Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 3PM (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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m 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 1.7m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 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, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s coming at El Estero over the next couple weeks.
We start off Sunday the 23rd with real small stuff: waves only 2 ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell from the southwest at 19 seconds. Energy is weak, at 300. The water’s warm, sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Wind is a moderate cross-offshore breeze, so it’s clean but tiny. Longboard territory.
Monday the 24th, the swell inches up to 2 ft, still from the southwest, periods holding in the 17-18 second range. The standout moment is Monday afternoon when the wind goes glassy. That’s prime time for a clean, smooth session on a log. Energy bumps to moderate at 374.
Tuesday and Wednesday stay small, with heights barely reaching 2 ft and energy dropping into the low 100s by Wednesday. But with offshore or glassy conditions in the mornings and afternoons, it’s still paddleable for the keen.
Thursday the 27th is more of the same, but Friday the 28th brings a pulse: waves hit 3 ft with a 19-second period and energy climbs to 705. The afternoon cleans up with a gentle offshore breeze. That’s a solid session.
First real standout: Saturday the 29th morning. Swell hits 5 ft, southwest, 16-second period, and energy jumps to 1193 – strong. Moderate offshore wind makes for clean, punchy waves. At nearly 5 ft, it’s getting a bit much for beginners. The afternoon goes cross-on and choppy, so get out early.
Sunday the 30th keeps the 5 ft swell in the morning, period dropping to 14 seconds, but energy is still strong at 935. Light cross-offshore wind keeps it clean. Afternoons get messy with thunderstorm chop.
Monday the 31st backs off to 4 ft, clean in the morning. Tuesday the 1st of September drops to 3 ft, still rideable.
Then a gap in quality: Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are small and messy, afternoons turn poor with cross-onshore winds.
But hold on. Friday the 4th of September morning: 6 ft of southwest swell, 17-second period, energy blasts to 2061 – that’s very strong. The wind is glassy. This is big, powerful, clean groundswell. Over 5 ft, this is for experts only. This is the absolute standout of the whole forecast.
Saturday the 5th keeps the size at 6 ft in the morning with a light offshore breeze. Energy is still massive at 1950. Another ripper for the experienced crew. Sunday the 6th holds at 5 ft with clean offshore wind.
After that, the swell fades through Monday the 7th down to 4 ft, and the afternoons turn onshore and poor.
Bottom line: the best windows are Saturday the 29th morning, and the real highlight is Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September mornings. Big, clean, powerful. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
184 | 260 | 327 | 255 | 305 | 390 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 107 | 74 | 154 | 155 | 248 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1123 | 1314 | 988 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 10:48AM1.90m | 11:37PM1.71m | 11:52AM1.94m | 00:37AM1.80m | 12:47PM2.02m | 1:25AM1.94m | 1:34PM2.12m | 2:06AM2.09m | 2:16PM2.21m | 2:43AM2.23m | 2:54PM2.28m | 3:19AM2.35m | 3:32PM2.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:27PM0.73m | 5:34AM0.84m | 6:25PM0.66m | 6:34AM0.77m | 7:13PM0.57m | 7:24AM0.67m | 7:54PM0.47m | 8:08AM0.56m | 8:30PM0.38m | 8:48AM0.45m | 9:05PM0.31m | 9:26AM0.35m | 9:39PM0.26m | ||||||||
5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 5 | 32 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 32 | 33 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 35 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 27 | 33 | 32 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 27 | 35 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
109 | 106 | 106 | 106 | 102 | 390 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 51 | 46 | 179 | 81 | 68 | 62 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1123 | 1314 | 988 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 |
116 | 260 | 327 | 255 | 305 | 76 | 55 | 51 | 47 | 110 | 107 | 74 | 76 | 106 | 248 | 51 | 35 | 91 | 70 | 83 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | N 4 | N 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | NNE 4 | SW 14 | SW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | — | S 10 |
184 | 84 | 75 | 72 | 69 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 154 | 155 | 6 | 123 | 125 | 38 | 38 | — | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | — | NNE 4 | N 5 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | N 5 | NNE 4 | — | S 7 | — | — | — | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | 6 | 16 | — | 6 | 4 | — | 22 | 7 | — | 240 | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 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.











