El Carmen Surf Break

Lat Long: 9.62° N 85.15° W

Issued: 11 am 01 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Carmen sea temperature is
30.3° C

2.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

El Carmen surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


El Carmen surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 19s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,044 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 1 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Carmen this week:

The surf forecast for El Carmen over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 01) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Carmen in the next 16 days are 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 12s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Wed 1st Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Tue 7th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 19s
Most Powerful12PM (Tue 7th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Carmen over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
2
0
3
3
1
2
3
1
3
3
1
3
3
3
2
4
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
1.2
SSW
18
1.3
SSW
18
1.3
SSW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
534
376
427
349
382
377
457
454
408
554
417
371
265
257
371
367
664
650
845
1033
963
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
SSW
5
NE
5
NE
10
SW
5
N
10
ENE
15
SSW
5
NE
5
ENE
10
WSW
10
ESE
5
W
10
W
5
NW
5
ENE
10
SW
5
NW
5
NE
10
SSW
10
NW
Wind State
off
on
glassy
off
on
glassy
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross
off
on
cross
High Tide
3:46PM2.38m
4:21AM2.25m
4:24PM2.37m
4:59AM2.29m
5:02PM2.34m
5:35AM2.31m
5:40PM2.28m
6:12AM2.33m
6:19PM2.22m
6:50AM2.34m
7:01PM2.15m
7:31AM2.35m
7:49PM2.08m
Low Tide
9:38AM0.58m
10:07PM0.33m
10:18AM0.57m
10:43PM0.33m
10:58AM0.58m
11:18PM0.37m
11:37AM0.60m
11:53PM0.41m
12:18PM0.61m
00:29AM0.47m
1:01PM0.62m
1:08AM0.52m
1:49PM0.62m
1:53AM0.57m
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
cloud
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
 mm
4
1
3
3
6
3
20
2
2
1
2
Temp °C
30
30
29
30
30
29
30
29
28
29
29
27
25
25
26
29
29
28
29
29
28
Feels °C
33
33
34
33
33
34
33
31
33
33
33
32
29
28
29
33
33
31
33
32
32
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
1.2
SSW
18
1.3
SSW
18
1.3
SSW
17
Energy kJ
534
376
427
349
382
377
457
454
408
554
417
371
265
257
371
367
664
650
845
1033
963
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.9
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.8
S
10
0.9
S
11
0.9
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.9
S
11
0.9
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.6
S
9
0.8
S
12
Energy kJ
116
116
116
214
146
138
178
175
156
162
181
167
125
120
90
79
419
314
264
53
178
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
S
16
0.7
S
19
0.6
S
18
0.7
SSW
18
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.3
SW
20
0.3
SW
20
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
21
0.6
SW
20
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
12
0.1
W
16
Energy kJ
214
280
251
369
232
329
164
164
74
61
61
155
252
219
368
325
76
53
52
69
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
Energy kJ
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
Distance (km)
0
67
0
0
93
0
0
80
0
0
95
0
0
19
0
0
95
2
0
102
13
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
4
4
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
7
7
5
5
4
7
5
9
7
5
7
9
9
6
8
9
7
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the El Carmen Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Carmen provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Carmen can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Carmen 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 (El Carmen) 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 El Carmen 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.

El Carmen is 51 km (32 miles) from Puntarenas. If you plan a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya, look for hotels and other accommodation in Puntarenas. Puntarenas has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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