Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 20s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SW swell with 346 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m 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 0.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 11s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the surf at El Estero.
The first few days are a bit of a slow start. Thursday morning has small 2ft swell from the SW with a moderate offshore breeze, but it’s nothing special. The wave energy is moderate (183), and the water’s at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal. By Friday afternoon, it turns glassy with a light ESE wind, but the swell is tiny at 1ft.
Saturday and Sunday morning stay cleaner with cross-off winds, but the swell remains small. Sunday morning brings a longer 19-second period groundswell from the SW, with energy at 300 (moderate). It’s still only 2ft to 2ft, so better shape but not much push. Monday the 24th is where it gets more interesting: 2ft to 2ft with a moderate offshore ENE breeze and a 17-18 second period. Energy is moderate at 374. Clean, lined-up little waves.
The big standout is Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th. Saturday morning delivers a 5ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a cross-off NE breeze. The combined energy is a massive 1605 (very strong). That’s for experts only. The afternoon turns glassy with the swell holding at 6ft. Sunday the 30th morning is also excellent with 5ft and a moderate offshore ENE wind, energy at 1065. This river mouth break will be lining up clean, but expect crowds because it’s consistent and exposed to the WNW optimum.
Things ease into early September. Monday the 31st morning is glassy with a NNE breeze and a 4ft SW swell – still fun. The following days stay clean and glassy with dropping swell, though Thursday the 3rd morning has a clean 2ft with a 16-second period. The next standout is Friday the 4th of September morning: glassy again, 4ft SW swell with a long 18-second period and very strong energy (1056). That’s for the experienced crew too.
So, a slow start, but Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are the real deal. After that, it’s cleaner and smaller. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but El Estero looks like it’ll fire for the experts.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 9 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 183 | 138 | 83 | 76 | 75 | 100 | 95 | 155 | 84 | 184 | 260 | 330 | 255 | 305 | 322 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 107 | 77 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 8:19PM1.83m | 8:42AM2.01m | 9:18PM1.72m | 9:42AM1.92m | 10:27PM1.68m | 10:48AM1.90m | 11:37PM1.71m | 11:52AM1.94m | 00:37AM1.80m | 12:47PM2.02m | 1:25AM1.94m | 1:34PM2.12m | 2:06AM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:16PM0.61m | 2:20AM0.72m | 3:14PM0.71m | 3:18AM0.82m | 4:20PM0.75m | 4:26AM0.86m | 5:27PM0.73m | 5:34AM0.84m | 6:25PM0.66m | 6:34AM0.77m | 7:13PM0.57m | 7:24AM0.67m | 7:54PM0.47m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 4 |
Temp °C | 32 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 36 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 33 | 33 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 90 | 129 | 281 | 286 | 297 | 284 | 223 | 194 | 153 | 109 | 106 | 109 | 106 | 104 | 322 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 31 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 8 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 183 | 138 | 83 | 76 | 75 | 100 | 95 | 155 | 84 | 116 | 260 | 330 | 255 | 305 | 78 | 211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 42 | 74 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | N 5 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 21 | NNW 5 | N 5 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 13 | 7 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 74 | 68 | 7 | 12 | 184 | 84 | 75 | 71 | 69 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 107 | 56 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | SW 6 | NNE 5 | N 5 | WSW 6 | — | NNE 3 | N 4 | N 5 | NNE 3 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | N 4 | NNE 5 |
| kJ | 24 | — | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 6 | — | 2 | 8 | 19 | 8 | — | 7 | 4 | — | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 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.
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