Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period with SW 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 18s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Estero in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, here’s the straight talk on El Estero. The opening few days are a bit slow, so don’t get too eager.
Friday the 28th: a small 3ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period, but a fresh 30 km/h cross-off breeze from the ENE keeps things clean though the combined energy is just moderate at 654. Not much power. The afternoon is similar.
Saturday the 29th: a pulse to 5ft SW swell, still with a long 16-second period, and combined energy jumps to 1230 (moderate-strong). The morning has a moderate 20 km/h cross-off breeze – it’s building but not perfect. The afternoon gets choppy with a gentle cross-onshore from the SSW.
Now, Sunday the 30th afternoon – this is a moment. Swell drops to 5ft, period still a solid 14 seconds, and combined energy at 857. A light 10 km/h offshore from the east makes it glassy. Risk of thunderstorms in the air. It’s clean, it’s fun, it’s for the intermediate crew. This is a good pick.
Monday 31st and Tuesday September 1st are clean but smaller – good for a paddle.
Wednesday 2nd is a skip day.
Thursday 3rd has a clean morning but gets messy by lunch.
Here’s the main event: Friday September 4th morning. A solid 5ft SW swell with a long 17-second period, combined energy of 1458 (strong). A gentle 15 km/h cross-off breeze from the ENE – clean faces. This is for the experienced surfer. Expect the crowd at the river mouth, but the quality is excellent.
Saturday September 5th morning pushes it to 6ft, with a light offshore from the ENE and combined energy again at 1448. Another banger for the experts. Too big for beginners.
Through the second week, mornings are the key. Sunday the 6th still has 5ft with a glassy offshore – good. From Monday 7th to Thursday 10th, the dawn windows are clean and waist-to-chest high.
Tuesday the 8th morning is glassy at 3ft but with an 18-second period and combined energy of 648 – a sneaky good session.
Thursday the 10th morning: glassy, 4ft, 15-second period – calm and clean.
Friday the 11th morning: 4ft, 16-second period, light offshore, combined energy 824 – another clean quality day.
Saturday the 12th morning is glassy but small – a good finish.
If you’re marking the calendar, pencil in the mornings of September 4th, 5th, and 11th. Those are your standout sessions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri morning, calm by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1230 | 1314 | 1105 | 911 | 821 | 621 | 451 | 386 | 336 | 301 | 252 | 220 | 246 | 326 | 371 | 291 | 570 | 985 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:54PM2.28m | 3:19AM2.35m | 3:32PM2.32m | 3:53AM2.45m | 4:09PM2.34m | 4:29AM2.51m | 4:46PM2.32m | 5:05AM2.52m | 5:25PM2.27m | 5:45AM2.50m | 6:08PM2.19m | 6:29AM2.43m | 6:56PM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:05PM0.31m | 9:26AM0.35m | 9:39PM0.26m | 10:04AM0.28m | 10:14PM0.24m | 10:42AM0.24m | 10:50PM0.24m | 11:21AM0.24m | 11:28PM0.28m | 12:04PM0.28m | 00:10AM0.34m | 12:52PM0.35m | 00:59AM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 33 | 33 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 27 | 35 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 35 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1230 | 1314 | 1105 | 911 | 821 | 621 | 451 | 386 | 336 | 234 | 102 | 220 | 238 | 238 | 68 | 57 | 570 | 985 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 11 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | W 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 6 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 45 | 33 | 192 | 40 | 57 | 40 | 28 | 30 | 20 | 41 | 50 | 6 | 301 | 252 | 62 | 246 | 326 | 371 | 291 | 110 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 11 | — | S 10 | N 4 | N 4 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 6 | W 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 123 | 125 | 14 | 38 | — | 18 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 37 | 84 | 112 | 155 | 20 | 20 | 144 | 144 | 171 | 58 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NW 10 | SW 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 25 | 24 | 181 | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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