
Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 21s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,741 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s 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 (Jul 23) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s 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 1.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) 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 0.9m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 26 | WSW 8 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
158 | 92 | 93 | 171 | 224 | 661 | 347 | 1015 | 756 | 653 | 1210 | 920 | 1227 | 1199 | 791 | 800 | 1591 | 1741 | 1682 | 1456 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | off | off | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:05PM1.86m | 9:29AM2.08m | 10:05PM1.77m | 10:26AM2.02m | 11:08PM1.73m | 11:25AM2.00m | 00:09AM1.75m | 12:21PM2.03m | 1:04AM1.82m | 1:12PM2.09m | 1:52AM1.91m | 1:58PM2.17m | 2:35AM2.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:04PM0.60m | 3:07AM0.68m | 4:02PM0.66m | 4:04AM0.77m | 5:03PM0.68m | 5:05AM0.80m | 6:02PM0.65m | 6:04AM0.78m | 6:55PM0.59m | 6:58AM0.73m | 7:42PM0.51m | 7:47AM0.66m | 8:24PM0.42m | |||||||
— | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — | 6 | 17 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 16 |
Temp °C | 30 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 33 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 27 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 6 | SSW 8 | S 7 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | SW 8 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
158 | 92 | 29 | 107 | 79 | 216 | 147 | 191 | 756 | 653 | 1210 | 920 | 1227 | 1199 | 619 | 532 | 1591 | 1741 | 1682 | 1456 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 7 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 24 | S 7 | SW 21 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 11 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | S 11 |
88 | 24 | 93 | 80 | 109 | 661 | 49 | 1015 | 80 | 59 | 128 | 40 | 48 | 94 | 791 | 800 | 57 | 87 | 40 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 26 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 24 | SW 12 | S 7 | S 8 | S 11 | SW 11 | S 10 | WNW 7 | S 10 | S 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — |
7 | 39 | 36 | 171 | 45 | 57 | 347 | 52 | 27 | 31 | 114 | 42 | 32 | 15 | 66 | 67 | 20 | 25 | 25 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 3 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 2 | 224 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 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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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.










