El Estero surf break

El Estero surfForecast / Guanacaste / Costa Rica

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Friday 22 May 2026 CST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
El Estero surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's El Estero sea temperature is
30.5° C
(Which is 1.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Saturday (May 23) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s 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 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 9s period and expected on Saturday (May 23) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 23rd May)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 24th May)3ft (0.9m) 19s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 25th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Fri
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
0
2
3
1
3
3
0
3
3
1
3
2
0
2
2
0
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1
SW
15
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
14
0.7
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
234
228
130
163
577
266
644
737
714
606
598
529
507
363
352
295
313
418
172
313
326
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
10
NNE
15
SW
10
E
10
NNE
10
S
15
E
15
ENE
20
SSW
15
E
15
ENE
15
SW
5
ESE
5
E
20
SW
5
SSE
5
WNW
15
WSW
5
SSW
10
SSW
15
SW
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
7:59AM2.27m
8:18PM2.13m
9:01AM2.23m
9:24PM2.02m
10:02AM2.20m
10:30PM1.96m
11:00AM2.20m
11:31PM1.94m
11:52AM2.21m
00:26AM1.95m
12:39PM2.23m
1:14AM1.99m
1:22PM2.26m
Low Tide
1:37AM0.29m
2:12PM0.52m
2:36AM0.42m
3:20PM0.59m
3:37AM0.52m
4:27PM0.60m
4:37AM0.59m
5:27PM0.57m
5:33AM0.62m
6:20PM0.51m
6:24AM0.62m
7:07PM0.45m
7:09AM0.60m
rain showers
cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:59
5:59
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:00
2
1
1
19
3
4
4
3
Temp °C
29
31
29
28
33
31
29
32
29
29
32
29
27
29
29
27
29
29
28
30
29
32
33
31
31
36
34
30
35
31
33
35
31
31
32
30
32
31
31
32
32
31
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
0.7
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
8
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1
SW
15
0.7
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
Energy kJ
234
80
96
84
577
266
644
737
714
606
598
529
507
363
352
295
313
418
172
313
248
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
10
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.7
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.6
S
7
0.5
S
7
0.5
S
6
0.2
N
4
0.8
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
6
0.7
S
7
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SSW
7
0.7
SSW
18
Energy kJ
89
228
118
138
65
66
47
48
29
36
22
20
1
53
53
44
31
31
155
34
326
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
10
0.3
SW
10
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.1
SW
9
0.6
SW
18
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
11
0.3
NNW
4
0.1
S
15
0.2
N
5
0.4
NNW
4
0.1
S
13
0.2
S
10
0.3
SW
6
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
12
Energy kJ
15
15
130
163
3
206
11
9
3
4
2
6
3
8
5
30
107
94
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NE
4
0.4
NNE
4
0.3
NNE
4
0.8
S
8
0.4
WSW
6
0.4
WSW
6
Energy kJ
7
7
3
78
10
14
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
Distance (km)
0
0
10
0
0
55
0
0
55
0
0
10
0
0
172
0
0
10
0
10
10
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
8
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
7
7
6
9
9
9
9
8
5
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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