Surf Forecasts:
Costa Banderas surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period, SSW swell with 158 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Costa Banderas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Costa Banderas. This is a reef setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and looking ahead over the next couple of weeks we’ve got a slow start before things really turn on. The water is sitting at 89°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’re basically surfing in a bathtub.
The first week is pretty lackluster. From Wednesday the 19th through most of the following week, the swell is tiny—mostly around 1ft to 2ft—with moderate wave energy (between 86 and 229 in the combined energy). It’s surfable in patches, but nothing to get excited about. The wind plays ball on a few mornings, like Thursday the 20th and Wednesday the 26th, with glassy conditions, but the waves are just too small to make it worthwhile. There’s a stretch from Friday the 21st through Sunday the 23rd where conditions are poor, with onshore or cross-shore winds and some stormy weather mixed in. Honestly, it’s a bit of a waiting game.
Then things start to shift around Friday the 28th of August. The swell builds a touch to 2ft–2ft, but more importantly the energy jumps into the moderate range (277–380) and the wind goes clean cross-off. By Saturday the 29th, we’re looking at the first real standout: the morning has glassy conditions with a 3ft SSW swell, period around 16 seconds, and wave energy hitting 480. That’s a proper groundswell with long gaps between sets, which will really suit this reef. The wind stays clean through the afternoon too. Sunday the 30th keeps the quality with another glassy morning and a 3ft SSW swell.
But the best of the whole outlook is the window from Wednesday the 2nd of September through Thursday the 3rd. Swell size bumps up to 5ft, period drops a bit to 11–12 seconds, but the energy goes strong—over 700 to 842 in the combined energy. The wind is glassy to light cross-off, and conditions are rated very good. That’s the time to be out there, especially if you’re an experienced surfer, because 5ft on a reef with that much energy will have some punch. Beginners might find it a bit much. The swell direction swings to WSW, which is close to the optimum WNW direction, so it should line up nicely.
Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so keep that in mind when the good windows arrive. Consistency is decent overall, so when it’s on, it’s on.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 140 | 136 | 93 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 68 | 78 | 97 | 68 | 108 | 80 | 112 | 112 | 107 | 133 | 138 | 93 | 90 | 124 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 12:02PM1.16m | 10:52AM1.11m | 9:41AM1.10m | 5:49PM1.14m | 9:09AM1.12m | 6:45PM1.24m | 9:03AM1.16m | 7:24PM1.34m | 9:10AM1.21m | 7:58PM1.42m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:17PM0.67m | 00:51AM0.55m | 1:22AM0.43m | 1:35PM1.01m | 1:47AM0.33m | 1:42PM0.93m | 2:09AM0.24m | 1:56PM0.84m | 2:30AM0.18m | 2:16PM0.75m | 2:52AM0.14m | |||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 22 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 140 | 136 | 93 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 68 | 78 | 97 | 68 | 108 | 79 | 68 | 67 | 107 | 133 | 138 | 93 | 90 | 124 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 9 | NW 3 | WNW 9 | NW 13 | SW 18 | WNW 5 | SSW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 7 | WSW 7 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 49 | 2 | 25 | 59 | 80 | 112 | 112 | 55 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 21 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | NW 9 | WNW 4 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 3 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 1 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 36 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 37 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | — |
| kJ | 7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 263 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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.
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