El Estero Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.32° N 85.84° W

El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Estero sea temperature is
29.9° C
1.7° 

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 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with 403 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s 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 0.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Fri 10th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Tue 14th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Most Powerful 9PM (Fri 10th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 15s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the waves on offer from that solid, consistent little river mouth we’ve got. It’s not gonna be a massive, send-it-big kind of forecast, but there’s a real steady run of clean, rideable surf if you pick your moments. The water’s sitting at a balmy 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the boardshorts are definitely the call.

Right off the bat, the first proper window is Friday morning (July 10th). We’ve got a tidy 3ft swell rolling in from the SSW with a solid 15-second period, giving it some real push and shape for a river mouth. It’s packing moderate energy (383) and with the ENE breeze holding it cross-offshore, the sets should be lining up clean. It’s not massive, but it’s quality. That afternoon turns absolutely glassy with a 5 km/h southerly, which is pure magic – the surface will be like a mirror.

The pattern holds right through Saturday the 11th and into Sunday the 12th. Saturday morning might have a bit of stormy weather around, but that 3ft SSW swell sticks around, and the conditions are clean. Then it gets really special: Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday see a glassy NNW wind dropping in at just 5 km/h. That’s as good as it gets for surface conditions. The swell ticks up slightly in energy on Sunday morning to 483, still a nice, manageable 3ft from the SW. For a consistent spot like this, that is absolute gold.

Monday morning the 13th is worth a mention too. The swell drops just a touch to 2ft, but we’ve got a proper offshore breeze from the ENE at 15 km/h. The energy is weaker at 200, but for a clean, peeling bank on a river mouth, offshore wind is the secret sauce. That’ll be fun on a longboard or a fish.

Now, there’s a bit of a lull mid-week. Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning gets a bit onshore and the swell drops (2ft with weak energy around 140), but it bounces right back. Tuesday the 14th afternoon sees the energy jump back up to 358 with a clean 2ft swell, and Wednesday the 15th morning is another beauty with a 15 km/h offshore ENE wind again. It’s a bit up and down, but the good windows keep coming.

The standout, no-question-about-it window is Saturday the 18th. That morning we’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with the NNE breeze at 15 km/h holding it cross-off and clean, with strong energy (448). The afternoon shows a 3ft swell from the SSW (492 energy), but that’s a cross-shore wind, so it might put a little crinkle on the face. Still plenty surfable.

Long range, there’s a very promising sign for Saturday the 25th of July. We see a 2ft swell from the SW, but with a *massive* 22-second period. That is a very long-period groundswell, meaning proper energy and long, clean lines, especially for a river mouth. The combined energy is strong at 384, and we’ve got a 20 km/h ENE offshore wind. The only catch? It’s over a week away (July 25th), so treat it as a promising call rather than a guaranteed lock. But it’s the sort of reading that gets you excited for a morning session.

Overall, this isn’t a chase-big-swell forecast, but it’s a *reliable* one. Consistent 2ft to 3ft SSW swells, mostly manageable winds, and a bunch of glassy mornings and afternoons. The river mouth is going to be working nearly every day. The best call is the glassy afternoon sessions on the 11th and 12th of July – that’s just sensational. And keep an eye on that long-period call around the 25th.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
2
2
0
2
1
0
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
15
0.9
SW
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
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SW
13
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
382
318
403
372
362
323
297
264
130
200
125
184
140
207
197
181
196
206
253
104
280
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
5
SSW
5
ESE
10
SSE
5
NNW
10
ENE
5
NNW
5
NNE
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
WSW
15
ENE
20
ENE
5
NE
10
ENE
15
ENE
10
W
10
ENE
15
ENE
5
W
15
E
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
on
off
cross-off
on
off
High Tide
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
3:48AM2.52m
4:04PM2.62m
Low Tide
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
9:54AM0.15m
10:22PM-0.04m
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:28
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
2
2
2
4
2
7
2
3
3
2
Temp °C
29
30
28
27
28
27
27
27
26
30
28
26
28
30
25
30
28
27
29
28
27
Feels °C
31
34
32
31
33
31
32
31
29
33
31
29
31
34
27
34
31
31
33
32
31
  • 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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