Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s 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 25) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period. 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 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
What’s up, this is Rusty. Looking at the charts for El Estero over the next couple weeks, it starts flat but builds into a proper heavy stretch. The water’s running warmer than average, sitting close to 86°, which is a nice touch.
Right now, it’s tiny. Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th is showing 1.5 to 2ft waves from the SW, and the energy is real low (111 to 374). Winds are kinda funky, not clean. You’ll get a better look on Friday morning the 28th. The swell bumps to 2.5ft, the period stretches to 19 seconds, and the energy jumps to 689. That’s long-period groundswell wrapping into the river mouth. Clean with a cross-off breeze, that’s the best of the first week.
The real standout is Saturday the 29th. The morning brings 5ft of SW swell, and the energy meter is hammering at 1123. That’s serious power. The wind is a clean offshore from the ENE, so you’re getting proper, hollow drops. That is the session to get on – expert-level only.
The swell sticks around. Sunday the 30th morning has 5ft with a cross-off breeze, still solid. Then it peaks again on Friday the 4th of September. The morning is cranking with 5ft from the SW, period hitting 18 seconds, and the energy is a massive 1741. That’s powerful, clean, and consistent. Saturday the 5th of September is also a gem, with 5ft swell and glassy conditions in the afternoon – that’s a rare, perfect window.
Watch the afternoons, though. The wind usually swings onshore or brings storms, so the early mornings are the golden hours. El Estero gets packed when the swell hits, so be ready for a crowd if you want a piece of that action.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri morning, calm by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 305 | 390 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 107 | 74 | 154 | 155 | 248 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1123 | 1314 | 1105 | 911 | 821 | 630 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 00:37AM1.80m | 12:47PM2.02m | 1:25AM1.94m | 1:34PM2.12m | 2:06AM2.09m | 2:16PM2.21m | 2:43AM2.23m | 2:54PM2.28m | 3:19AM2.35m | 3:32PM2.32m | 3:53AM2.45m | 4:09PM2.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:25PM0.66m | 6:34AM0.77m | 7:13PM0.57m | 7:24AM0.67m | 7:54PM0.47m | 8:08AM0.56m | 8:30PM0.38m | 8:48AM0.45m | 9:05PM0.31m | 9:26AM0.35m | 9:39PM0.26m | 10:04AM0.28m | 10:14PM0.24m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | | |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 31 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 27 | 35 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 102 | 390 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 50 | 74 | 77 | 77 | 248 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1123 | 1314 | 1105 | 911 | 821 | 630 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 305 | 76 | 55 | 52 | 33 | 30 | 107 | 74 | 76 | 106 | 34 | 58 | 35 | 40 | 37 | 121 | 47 | 45 | 47 | 54 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | N 4 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | N 5 | N 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 6 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 11 | S 11 | — | S 7 | W 15 | NW 15 | W 10 |
| kJ | 69 | 6 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 154 | 155 | 14 | 158 | 125 | 47 | 38 | — | 23 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 4 | NE 3 | — | — | — | NNW 7 | NNE 5 | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 11 | 15 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 26 | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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