El Coco Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and let’s have a look at what El Coco (Costa Rica) has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, things are looking pretty small and wind-affected for the first week. Water temp is sitting at a warm 84°, which is about average for this time of year. The problem is the wind. We’ve got a strong, steady ENE breeze blowing 18 to 25 mph almost every day, which is offshore for El Coco but it’s a bit of a gale. That kind of wind keeps the surface clean but makes paddling out a real battle, especially when the swell is tiny. The combined wave energy is weak to moderate, mostly in the low 200s to low 300s.

Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are pretty much write-offs. We’re looking at 2 ft to 3 ft of SW to SSW swell with a period around 10–13 seconds. That’s a short-period, weak groundswell and the conditions are poor. I wouldn’t rush out there. Saturday the 22nd is the same story – small S swell around 3 ft to 3 ft, still windy. The only real highlight of this first week is Sunday the 23rd, when the wind finally drops a little and we get a 1 ft to 2 ft SW groundswell with a very long period – 18 to 19 seconds. That kind of period is rare for here. It means a lot of energy for the size, but it also means those waves might be a bit closed-out and tricky at a beach break like El Coco. Still, with clean, strong offshore wind, it’s the best on offer early on, even if it’s marginal.

Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 27th is flat and windy. Swell drops to 1 ft to 2 ft with periods from 15 to 18 seconds, but the combined energy is weak (114 to 239). Not worth the effort.

Now, things change. The standout of the whole outlook is Saturday, August 29th. That morning we see a 5 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, blowing a strong 18 mph offshore wind from the NE. The combined energy jumps to 1178 – that’s strong. That’s proper groundswell. It’s a bit over head-high, so this is for experienced surfers only. The wind is howling offshore, so the faces will be clean, but you’ll be fighting it in the lineup. The period is long, which at a beach break might mean the waves are a bit walled up, but with that much energy and offshore breeze, it’s the best we’ve got. The day before, Friday August 28th morning, also looks good with 2 ft and a 20-second period, but it’s the Saturday that’s the real window.

From Sunday the 30th onward, we get a slow drop in swell size, but the wind stays offshore or cross-off. Swell stays around 4 ft to 5 ft with periods from 13 to 15 seconds, so the energy is still moderate (332 to 721). Tuesday September 1st and Wednesday September 2nd both have moderate, clean conditions with moderate offshore winds. By Thursday September 3rd afternoon, we’ve got 2 ft at 15 seconds with gentle offshore wind and a “good” rating.

The very end of the forecast, Friday September 4th, looks promising again with a 3 ft to 4 ft SW swell and an 18-second period – that’s very long period. The afternoon session sees the wind drop to a gentle 9 mph cross-off breeze. The combined energy is 721 to 777 – solid moderate energy. That’s the other standout in the second week. Clean, long-period groundswell, light wind, and a solid chest to head-high wave. This would be the pick of the second week for a relaxed, high-quality session.

Crowds at El Coco can pop up sometimes, especially when it’s good. That Saturday and that Friday will likely bring a few folks. The first week is mostly a bust unless you’re keen on small, windy surf.

In the second week, things do look like they’re waking up, but remember it’s a long way out – treat the late August and early September swell as a promising, but not locked-in, call.

Rusty.

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