Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 332 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Jul 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s 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 0.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 13s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s talk about what’s cooking at El Estero. It’s going to be a slow burn for a bit, but there are some killer windows later on that are worth marking on your calendar.
Right now, Saturday afternoon is a bit of a wash with a 3ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and a cross-onshore breeze plus the chance of storms. The combined energy is decent at 530, but it’s not going to be pretty.
Sunday morning, though, flips the script. The wind goes glassy from the east, and that 3ft SW swell has some nice period. The energy drops to 299, but the clean surface is everything. Small, but clean. Sunday afternoon gets messy again.
Monday through Wednesday of next week stay in the 2ft to 2ft range. The wind is mostly good, but Tuesday afternoon is a standout with glassy calm and a 2ft SSW swell pushing energy to 499. Perfect for the grovel board.
Thursday morning has a clean offshore breeze with a 3ft SSW swell – solid for a quick one. Friday afternoon is another gem: glassy wind, 3ft SSW swell, 13-second period, energy at 422. Clean little waves.
Now, the second week gets serious. Sunday, July 19th morning has a 2ft SW swell with a long 19-second period and a moderate offshore – the energy is moderate at 217, but that period means shape.
But hold onto your leash for July 21st. Tuesday afternoon is glassy calm with a 3ft SW swell, 14-second period, and energy hitting 561. That’s a lot of love for that size.
The real fireworks are July 25th and 26th. Saturday morning, July 25th, has a 3ft SW swell with a huge 21-second period – that’s very long period groundswell – and a light offshore breeze. The energy is a massive 1038. This will be pumping, but with that period, it will be best at the river mouth. Saturday afternoon goes glassy with 4ft SW swell and energy of 1124. Sunday the 26th is glassy again with 4ft SW swell, 19-second period, and energy of 1219. These are the days. Excellent quality, powerful, and clean. This is expert territory.
Water temp is about 86°F, a touch warmer than usual for the season.
So, the best bets: Sunday morning, Tuesday afternoon, and Thursday morning for clean small waves. Then lock in July 25th and 26th for the big, clean, powerful sessions. Long-range, but looking excellent.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 362 | 323 | 284 | 318 | 164 | 200 | 125 | 184 | 140 | 207 | 197 | 181 | 196 | 206 | 196 | 326 | 103 | 75 | 295 | 140 | 192 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:56PM2.00m | 12:19PM2.43m | 1:00AM2.13m | 1:20PM2.52m | 2:00AM2.27m | 2:18PM2.59m | 2:56AM2.41m | 3:12PM2.63m | 3:48AM2.52m | 4:04PM2.62m | 4:39AM2.59m | 4:53PM2.56m | 5:27AM2.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:49PM0.38m | 5:55AM0.46m | 6:51PM0.26m | 7:01AM0.37m | 7:48PM0.13m | 8:02AM0.27m | 8:42PM0.03m | 8:59AM0.19m | 9:33PM-0.03m | 9:54AM0.15m | 10:22PM-0.04m | 10:47AM0.16m | 11:09PM0.01m | 11:38AM0.21m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 |
 | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | 6:08 |
mm | 8 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 31 |
Feels °C | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 28 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 35 | 29 | 34 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 362 | 323 | 284 | 318 | 164 | 200 | 125 | 159 | 155 | 207 | 139 | 181 | 196 | 206 | 196 | 326 | 203 | 195 | 295 | 222 | 192 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 | S 14 |
| kJ | 82 | 62 | 38 | 37 | 48 | 35 | 22 | 88 | 140 | 140 | 144 | 164 | 129 | 80 | 91 | 40 | 68 | 67 | 76 | 140 | 150 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 14 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 19 | S 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | N 5 | N 5 | S 12 | S 13 | N 5 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 12 | S 16 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 86 | 71 | 15 | 9 | 63 | 134 | 132 | 184 | 17 | 152 | 197 | 13 | 12 | 72 | 89 | 2 | 103 | 75 | 51 | 46 | 61 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 4 | NNE 5 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 17 | — | — | 13 | 7 | — | 17 | 15 | 8 | 24 | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 20 | 10 |
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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