El Estero Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.32° N 85.84° W

El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Estero sea temperature is
29.9° C
1.9° 

El Estero surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


El Estero surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s period, SW swell with 509 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 04) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Estero in the next 16 days are 1.1m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Tue 4th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 8th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sat 8th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a slow start, but a solid run of cleaner, more powerful surf builds into the end of the first week and beyond. The water is running a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, coming in at 86°, which is a nice little treat for the skin.

The absolute standout is Saturday the 8th. The morning at El Estero will have clean, offshore winds out of the ENE at 9 mph, with a 3 ft swell from the SSW on a 16-second period. The combined energy is strong (610), and the sets will have some real punch. Then, if you can stick around, Saturday afternoon turns glassy with a 4 ft SW swell – the water will be flat as a pancake. The energy is still very solid (515). That’s the day to circle.

Before that, from Tuesday the 4th through Thursday the 6th, it’s pretty flat. Swell is tiny, around 2 ft to 2 ft, with winds that keep pushing in poor, cross-onshore junk in the afternoons. The mornings offer a glimmer with light offshore breezes, but the wave energy is weak (around 147 to 125), so you’ll be fighting for scraps.

Friday the 7th morning sees a jump in energy (377) with a 2 ft SSW swell and a very long 18-second period, but the cross-off wind keeps it clean enough. That long period will make it a bit straight at the beach break, so find a sandbar that’s holding.

After the Saturday glory, Sunday the 9th still has good, clean surf with a 3 ft SW swell and moderate offshore winds, though the energy drops a little (431). Monday the 10th is a mixed bag – clean morning, but the afternoon turns to rubbish.

The second week starts to look promising again. Monday the 17th afternoon has a 4 ft SW swell, a clean offshore wind, and strong energy (688) – a sneaky good session. Tuesday the 18th morning is also very clean with a 4 ft swell and moderate offshore winds (607 energy). The week closes out with Wednesday the 19th afternoon going glassy, with a 3 ft SW swell and good energy (461) – a solid way to finish.

The beginners will be fine on the smaller days under 3 ft, but when it hits 4 ft to 5 ft, the power picks up, and the 5 ft days on the 15th and 16th are for the experts only. Crowds are often at El Estero, so expect to share the water, especially on the good days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.6
SW
12
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.1
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
1
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
0.6
SSW
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
83
73
93
69
55
74
125
113
212
209
305
376
441
509
309
401
327
241
202
327
253
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
20
SW
15
E
10
ENE
15
SW
15
ENE
10
ENE
10
SSW
10
SE
10
NE
10
SW
10
E
15
ENE
0
W
20
ENE
25
ENE
10
ESE
15
E
15
ENE
15
SW
10
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-on
off
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
6:30PM2.12m
6:55AM2.36m
7:16PM2.04m
7:43AM2.32m
8:10PM1.96m
8:39AM2.27m
9:15PM1.90m
9:45AM2.25m
10:28PM1.90m
10:57AM2.26m
11:42PM1.98m
12:07PM2.32m
00:50AM2.13m
Low Tide
12:29PM0.43m
00:34AM0.40m
1:15PM0.46m
1:19AM0.46m
2:09PM0.49m
2:13AM0.52m
3:11PM0.52m
3:17AM0.57m
4:21PM0.51m
4:30AM0.58m
5:32PM0.44m
5:45AM0.52m
6:37PM0.33m
part cloud
thunderstorm
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thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:31
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:02
 mm
1
4
4
4
8
2
3
2
11
27
Temp °C
32
30
27
29
29
27
29
28
26
30
29
26
30
29
25
31
32
27
31
27
25
Feels °C
35
32
30
31
31
30
33
31
29
33
32
29
33
34
25
31
34
29
35
29
29
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • 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.

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