
Surf Forecasts:
Costa Banderas surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with 202 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Costa Banderas this week:
The surf forecast for Costa Banderas over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Costa Banderas in the next 16 days are 0.6m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Costa Banderas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same stretch of coast for the next couple of weeks at Costa Banderas. The water is a warm 89°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year.
First thing: don’t hold your breath for the first week. It’s a long, slow grind of small, weak surf.
From Tuesday, August 4th through to Thursday, August 13th, the swell is tiny. The combined wave energy is mostly in the two-digit range, between 65 and 257. You’re looking at waves around 1ft to 2ft. The wind is often clean or glassy in the mornings, which is the best you’ll get. The swell direction is mostly SW or SSW, with a long period – up to 18 seconds sometimes – so the waves will have good shape for their size, but with these heights, it’s a real struggle for a knee-high roller. The glassy morning on Tuesday the 4th and the clean cross-off wind on Wednesday morning the 5th are the best of a bad lot, but it’s still barely a ripple.
The surf finally wakes up on Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th. That’s the standout window. On the morning of Friday the 14th, it’s clean with a light NE cross-off wind. The swell is 2ft, with a period of 18 seconds from the SW. The wave energy jumps to 360, which is a real push. That afternoon, the swell hits 3ft, with a period of 18 seconds and energy up to 474. Winds are cross-off from the WNW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. Saturday the 15th morning holds that momentum with a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a light ENE cross-off wind at 3 mph – glassy and clean, with energy at 372. This is the best weekend of the whole forecast. The waves are still small for many, but the quality and consistency are a big step up. It’s a reef, so it should hold that swell well.
After that, it drops back off from Sunday, August 16th onward. The swell fades to 2ft to 2ft, and the energy slides back into the 100s and low 200s. The wind stays clean in the mornings, but the punch is gone.
So, to be honest, it’s a quiet outlook. The only real highlight is that Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. The rest of the time, you’ll be scratching for anything rideable. The reef is consistent, but it needs the swell to work. Keep an eye on that long-range window – if it holds, that’s your best shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 56 | 54 | 74 | 48 | 51 | 87 | 85 | 84 | 120 | 197 | 173 | 169 | 150 | 121 | 118 | 127 | 68 | 118 | 96 | 78 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 12:31PM1.31m | 1:12AM0.92m | 1:11PM1.30m | 2:18PM1.27m | 4:10PM1.27m | 8:46AM1.09m | 5:45PM1.35m | 8:54AM1.17m | 6:52PM1.45m | 9:15AM1.24m | 7:45PM1.54m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 7:23PM0.59m | 6:05AM0.71m | 9:13PM0.57m | 11:36PM0.44m | 00:49AM0.27m | 12:13PM1.02m | 1:38AM0.12m | 1:19PM0.92m | 2:19AM0.02m | 2:04PM0.82m | 2:56AM-0.03m | ||||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 10 | 3 | 1 | 8 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 32 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
36 | 56 | 54 | 74 | 48 | 51 | 87 | 85 | 82 | 75 | 197 | 173 | 169 | 150 | 121 | 118 | 127 | 68 | 118 | 68 | 78 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 5 | SSW 11 | SW 13 | WNW 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 22 | WNW 5 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
5 | 36 | 35 | 2 | 12 | 28 | 2 | 81 | 84 | 120 | 52 | 50 | 48 | 33 | 31 | 11 | 18 | 2 | 60 | 96 | 59 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | W 7 | WNW 5 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | WNW 4 | SW 20 | W 6 | WNW 4 | W 4 | S 13 | NW 4 | W 13 | S 12 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 12 | SW 21 | WNW 5 | W 13 | NW 5 |
24 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 5 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | NW 5 | — |
— | 10 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 942 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nayarit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Costa Banderas Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Costa Banderas provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Costa Banderas can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Costa Banderas surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Costa Banderas) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Costa Banderas may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Costa Banderas is 27 km (17 miles) from Puerto Vallarta. If you plan a holiday in Nayarit, look for hotels and other accommodation in Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











