El Estero Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.32° N 85.84° W

El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Estero sea temperature is
30.0° C
1.8° 

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


El Estero surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 419 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Estero this week:

The surf forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Estero in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Thu 9th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 10th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Most Powerful12PM (Thu 9th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s

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


Alright, it’s Rusty again. Let’s talk the same forecast in feet and miles.

The water is sitting at 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. You’ll be fine in a short john or just a rash guard.

We start off on Thursday morning, July 9th. It’s small, with 3ft of SW groundswell, but the wind is a clean cross-off from the NE at 9 mph. The sets are long between them with that 15-second period, so it’s easy paddling, but it’s not pumping. Wave energy is moderate (544). Thursday afternoon looks better with a light offshore ESE breeze at 3 mph, the swell drops to 3ft from the SSW. Clean, but small.

Friday the 10th is a write-off in the morning – wind howling from the ENE at 16 mph, messing it up. The afternoon settles with a light SE cross-off at 6 mph, and the same 3ft SSW swell. Rideable, but nothing special.

Saturday the 11th is the first real standout. The morning is *glassy* – totally flat calm – with a SE breeze at just 3 mph, and we’ve got 3ft of SSW groundswell. The period is a long 15 seconds, so those waves have some push, and with the glass, El Estero will be clean and fun. The energy is moderate (372). Expect crowds, so get down early. Saturday afternoon swings onshore from the W, so that window is short.

Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th stay small, 2ft to 3ft, with clean cross-off winds. The energy drops off through Monday. Tuesday the 14th has a glassy afternoon with a quick jump in energy (499), but it’s still only 2ft. The whole first week is a pattern of small, clean, but inconsistent surf.

The middle of the second week, Thursday the 16th, the morning is clean with 2ft, but the afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-onshore. Friday the 17th to Sunday the 19th is more of the same – small, clean mornings, but the wind picks up. Nothing big.

Now, the real standout. On Friday, July 24th, a solid 5ft of SSW groundswell arrives, with a period of 12 seconds. The wave energy jumps to 772 – that’s strong, solid energy. The wind is a light ESE cross-off at 6 mph in the morning, making for clean conditions. This is the best swell of the whole period. The size is good for intermediates, but it’s not too big for a confident beginner. The afternoon goes onshore from the WSW, so the morning session is the window. This is the one to circle.

Before that, Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st have a little pulse of 2ft to 3ft with long 16-17 second periods, and clean offshore winds. It’s small, but those long-period waves will have shape at El Estero (river mouth). Wednesday the 22nd is clean again in the morning with a moderate offshore.

Thursday the 23rd is a bit of a mess with a short-period 3ft swell and cross-shore wind, so skip it. Then Friday the 24th delivers.

Overall, the first week is a slow grind of small, clean waves, but the glassy Saturday morning (July 11th) is the best of the first week. The big winner is the Friday morning, July 24th, with that 5ft swell and clean wind. That’s the one.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
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)
1.1
SW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.7
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
544
419
314
318
279
403
372
362
323
297
264
130
200
186
88
140
207
144
181
188
206
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
5
E
15
ENE
25
ENE
10
SE
10
SE
5
SE
5
W
10
SE
10
NNE
5
NNE
5
NNE
15
NE
10
NE
15
E
15
ENE
5
E
10
ENE
15
E
5
N
10
E
Wind State
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
off
off
glassy
off
High Tide
9:08AM2.27m
9:40PM1.90m
10:09AM2.30m
10:48PM1.92m
11:14AM2.35m
11:56PM2.00m
12:19PM2.43m
1:00AM2.13m
1:20PM2.52m
2:00AM2.27m
2:18PM2.59m
2:56AM2.41m
3:12PM2.63m
Low Tide
3:39PM0.54m
3:41AM0.56m
4:44PM0.48m
4:47AM0.53m
5:49PM0.38m
5:55AM0.46m
6:51PM0.26m
7:01AM0.37m
7:48PM0.13m
8:02AM0.27m
8:42PM0.03m
8:59AM0.19m
9:33PM-0.03m
part cloud
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part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
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thunderstorm
part cloud
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thunderstorm
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:26
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:08
6:08
6:08
6:08
6:08
6:08
 mm
1
20
1
5
2
6
1
2
3
1
2
Temp °C
32
32
28
31
31
27
28
27
26
27
27
26
29
30
26
29
29
25
29
28
25
Feels °C
35
36
30
32
34
31
33
31
30
30
31
31
30
33
28
32
33
27
31
32
27
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 Estero Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Estero provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Estero can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Estero 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 Estero) 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 Estero 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 Estero is 47 km (29 miles) from Nicoya. If you plan a holiday in Guanacaste, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nicoya. Nicoya has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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