
Surf Forecasts:
El Estero surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,722 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 (Jul 28) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s period. 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 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Estero over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead at El Estero, and it’s kicking off with a proper bang so don’t sleep on it.
The first real action hits Tuesday, July 28, early. We’re looking at a solid 6 ft groundswell out of the southwest, with a very long period of 18 seconds pumping in a ton of energy (1766). That’s a powerful, clean swell with a light ENE cross-off breeze putting a nice face on it. The water’s sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the wetsuit at home. This is excellent surf, but make no mistake – at this size, with that kind of power, it’s for experienced surfers only. The long period means the sets will be spaced out, making the paddle out easier, but the waves will be bowling up nicely. Stick to the river mouth setup here.
Wednesday morning, July 29, keeps the quality high with a 5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and more clean cross-off wind. The energy is still strong (1232). It’s still a bit chunky for beginners, but the conditions are prime for the intermediate crew.
Thursday, July 30, sees a drop to 4 ft, but the wind stays clean out of the ENE. The energy is backing off (705) but it’s still fun, clean surf. Then Friday, July 31, through Saturday, August 1, the swell fades further to 3 ft and 3 ft, with mornings offering the cleanest conditions. The afternoons get a bit of a cross-on breeze, so plan your sessions early.
Now, there’s a real glassy gem on Sunday, August 2. The swell drops to 2 ft, but it’s a 15-second period and the wind goes glassy out of the ESE in the morning. That’s about as clean as it gets, perfect for a longboard or a funboard. The energy is low (245), but the quality of the wave will be high.
The following week sees a bit of a lull, with small surf from August 3 through August 7. Mornings offer the best chance for a clean, small wave, but the afternoons get messy. August 5 through 7 in particular are very weak, with energy dropping as low as 55. It’s a quiet stretch.
Then, the outlook picks up again on Saturday, August 8. The afternoon session looks magic with a 3 ft SW swell, 15-second period, and glassy conditions out of the ENE. The energy jumps back up (468). That’s the standout of the second week. The next day, Sunday, August 9, is plagued by a stiff 15 mph cross-off wind, so it’s blown out, but Monday, August 10, has a promising afternoon with a moderate offshore wind out of the east, a 3 ft SSW swell, and strong energy (503). That’s a very good session in the making.
The final few days from August 11 to 12 offer a bit more size, but the wind tends to turn cross-on in the afternoons, making the mornings the only real window. The 18-second period swell on Wednesday, August 12, morning is worth a look if you can get out early.
The standout of the whole period is the Tuesday morning, July 28, session – that’s the big, powerful, clean one for the experienced crew. The second standout is the glassy afternoon on Saturday, August 8, for anyone wanting a silky smooth ride.
Stay stoked, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1741 | 1682 | 1456 | 1194 | 1149 | 856 | 667 | 589 | 485 | 357 | 342 | 326 | 238 | 234 | 147 | 134 | 171 | 167 | 228 | 208 | 111 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:58PM2.17m | 2:35AM2.02m | 2:40PM2.23m | 3:14AM2.13m | 3:20PM2.28m | 3:51AM2.22m | 3:57PM2.30m | 4:26AM2.30m | 4:34PM2.29m | 5:01AM2.35m | 5:11PM2.25m | 5:36AM2.38m | 5:49PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM0.42m | 8:31AM0.59m | 9:02PM0.35m | 9:12AM0.52m | 9:37PM0.31m | 9:52AM0.47m | 10:11PM0.28m | 10:30AM0.44m | 10:45PM0.29m | 11:08AM0.42m | 11:19PM0.31m | 11:47AM0.42m | 11:54PM0.35m | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | — | 15 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 7 |
1741 | 1682 | 1456 | 1194 | 1149 | 856 | 667 | 589 | 485 | 357 | 342 | 326 | 238 | 234 | 147 | 108 | 49 | 52 | 228 | 208 | 48 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 7 | S 7 | NNW 10 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 7 | SW 15 | SW 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 13 |
60 | 26 | 61 | 56 | 56 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 72 | 66 | 124 | 33 | 171 | 118 | 47 | 34 | 111 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — | SSW 11 | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WNW 10 | SW 13 |
25 | 25 | — | 38 | — | — | 4 | 11 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 40 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 134 | 85 | 167 | 69 | 36 | 84 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 10 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | 7 | 9 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 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.










