Jaco Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Jaco Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a pretty small, average wave window. The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag with very marginal surf, but things do build towards a couple of standout windows, especially for the more experienced crew. The water is sitting at a warm 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be in boardies or a light spring suit, no problem.

We’re starting Saturday morning, 18 July, with a small 2 ft swell from the S, but it’s a bit choppy with a light cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is moderate (392), but it’s not really tempting anyone to paddle out. Saturday afternoon just bumps up to 3 ft from the SSW, but the onshore wind keeps it messy. The real windows start to open up on Sunday morning, 19 July. We’ve got glassy conditions with a light N wind, and a clean 3 ft S swell. The energy is moderate (440), and with those clean conditions, it’s a good call for a longboard or a funboard. Sunday afternoon gets a bit dicey with a risk of storms and a cross-onshore breeze, so stick to the morning.

Monday, 20 July, is a bit of a write-off with the wind clocking around, and Tuesday, 21 July, actually looks sweet. Both Tuesday morning and afternoon have glassy conditions with a 3 ft SW swell. The combined energy is moderate (470-482), and the glassy wind will make for some clean, workable waves. Not huge, but fun. Wednesday, 22 July, is also a solid option with a clean, cross-offshore wind in the morning and glassy conditions in the afternoon. The swell is small, 2 ft to 2 ft, but it’s clean, so the logs will be happy.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday, 24 July, we see a proper spike in the swell period hitting 24 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell. The morning is a bit messy, but the afternoon brings a gentle offshore wind from the E and a 2 ft SW swell. The energy is strong (501), and that long period will push through the beach break, but it’s a small wave, so it’s more of a session for the experts who can read the longer lulls and the longer walls. If you’re a beginner, 2 ft with a 24-second period is going to be very slow and hard to catch.

The best of the best, the true standout, is without a doubt Monday, 27 July. The morning session is absolutely firing. We’ve got a 3 ft SW swell with a 19-second period, glassy conditions, and the combined energy is very strong at 1188. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The waves will have some real punch and shape, and the offshore glass will keep them clean. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Tuesday, 28 July, is also a top-tier option, with a 4 ft SW swell and a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is massive (1287), and it’s another one for the experienced crew. These waves are getting into the 5 ft range, so it’s stepping up in size.

The following week, into the start of August, we see a bit of a drop back down, but there’s a promising window on Sunday morning, 2 August. That morning has a 2 ft SSW swell with a long 20-second period, glassy conditions, and strong energy (514). It’s a good call for a quiet, clean session. The crowds at Jaco Beach can be around sometimes, so the early mornings on the clean days are your best bet for a quieter lineup.

If you’re a beginner, stick to the smaller, glassy days like Sunday 19 July or Tuesday 21 July. The bigger swells (over 5 ft) on 28 July and 29 July are better left for the more experienced. Overall, it’s a slow start, but the last week of July has some real quality on offer.

Rusty.

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