
Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SW swell with 973 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Jaco Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jaco Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a nice little run of cleaner conditions coming through, but the swell is going to be on the smaller side. The real standout is going to be next Saturday morning, the 15th of August, but we’ll get to that.
The first decent window opens up on Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. The wind is glassy from the NNW at 3 mph, and the waves are a clean 2 ft from the SW. The period is a very long 16 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined swell energy is moderate (372). This long period stuff likes a point or reef, but it’s glassy, so it’ll be clean. That's the best of the early part.
Thursday the 13th and Friday morning the 14th aren't really worth a paddle. Thursday is a bit messy with cross-shore winds, and the swell drops. Friday morning the 14th, though, we see a jump up to 3 ft from the SW, with a long 18-second period and glassy NNW wind at 3 mph. The energy is still moderate (837), but it’s clean. The afternoon turns onshore, so the morning is the only window.
Now, the standout. Saturday morning, the 15th of August. This is the one. The wind is dead calm, glassy, from the ESE. The swell is 4 ft from the SW, with a period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1046). This is excellent for experienced surfers – it’s not beginner territory at that size, but for everyone else, it’s the pick of the forecast. The afternoon stays clean with a light SSE breeze, but the morning is the gold.
Sunday the 16th of August morning is still pretty good with 4 ft from the SW and a glassy north wind, but the energy drops to moderate (662). The afternoon is ruined by a cross-onshore wind.
Monday the 17th of August is a write-off in the morning, but the afternoon glass-off from the NNE at 3 mph gives us a clean 3 ft from the SW. It’s surfable, but nothing special.
After that, the swell drops. From Tuesday the 18th through to early the following week, we’re looking at smaller waves in the 2 ft to 3 ft range. There are a few glassy mornings – like Wednesday the 19th, Thursday the 20th, and Monday the 24th of August – but the size is just not there. The wind is offshore or glassy, so the conditions will be clean, but you’ll be on a longboard or a foiler.
The week of the 21st of August sees a shift to a short-period S swell at 10 seconds, which is much weaker. The energy is weak (214-318). Not great.
Tuesday the 25th of August and Wednesday the 26th of August mornings are glassy with a tiny 1 ft to 2 ft SW groundswell. It’s surfable but ordinary.
The run ends on Thursday the 27th of August with a glassy morning and a glimmer of a 2 ft SW swell. It’s the last call of the forecast.
Overall, the best bet is Saturday morning, the 15th of August, for the biggest, cleanest waves. The other mornings are all about small, clean conditions. There's a big gap of poor afternoon surf, so stick to the dawn patrols.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 50mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
144 | 211 | 206 | 155 | 137 | 111 | 369 | 623 | 686 | 951 | 909 | 803 | 773 | 535 | 528 | 466 | 371 | 371 | 313 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:00AM2.59m | 2:17PM2.77m | 2:52AM2.77m | 3:08PM2.84m | 3:40AM2.89m | 3:56PM2.86m | 4:24AM2.95m | 4:41PM2.81m | 5:06AM2.93m | 5:24PM2.70m | 5:48AM2.84m | 6:07PM2.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:05AM0.35m | 8:36PM0.09m | 8:59AM0.22m | 9:23PM0.01m | 9:48AM0.15m | 10:08PM0.00m | 10:35AM0.13m | 10:51PM0.06m | 11:20AM0.17m | 11:32PM0.17m | 12:03PM0.27m | 00:13AM0.32m | |||||||
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 14 |
144 | 211 | 76 | 80 | 74 | 70 | 60 | 623 | 686 | 951 | 909 | 803 | 773 | 535 | 528 | 466 | 106 | 106 | 313 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 6 | S 11 | S 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 7 |
56 | 55 | 206 | 155 | 137 | 102 | 369 | 209 | 216 | 180 | 137 | 137 | 127 | 68 | 242 | 77 | 371 | 371 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 15 | S 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
109 | 106 | 82 | 110 | 96 | 111 | 159 | 5 | 206 | — | — | — | — | 59 | 21 | 37 | 21 | 20 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 146 | 0 | 1 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Jaco Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Jaco Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Jaco Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Jaco Beach 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 (Jaco Beach) 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 Jaco Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya? If you are looking for accommodation near Jaco Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Golfo de Nicoya, consider staying in Esparza which is 43 km (27 miles) away. Other places in and around Golfo de Nicoya where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include San Rafael Abajo which is 45 km (28 miles) away, Tejar, Chacarita and Puntarenas.











