Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,074 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 (Sep 08) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about El Estero in feet and degrees.
The water is a balmy 86°, running a touch warmer than usual, so you can leave the rubber at home. We’ve got a long, consistent run of SW groundswell coming in. It’s not gonna be huge, but there are some real clean windows.
It kicks off this Tuesday afternoon, September 8th. It’s small but sick: 2ft of SW groundswell with a very long 17-second period. The wind is dead glassy. It’s a longboard kind of day with weak energy (491), but for a Tuesday afternoon with no one out, you take it.
Wednesday the 9th morning is the real standout. The swell pushes to 3ft from the SW, still with that long 16-second gap, and we get a 15 mph offshore wind from the ENE. That’s going to hold the wave face open and clean. Moderate energy (674). If you’re getting out once this week, make it Wednesday morning.
Thursday morning the 10th brings the biggest early swell: 4ft from the SW. The energy jumps to a strong 1110. It’s cross-offshore wind, so it’s still clean, but not as perfect as Wednesday. This is getting into fun territory for most, but still okay for a confident intermediate.
From Friday the 11th onward, we get a nice run of clean mornings. Friday morning has 4ft of clean swell with a glassy afternoon. Saturday the 12th morning is clean at 3ft, but all the afternoons this week get choppy with the cross-onshore breeze.
Into the second week, Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th mornings keep the quality with 3ft to 3ft of clean SW swell and light offshore winds.
A change hits on the afternoon of Saturday the 19th September. A short-period, 7ft SSW swell rolls in with only an 8-second period. The energy is moderate (867), but that short period and cross-onshore wind will make it a messy, walled-up wave. That’s a kiteboarding day, not a paddle session.
The last few days, 20th to 23rd September, fade into marginal and onshore junk. The run is done.
The clear standout is Wednesday morning, September 9th. That 3ft SW swell with a stiff offshore wind is the one to set the alarm for. The backup is Tuesday afternoon, September 8th, for the total glass and those long-period lines.
Stay safe.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 224 | 302 | 299 | 437 | 871 | 1074 | 823 | 813 | 701 | 623 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 171 | 138 | 236 | 171 | 246 | 460 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 00:40AM2.19m | 1:02PM2.31m | 1:35AM2.37m | 1:55PM2.40m | 2:23AM2.51m | 2:43PM2.46m | 3:07AM2.61m | 3:27PM2.48m | 3:48AM2.64m | 4:09PM2.44m | 4:27AM2.60m | 4:49PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:24PM0.38m | 6:49AM0.44m | 7:19PM0.27m | 7:46AM0.30m | 8:08PM0.18m | 8:36AM0.19m | 8:53PM0.12m | 9:21AM0.12m | 9:34PM0.11m | 10:03AM0.10m | 10:14PM0.15m | 10:44AM0.14m | 10:53PM0.23m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 20 |
Temp °C | 32 | 27 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 36 | 29 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 36 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 35 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
| kJ | 199 | 302 | 299 | 437 | 871 | 1074 | 823 | 813 | 701 | 623 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 76 | 97 | 86 | 104 | 100 | 153 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 10 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 224 | 154 | 144 | 120 | 50 | 37 | 49 | 46 | 35 | 50 | 53 | 65 | 51 | 74 | 171 | 138 | 134 | 171 | 246 | 460 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | SSE 11 | NW 10 | N 4 | NW 10 | SSE 10 | N 4 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 18 | NNE 4 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 59 | 58 | 231 | 35 | 40 | 36 | 6 | 36 | 32 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 80 | 3 | 51 | 68 | 236 | 73 | 72 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | — | NNE 4 | S 7 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | NNE 2 | — | — | NNE 4 | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | — | 11 | 16 | 6 | — | — | — | 9 | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 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.
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