Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore 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★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy 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-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| 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, Rusty here.
We’re starting off real slow at Jaco Beach. The first few days are tiny, barely enough to get wet. The energy is sitting out there but not showing up yet. A lot of small, glassy mornings through the end of August, but the waves just aren’t there.
The first real standout hits Saturday morning, August 29th. Jaco gets a clean 4ft south swell running at a 16-second interval – combined energy at 927 (moderate wave energy) – glassy conditions with the wind off the ENE. That’s magic for a log or a fish. Expect some company.
Sunday the 30th is another beauty: 4ft south-west swell, no wind, glassy, energy at 804 (moderate wave energy). Perfect morning.
A quiet patch rolls through after that, but keep Thursday, September 2nd on your radar. The morning brings a glassy 2ft south-west groundswell with a very long 20-second period, energy at 826 (moderate wave energy). Clean lines, just watch that long period – it can make a beach break stand up a little too straight.
The big one, the one you wait for, is Friday September 4th. Morning and afternoon are both unreal. Swell hits 6ft to 6ft from the SW, period sitting at 17-18 seconds, and combined energy rips into four digits – 1913 in the morning, 2021 in the afternoon (strong wave energy). And the wind? Zero. Dead calm. Glass. That is for experienced surfers only – over 5ft gets serious. For the crew who can handle it, it’s clean, powerful, and likely uncrowded.
Saturday September 5th afternoon also delivers: 5ft, glassy, energy at 1387. A very close second.
Near-term is for the patient ones. The long-range stuff on September 4th and 5th is the promise – exciting but not locked in.
Water temp is about 86°, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Nothing wild.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 64mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 136 | 208 | 260 | 155 | 243 | 216 | 129 | 127 | 118 | 110 | 107 | 135 | 108 | 81 | 143 | 373 | 441 | 777 | 746 | 1109 | 952 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 10:57AM2.09m | 11:49PM1.91m | 12:02PM2.14m | 00:49AM2.02m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:35PM0.82m | 5:46AM0.96m | 6:34PM0.74m | 6:46AM0.87m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 36 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SW 15 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 136 | 139 | 136 | 102 | 99 | 74 | 53 | 52 | 45 | 59 | 56 | 135 | 68 | 57 | 41 | 45 | 441 | 777 | 746 | 1109 | 952 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 127 | 208 | 260 | 155 | 243 | 216 | 129 | 127 | 118 | 110 | 11 | 54 | 108 | 76 | 143 | 373 | 35 | 39 | 43 | 62 | 71 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | S 10 |
| kJ | 133 | 87 | 84 | 74 | 37 | 28 | 28 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 36 | 10 | 54 | 81 | 115 | 125 | 89 | 113 | 138 | 153 | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 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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