El Estero Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.32° N 85.84° W

El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 11 Aug 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 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,261 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 18s. 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 15) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Tue 11th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 14th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 18s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sat 15th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got one spot to focus on, and it’s a river mouth set-up that catches a fair bit of that south-west groundswell. The water is feeling a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°, which is a nice little bonus. The overall pattern starts slow, then builds into a promising window before fading back down.

Things are a bit lacklustre to kick off. Tuesday the 11th is a write-off with marginal, questionable conditions and a light onshore breeze messing with the surface. Not one to wet a board. Wednesday the 12th cleans up nicely in the morning with clean 2-foot surf and a decent 16-second period groundswell from the south-west, but it’s small. The energy is moderate, with combined swell energy around 347. Thursday the 13th afternoon is where we start to see a real highlight: the wind goes offshore from the east, cleaning up those 3-foot waves with a long 15-second period, producing gentle, clean lines. That’s a good session for a log or a mini-mal.

Now, the standout window arrives on Friday the 14th through to Sunday the 16th. The swell climbs to 4 feet on Friday morning with an 18-second period – proper long-period groundswell. This is the kind of energy (combined energy hitting 907 in the morning, 1132 in the afternoon) that makes the river mouth start to pitch. Saturday the 15th morning pushes up to 5 feet, still with that long 16-second period. That’s solid, powerful surf. It is getting into the size where beginners should think twice, but for intermediates and above, this is the pick of the whole period. The morning winds are a little onshore-cross, but with that much juice and period, it’ll still be fun.

Sunday the 16th afternoon is another standout, with a clean 4-foot swell and offshore breeze from the north-east. The combined energy is 606, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Good, consistent lines with a bit of punch.

The week of the 17th drops back into the 3-foot to 4-foot range, but the quality hangs in there, especially Monday the 17th afternoon and Tuesday the 18th morning with clean conditions and offshore or cross-off breezes.

From Thursday the 20th onward, the size really fades, dipping to 2 feet to 2 feet. The energy drops off a cliff, down to around 133-208. There is a brief, very small, glassy highlight on Sunday the 23rd afternoon – 2 feet, 18-second period, glassy conditions. That’s a fun little session on a longboard if you’re keen, but it’s small.

The very last gasp of the outlook is Wednesday the 26th morning. An offshore wind from the east greets a building 3-foot swell with a 19-second period, and combined energy of 564. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” It’s two weeks out, so treat it as promising but not locked in. Could be a sneaky good one.

The main takeaway: the best windows are Friday 14th through Sunday 16th, especially Saturday morning for size and Sunday afternoon for clean, lined-up waves. Don’t bother with the first few days or the flat spells after the 23rd unless you just want a paddle.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
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
1
2
2
0
2
0
2
3
2
3
3
3
2
4
2
3
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.7
SW
20
1.2
SW
18
1.2
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
1.5
SW
16
1.3
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
218
375
212
211
206
181
176
255
373
901
881
1160
1109
897
1041
606
606
598
428
434
410
Wind (km/h)
20
ENE
10
SSW
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
SSW
15
ENE
20
ENE
15
E
15
E
20
ENE
10
SSW
15
ENE
20
ENE
10
S
15
NE
20
NE
10
NE
10
E
10
NE
15
ENE
20
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
1:10PM2.41m
1:49AM2.30m
2:07PM2.50m
2:42AM2.47m
2:59PM2.55m
3:30AM2.59m
3:47PM2.56m
4:16AM2.64m
4:33PM2.52m
4:59AM2.63m
5:17PM2.42m
5:41AM2.56m
6:00PM2.29m
Low Tide
7:35PM0.20m
7:54AM0.30m
8:27PM0.09m
8:49AM0.20m
9:15PM0.02m
9:40AM0.14m
10:00PM0.01m
10:27AM0.13m
10:43PM0.06m
11:13AM0.16m
11:25PM0.15m
11:57AM0.25m
00:06AM0.29m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:02
6:02
6:01
6:01
6:00
6:00
6:00
 mm
3
13
4
Temp °C
32
30
28
32
30
28
32
33
28
32
30
28
32
29
26
26
27
25
26
26
26
Feels °C
36
33
31
36
33
29
32
35
29
34
33
30
35
33
29
29
29
28
27
28
24
  • 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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