
Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,552 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for El Estero, the only game in town for this stretch.
The pattern is all about a consistent, long-period SW groundswell that just keeps on giving, but you’ll need to pick your moments. The morning windows are the real deal here, with clean conditions and light winds that make that long-period energy (19 seconds on Thursday morning!) really stand out. The water is running at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so a spring suit or boardies and a rashie will be all you need.
We kick off on Thursday, 3rd September. The morning is your best bet. The swell is a modest 2ft from the SW, but with a very long period of 19 seconds and a light cross-offshore breeze, the river mouth will be clean and lined up. The combined energy is moderate (731). It won’t be big, but the quality will be there. The afternoon turns ugly, with a strong onshore wind and choppy conditions, so leave it for the day.
Friday, 4th September, is a different story. The morning bumps up to a solid 5ft from the SW with a 17-second period and a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is strong (1425). This is getting into the fun zone. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, and the crowds are likely here, so be ready for a lineup. The afternoon is a write-off again with the onshore.
Saturday, 5th September, is the standout of the whole forecast. The morning is glassy – flat calm – with a clean 6ft of SW swell, 16-second period, and very strong energy (1578). This is a proper session. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is the time to go. The morning is the only window; the afternoon brings a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-onshore breeze.
Sunday, 6th September, is another glassy morning, but the swell has dropped slightly to 5ft with a 14-second period (moderate energy at 847). Still very clean, and a great option if you want a slightly mellower, but still excellent, session. The afternoons remain the weak point.
The following week, from Monday, 7th September, through to the end of the window, the pattern stays the same: clean mornings, choppy afternoons. The swell is smaller, generally between 2ft and 3ft, but the period stays long. The morning of Wednesday, 9th September, is a good one with a clean 4ft SW swell and a 16-second period (moderate energy at 964). Tuesday, 8th September, has a glassy afternoon with a 2ft, 17-second swell that makes for a real longboarder’s delight. Into the second week, the waves are smaller but still clean. The morning of Tuesday, 15th September, is glassy with a 3ft, 18-second swell (moderate energy at 553). The morning of Friday, 18th September, wraps things up with a very clean 2ft, 21-second swell – that’s a very long period groundswell – and the energy is moderate (647). For a river mouth, that long period will produce some nice, walled-up, peeling waves.
Overall, Saturday morning, 5th September, is the absolute pick. The biggest swell, glassy wind, and excellent quality. Friday morning and Thursday, 10th September, morning are also strong. The crowds are a factor at El Estero, so plan to get there early for the early sessions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
296 | 577 | 1099 | 1297 | 1519 | 1314 | 1552 | 1164 | 949 | 833 | 676 | 658 | 507 | 363 | 342 | 312 | 224 | 302 | 299 | 767 | 985 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 6:56PM2.09m | 7:20AM2.33m | 7:53PM1.99m | 8:20AM2.23m | 9:01PM1.92m | 9:31AM2.16m | 10:19PM1.93m | 10:48AM2.16m | 11:35PM2.03m | 12:00PM2.22m | 00:40AM2.19m | 1:02PM2.31m | 1:35AM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:52PM0.35m | 00:59AM0.43m | 1:47PM0.44m | 1:56AM0.53m | 2:52PM0.51m | 3:07AM0.61m | 4:06PM0.53m | 4:26AM0.63m | 5:19PM0.48m | 5:43AM0.56m | 6:24PM0.38m | 6:49AM0.44m | 7:19PM0.27m | ||||||||
5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 5 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 35 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 30 | 34 | 35 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 |
291 | 577 | 1099 | 1297 | 1519 | 1314 | 1552 | 1164 | 949 | 833 | 676 | 658 | 507 | 363 | 342 | 245 | 202 | 302 | 299 | 767 | 985 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | WNW 9 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 11 | W 12 |
144 | 174 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 63 | 26 | 33 | 32 | 43 | 45 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 312 | 224 | 154 | 144 | 62 | 69 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 15 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | S 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SW 19 | SW 20 | S 5 |
296 | 171 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 10 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 38 | 32 | 45 | 68 | 91 | 93 | 98 | 231 | 134 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | NNW 4 | — | NNE 3 | SW 5 | NE 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | — | 7 | 1 | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.










