Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 447 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3AM. 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 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
IMPERIAL
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at El Estero for the next couple of weeks. Right off the bat, we’ve got a real mixed bag, but there are some sweet windows if you’re patient.
The water is sitting at about 86°F at the start, which is a touch warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. Feels like a bath.
The first few days are a bit of a write-off, honestly. Friday the 31st is a no-go with a risk of thunderstorms and a messy cross-onshore breeze. Saturday the 1st is too windy to get excited about, and while Sunday the 2nd morning has a clean offshore wind, the swell is only 2 ft from the SW with moderate energy (212), so it’s just a knee-high dribble.
Things start to look up on Monday the 3rd. That morning is a beauty – glassy conditions, 3 ft of SW swell, and the energy is building a bit (300). That’s your first real chance for a clean, small-wave session. Tuesday the 4th afternoon has a bit of a spike with 3 ft of SSW swell, but the period drops to 8 seconds, which is a short, weak windswell, so it might be a bit bumpy even with the clean cross-off breeze.
The middle of the week is small again, but then we get to the real standout. Saturday the 8th of August is the one to circle. The morning is already looking good with a solid 3 ft of SSW swell, strong offshore winds from the ENE (16 mph), and a massive energy jump to 580. But the afternoon is where it’s at – glassy, dead calm, 4 ft of SW swell and very strong energy (517). That’s going to be clean, hollow lines.
Sunday the 9th afternoon is also glassy with 3 ft of SW swell (395 energy), and Monday the 10th morning has a nice offshore flow with 3 ft of SW swell (370). Tuesday the 11th afternoon goes glassy again with 3 ft of SW swell (386).
Looking further out, Thursday the 13th afternoon is a promising one. Offshore ENE winds at 16 mph, 3 ft of SW swell, and very strong energy (530). Clean, punchy waves. Then Friday the 14th morning has a very long-period groundswell from the SW at 19 seconds, with a massive energy reading of 668. That’s a lot of power, but with that period, it’ll be best on the low tide sandbanks or a point, not a straight beach break. It’s a bit of a back-of-the-hand call this far out, but it looks good.
The best on offer is the afternoon of Saturday the 8th of August. That glassy, 4 ft SW swell with clean conditions is going to be a treat. The runner-up is the afternoon of Thursday the 13th of August, with that strong offshore wind and solid energy.
Be aware, El Estero can get crowded often, so for those standout days, get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 326 | 238 | 234 | 147 | 108 | 171 | 167 | 231 | 208 | 84 | 108 | 109 | 93 | 69 | 55 | 74 | 125 | 113 | 212 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:26AM2.30m | 4:34PM2.29m | 5:01AM2.35m | 5:11PM2.25m | 5:36AM2.38m | 5:49PM2.19m | 6:13AM2.38m | 6:30PM2.12m | 6:55AM2.36m | 7:16PM2.04m | 7:43AM2.32m | 8:10PM1.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:11PM0.28m | 10:30AM0.44m | 10:45PM0.29m | 11:08AM0.42m | 11:19PM0.31m | 11:47AM0.42m | 11:54PM0.35m | 12:29PM0.43m | 00:34AM0.40m | 1:15PM0.46m | 1:19AM0.46m | 2:09PM0.49m | 2:13AM0.52m | ||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 7 | 11 | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 35 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 326 | 238 | 234 | 147 | 108 | 171 | 39 | 231 | 208 | 82 | 96 | 109 | 87 | 63 | 63 | 66 | 63 | 60 | 212 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 12 | N 5 | SW 16 | S 7 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | 17 | 72 | 7 | 124 | 23 | 85 | 167 | 54 | 51 | 84 | 108 | 73 | 93 | 69 | 49 | 74 | 125 | 113 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | S 7 | SW 15 | S 7 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NNE 4 | SW 6 | S 12 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 24 | 27 | 66 | 14 | 104 | 22 | 116 | 69 | 66 | 83 | 15 | 61 | 22 | 54 | 55 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 159 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | NE 3 | SW 2 | — | — | SW 6 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | 17 | 18 | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 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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