El Estero Surf Break

El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 10.32° N 85.84° W

Issued: 5 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Estero sea temperature is
30.1° C

1.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,263 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 21s. 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 1.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Mon 6th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 6th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 19s
Most Powerful12PM (Tue 7th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 18s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming up.

We’ve got a slow start, but don’t count it out completely. The first chance to surf is Sunday afternoon, July 5th, but it’s a dud. There’s a risk of thunderstorms, a light onshore breeze, and a weak 3ft swell from the SW with a long 16-second period. The water is 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal. The combined energy is 381 (moderate), and the conditions are poor. Skip it.

Monday the 6th is a mixed bag. The morning is clean with a 2ft SW swell, but the period is a very long 20 seconds. That kind of period can make a river mouth like El Estero (El Estero) run a bit straight. The energy is 770 (moderate). The afternoon has a 3ft SW swell, but the wind is onshore.

Tuesday the 7th is the clear winner. This is the standout. The morning has a clean 4ft SW swell with an 18-second period and a moderate offshore breeze. The energy is 1208 (strong). The afternoon is even better: a 5ft SW swell, light offshore wind, and glassy conditions. The energy hits 1263 (strong). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The river mouth will handle that long-period groundswell well. Expect crowds.

Wednesday the 8th is still solid. The morning is clean with a 4ft SSW swell (864 energy), and the afternoon goes glassy with a 4ft SW swell (755 energy).

From Thursday the 9th onward, the swell drops into the 2ft to 3ft range. There are still clean windows. Thursday morning is clean with a 4ft SW swell (544 energy). Friday the 10th afternoon is glassy with a 3ft SW swell (426 energy). Saturday the 11th morning has a gentle offshore and a 3ft SSW swell (375 energy). The second week is a slow grind of small, clean waves. The best of the second week looks like Saturday the 18th afternoon, glassy with a 3ft SSW swell (270 energy), and Sunday the 19th afternoon, also glassy with a 3ft SSW swell (357 energy). The long-range stuff is promising but less certain.

The clear standout is Tuesday the 7th. Don’t miss it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
3
2
3
2
4
4
3
2
3
3
3
0
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
16
0.7
SW
21
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
19
1
SW
19
1.2
SW
18
1.4
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
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
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
381
467
408
738
730
915
1263
1179
864
748
720
544
419
382
382
318
403
372
362
323
280
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
NE
20
ENE
5
WSW
20
ENE
25
ENE
5
E
15
NE
20
ENE
0
WSW
10
ENE
15
ENE
10
SW
10
E
15
ENE
5
S
15
E
15
ESE
10
SSW
5
SE
15
NE
Wind State
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
cross
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
6:14PM2.11m
6:45AM2.22m
6:56PM2.04m
7:27AM2.24m
7:43PM1.97m
8:14AM2.25m
8:38PM1.92m
9:08AM2.27m
9:40PM1.90m
10:09AM2.30m
10:48PM1.92m
11:14AM2.35m
11:56PM2.00m
Low Tide
00:25AM0.44m
12:56PM0.59m
1:03AM0.49m
1:44PM0.59m
1:48AM0.53m
2:39PM0.58m
2:40AM0.56m
3:39PM0.54m
3:41AM0.56m
4:44PM0.48m
4:47AM0.53m
5:49PM0.38m
5:55AM0.46m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:26
5:26
5:26
5:26
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
6:08
 mm
2
1
2
5
7
10
7
4
1
Temp °C
29
27
31
30
27
31
31
28
31
31
28
31
30
28
31
31
27
28
27
26
30
Feels °C
32
31
34
34
30
33
35
31
33
36
32
34
34
31
34
36
31
31
31
30
33
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
19
1
SW
19
1.2
SW
18
1.4
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
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
Energy kJ
381
432
362
738
730
915
1263
1179
864
748
720
544
419
382
382
318
403
372
362
323
280
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
10
0.7
SW
21
0.7
SW
20
1
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.6
S
8
0.8
S
12
0.7
S
12
0.7
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.7
S
8
0.8
S
7
0.8
S
7
0.7
S
7
0.7
S
6
Energy kJ
94
467
408
465
255
293
51
180
132
110
146
87
85
85
64
56
55
63
61
43
41
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
14
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
12
0.4
NNW
5
0.1
W
15
0.3
N
4
0.1
W
14
0.2
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.3
SSW
18
0.5
S
16
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
S
15
Energy kJ
134
89
60
56
57
55
73
7
4
3
4
37
108
62
134
86
71
110
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
N
5
0.1
N
15
0.4
NNE
5
0.3
NNE
4
0.3
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
4
0.3
N
4
Energy kJ
11
4
8
4
4
6
3
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
10
0
9
10
13
0
0
10
29
0
0
0
10
0
10
0
0
0
34
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
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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