Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jaco Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's break it down in old-school feet and miles per hour.
Right now we're looking at Jaco Beach, exposed to the SSW. The water is running about 86°F, which is a touch toastier than we'd expect for this time of year. The real story is the afternoon seabreeze – it's a killer. So you gotta hunt those glassy mornings.
First up, Tuesday morning, August 25th. Tiny stuff, maybe knee-high (2 ft), but the period is a massive 16 seconds – that's deep groundswell energy. With zero wind from the north, it's going to be as clean as a whistle. Combined energy is low (210), so it's for the longboard crew.
Wednesday is more of the same: glassy, small, forgettable.
But then we get a proper standout. Thursday morning, August 28th. The swell ticks up to 2 ft, but the energy jumps to 549 (moderate). The wind is dead calm, absolutely glassy. With a 20-second period, those waves will be lined up with real shape. This is a high-quality session.
Then, Friday, August 29th, is the heavyweight. The swell reads 4 ft, and with zero wind from the east-northeast, the combined energy is a solid 1003 (strong). It's powerful, long period stuff. This is for the experienced guys – don't take your foamie out here. The morning is spectacular.
Saturday, August 30th, continues that run: glassy, 4 ft, good energy (792). Still a banger.
Monday, September 1st, the wind finally turns offshore from the east, so the waves will be clean and hollow. Good, fun head-high surf.
There's a lull through the first few days of September, with small knee to waist-high waves and afternoon chop.
But then, Friday, September 4th, delivers again. 4 ft, 17-second period, 1002 energy, glassy. A serious, excellent session.
The absolute pick of the entire 16 days is Saturday, September 5th. Both sessions are a dream. The morning hits 5 ft with only 6 mph NNW breeze – glassy, excellent, expert territory. And the afternoon? The wind drops to nothing from the west-southwest, leaving the 5 ft swell clean. That combination is a near-miracle for an afternoon session in the tropics. If you have one day, this is it.
The final week offers waist-high, clean mornings. Nothing special, but there's something to ride.
So: beginners, stick to the 25th-27th. Everyone else, the mornings from August 29th to September 5th are gold, especially that Saturday.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 129 | 127 | 118 | 110 | 97 | 94 | 108 | 90 | 143 | 373 | 441 | 777 | 746 | 1109 | 842 | 746 | 726 | 557 | 392 | 342 | 282 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:57PM2.24m | 1:36AM2.18m | 1:43PM2.35m | 2:16AM2.34m | 2:24PM2.46m | 2:52AM2.50m | 3:03PM2.55m | 3:27AM2.64m | 3:39PM2.60m | 4:01AM2.74m | 4:16PM2.62m | 4:36AM2.80m | 4:53PM2.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:22PM0.62m | 7:35AM0.75m | 8:02PM0.50m | 8:18AM0.62m | 8:38PM0.40m | 8:57AM0.49m | 9:13PM0.32m | 9:34AM0.38m | 9:47PM0.27m | 10:11AM0.30m | 10:21PM0.25m | 10:48AM0.26m | 10:57PM0.26m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | 3 | 11 | 2 | — | 4 | 5 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 8 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 11 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | SW 16 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 53 | 51 | 118 | 51 | 97 | 94 | 92 | 90 | 64 | 373 | 441 | 777 | 746 | 1109 | 842 | 746 | 726 | 557 | 392 | 342 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 10 | SW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 129 | 127 | 32 | 110 | 57 | 54 | 108 | 76 | 143 | 30 | 32 | 43 | 33 | 60 | 60 | 27 | 17 | 75 | 38 | 41 | 282 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | S 10 | SW 6 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 6 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 28 | 26 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 35 | 54 | 81 | 115 | 98 | 91 | 113 | 138 | 151 | 18 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 6 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 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.
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