El Estero surf break

El Estero surfForecast / Guanacaste / Costa Rica

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 19 May 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
30.3° C
(Which is 1.6°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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 19) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. 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 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) 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 0.8m 9s period and expected on Saturday (May 23) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Tue 19th May)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 24th May)3ft (0.9m) 19s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 25th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue morning, min 27°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 27°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
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
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
2
0
2
3
0
3
3
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
18
0.7
SW
14
0.9
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
154
208
376
206
306
229
266
266
314
251
248
234
228
201
163
583
266
560
737
724
606
Wind (km/h)
20
ENE
15
SW
20
ENE
20
ENE
15
SSW
15
E
15
ENE
15
SW
10
SE
10
N
15
SW
5
SSE
10
ENE
20
SW
5
SE
10
NNE
20
SW
10
ENE
15
NE
20
ENE
15
E
off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
4:31PM2.69m
5:07AM2.44m
5:23PM2.59m
6:02AM2.40m
6:18PM2.44m
6:59AM2.34m
7:16PM2.28m
7:59AM2.27m
8:18PM2.13m
9:01AM2.23m
9:24PM2.02m
10:02AM2.20m
10:30PM1.96m
Low Tide
10:17AM0.13m
10:54PM-0.05m
11:11AM0.19m
11:46PM0.04m
12:07PM0.30m
00:40AM0.16m
1:08PM0.42m
1:37AM0.29m
2:12PM0.52m
2:36AM0.42m
3:20PM0.59m
3:37AM0.52m
4:27PM0.60m
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:59
5:59
5:59
5:59
1
1
1
1
3
2
Temp °C
33
31
30
33
30
28
32
30
29
31
30
28
31
30
29
30
30
28
32
32
28
37
33
34
35
32
27
34
32
31
32
32
31
33
32
33
33
32
31
34
32
29
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
12
0.7
SW
14
0.9
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.7
S
9
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
Energy kJ
124
208
376
206
306
229
266
266
314
251
248
234
104
99
74
583
266
560
737
724
606
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.5
SW
12
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SW
12
0.5
SW
12
0.5
SW
11
0.5
S
7
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
13
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.6
SSE
7
Energy kJ
28
28
74
138
113
69
65
60
26
41
44
60
228
201
108
73
51
49
48
31
38
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
S
7
0.4
S
7
0.5
N
5
0.4
SW
19
0.3
S
7
0.3
NNW
5
0.4
SW
11
0.4
SW
10
0.4
SW
10
0.3
SW
10
0.3
SW
10
0.4
SW
13
0.6
SW
16
0.2
N
4
0.6
SW
18
0.2
N
4
0.2
S
11
0.3
N
4
0.1
S
15
Energy kJ
154
109
17
16
11
126
8
4
29
27
26
15
15
42
163
1
206
1
9
3
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
3
0.6
NNE
5
0.5
S
7
0.4
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
5
0.2
N
3
Energy kJ
8
3
17
25
6
7
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
0
10
0
9
10
0
1
10
0
1
10
0
0
169
0
0
59
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
7
5
6
9
6
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
  • 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 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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