
Surf Forecasts:
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 (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,151 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Estero in the next 16 days are 1.5m 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 1.3m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on offer at El Estero for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t be in a hurry. The first proper waves worth getting wet for don’t really show up until the morning of Wednesday the 13th, but even then, it’s more about getting a feel for it.
We’ve got a couple of standout mornings. Thursday the 14th is a real bright spot. You’re looking at a 4ft swell from the SW, with that deep, long-period energy at 18 seconds – proper groundswell. The mornings are clean with a cross-offshore wind, and the wave energy is kicking at 926 (moderate). That’s a solid session. But then the arvo gets a bit lumpy with a cross-onshore, so get out early.
Now, the real gem in the whole 16-day window is Sunday the 16th. The morning is glassy—zero wind—with a clean 4ft SW swell. The water temp anomaly is about average for the time of year. The wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions," which rarely gets better than that. The afternoon holds clean with a cross-offshore. This is your best day. Energy sits around 606-629 (moderate), which for this setup is plenty. After that, we keep getting small but fun mornings right through to the 18th and 19th, all clean.
The second week tails off. By Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd, we’re down to knee-high 1-2ft waves. The mornings are clean, but the afternoons get messy. There’s a late pulse around the 23rd with a 2ft, 19-second period swell. That’s a very long period, which will hold up nicely at this river mouth, but it’s not big. It’ll be a long wait between sets, but shape should be good on the Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Energy is weak to moderate (240-284). It’s a promising end to the run, but at two weeks out, keep your expectations in check.
So, to sum it up: hit the mornings, especially Thursday 14th and Sunday 16th. The river break can handle the long-period swell nicely, and the crowds are often around, but on those mornings it’s well worth it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Sun morning. 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 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 20 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
253 | 218 | 375 | 212 | 211 | 206 | 181 | 176 | 255 | 373 | 911 | 881 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 1041 | 606 | 606 | 598 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 00:50AM2.13m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:54AM0.42m | 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 | |||||||
— | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 13 | 25 | 10 | 14 |
Temp °C | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 28 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 36 | 33 | 29 | 34 | 36 | 29 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 7 |
171 | 218 | 268 | 212 | 211 | 206 | 82 | 74 | 255 | 248 | 911 | 881 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 1041 | 606 | 606 | 166 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | S 9 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 8 | SW 20 | S 8 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 14 |
87 | 37 | 375 | 57 | 136 | 55 | 181 | 176 | 71 | 373 | 41 | 251 | 136 | 136 | 134 | 129 | 61 | 74 | 598 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 8 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 14 | SW 21 | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 20 | SW 10 | N 5 | SW 8 | S 11 | N 5 | S 11 |
253 | 157 | 35 | 152 | 57 | 128 | 71 | 91 | 154 | 57 | 64 | 160 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 59 | 23 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 5 | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | N 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | N 5 | NNE 5 | — | NNE 6 |
13 | 9 | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 15 | — | 19 | 22 | — | 11 | 22 | — | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.











