787dailyPuerto Rico, en inglés
Morning Brief

San Juan and Loíza

La Ocho

A reef break in San Juan. Lefts and rights. Beginner to advanced.

Also called La 8, Stop Eight, Escambrón.

Swell that worksNW, NNW, N, NNE, NE: Works on northwest, north-northwest, north, north-northeast and northeast swellSurfline
BreakReef · left and rightSurfline; surf-forecast.com; wannasurf.com; Discover Puerto Rico
Size3 to 8 ft; a wannasurf contributor says it works from 5 to 6 ft and maxes out about 10.Surfline; wannasurf.com
TideAll tides, lower better.Surfline; surf-forecast.com
WindSouth.Surfline; surf-forecast.com
SeasonFall and winter.Surfline; Discover Puerto Rico
LevelBeginner to advancedDiscover Puerto Rico: good for beginners outside winter, and a popular choice for experienced surfers.Discover Puerto Rico; Discover Puerto Rico
18.4672, -66.0931Surfline

Today's call

Fun2.9 ft, 10-second swell · light cross-shore windAt San Juan / Condado, on the conditions page

The conditions page scores San Juan / Condado, not this break on its own: how La Ocho takes the same swell depends on the swell's direction and the tide above.

Swell at the nearest buoy now

Station readings, not conditions at a beach. From CariCOOS, NOAA buoys and the National Weather Service.

Hazards

  • Car break-ins, and runoff after rain.Surfline
  • Exposed coral reef.Discover Puerto Rico
  • Unconfirmed Sneaker sets, a wannasurf contributor says.wannasurf.com

What the guides say

  • Spread-out reef peaks in the Parque del Escambrón, named for the eighth bus stop: a family and longboard spot.Surfline; Discover Puerto Rico
  • Lineups nearby: Fiji, Kentuckys and 2½.Discover Puerto Rico

When the swell comes

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec San JuanSan Juan buoy, January: 46% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NE; average wave height 4.7 ft46San Juan buoy, February: 36% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NE; average wave height 4.9 ft36San Juan buoy, March: 42% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 4.7 ft42San Juan buoy, April: 29% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 4.2 ft29San Juan buoy, May: 15% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NE; average wave height 3.3 ft15San Juan buoy, June: 2% of readings groundswell; average wave height 3.1 ft2San Juan buoy, July: 0% of readings groundswell; average wave height 3.6 ft0San Juan buoy, August: 7% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NE; average wave height 3.4 ft7San Juan buoy, September: 35% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 3.7 ft35San Juan buoy, October: 41% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 3.8 ft41San Juan buoy, November: 46% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 4.6 ft46San Juan buoy, December: 50% of readings groundswell, mostly from the NNE; average wave height 5.2 ft50
San Juan buoy: share of readings that are groundswell (3 ft or more at 10 seconds or longer), by month. 787daily's analysis of NOAA NDBC buoy data, 2019–2025. The nearest buoy, not the break.
Show the numbers
BuoyJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
San Juan buoy46% (avg 4.7 ft)36% (avg 4.9 ft)42% (avg 4.7 ft)29% (avg 4.2 ft)15% (avg 3.3 ft)2% (avg 3.1 ft)0% (avg 3.6 ft)7% (avg 3.4 ft)35% (avg 3.7 ft)41% (avg 3.8 ft)46% (avg 4.6 ft)50% (avg 5.2 ft)

Every buoy and month: when to come.

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