El Estero surf break

El Estero surfForecast / Guanacaste / Costa Rica

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Sunday 11 Jan 2026 CST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
El Estero surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's El Estero sea temperature is
28.4° C
(Which is 1.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Estero this week:

The surf forecast for El Estero over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Estero in the next 12 days are 0.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jan 16) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jan 17) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Tue 13th Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Best Surf 6AM (Tue 13th Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Fri 16th Jan)2ft (0.6m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.6
SW
0.6
SW
0.5
SW
0.5
SW
0.4
SW
0.7
WNW
0.7
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.4
WNW
0.4
WNW
0.4
WNW
0.4
NW
0.2
SSW
0.3
SW
0.4
SW
0.4
SW
0.4
SSW
0.6
SSW
0.5
SW
0.5
SW
0.5
SW
Period(s) (?)121212111111101091088111214141413131312
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1141146859421159261293828161221525375116837873
Wind
(km/h)
25
NE
25
NE
20
ENE
25
NE
30
NE
20
ENE
25
NE
25
NE
20
ENE
20
ENE
5
WSW
15
ENE
20
NE
15
NE
25
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
20
ENE
20
ENE
5
N
15
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
on
offcross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:57PM
2.11
9:26AM
1.79
9:51PM
2.04
10:28AM
1.72
10:49PM
2.00
11:32AM
1.71
11:47PM
2.01
12:31PM
1.75
12:41AM
2.06
1:23PM
1.83
1:30AM
2.13
2:09PM
1.93
2:14AM
2.21
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:34PM
0.64
3:27AM
0.68
3:27PM
0.75
4:27AM
0.71
4:25PM
0.81
5:28AM
0.70
5:26PM
0.81
6:24AM
0.64
6:23PM
0.77
7:15AM
0.56
7:15PM
0.71
8:00AM
0.47
8:02PM
0.63
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunrise6:03--6:03--6:03--6:03--6:05--6:05--6:05--
Sunset-5:37--5:37--5:38--5:38--5:39--5:39--5:40-
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
---------------------
Temp. °C303126293026293025292926293126293126292926
Feels °C (?)282824272724282825313128293125272924293227
  • 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 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 12 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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