can also get bumpy or close out if the sandbars shift. Tide and swell direction matter a lot, so checking local conditions is important.

Good to know

Not a major surf tourism hub, so amenities may be limited compared with places like Montañita or Manta
Best enjoyed by surfers who like a quieter, more local experience
Can be a nice stop if you’re exploring Ecuador’s surf coastline