Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, SSW swell with 480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. 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 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 3AM. 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+) | 6PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, checkin’ in with the outlook for our local stretch. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards, so let’s get into it.
The pattern is set for a good week, with a consistent SW groundswell hanging around. It kicks off with a bang on Monday morning. Jaco Beach is the spot, and the water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 87° — real tropical juice. We’ll see a 3ft SW swell rolling in with a long 14-second period, packing moderate energy (526). What makes this one a true standout is the glassy conditions, dead calm, with a light northerly breeze. That’s clean, peeling lines for everyone.
The size stays manageable through Tuesday and Wednesday, with clean glassy mornings again. On Thursday the 20th, the swell drops off a little but picks up again by Friday the 21st with a 4ft SSW swell and an 11-second period, and again, glassy morning conditions. The afternoon winds will lean cross or cross-onshore with some risk of t-storms, so get your sessions in early.
The real standout of the whole outlook, and the one to circle on the calendar, is Sunday the 30th of August. That morning is looking prime. We have 5ft of long-period SW swell (16 seconds) and a combined energy reading of 1056 — strong wave energy, no doubt about it. The wind is glassy from the ESE, and conditions are rated for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the bunch. The sets will be clean, powerful, and waiting to be tapped into. The only thing to watch? At that size, it’s a bit much for beginners, so leave it to those who know what they’re doing.
The final week, starting Monday the 31st through to Tuesday the 1st, still holds some 3 to 4ft SW groundswell with clean mornings. It’s a bit more mellow, but there’s fun to be had if you’re willing to get up early.
From the 17th to the 1st of September, there are no real gaps in the action. The swell energy stays in that moderate range (286 to 1056), and while afternoons can get sloppy with cross-shore ripples or t-storms, the mornings are consistently glassy. Good news, it’s not going flat for long. Jaco Beach is very consistent, so we’re looking at a solid two weeks of potential.
Keep an eye on that Sunday the 30th for the real juice. That’s the one you don’t want to miss. Get out there, earn your waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 371 | 371 | 313 | 171 | 151 | 406 | 255 | 251 | 160 | 144 | 197 | 422 | 430 | 350 | 338 | 264 | 200 | 149 | 137 | 162 | 260 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:07PM2.56m | 6:28AM2.70m | 6:50PM2.38m | 7:10AM2.53m | 7:35PM2.20m | 7:55AM2.36m | 8:25PM2.04m | 8:46AM2.21m | 9:26PM1.91m | 9:48AM2.11m | 10:37PM1.86m | 10:57AM2.09m | 11:49PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:03PM0.27m | 00:13AM0.32m | 12:46PM0.40m | 00:54AM0.50m | 1:31PM0.54m | 1:38AM0.67m | 2:21PM0.69m | 2:27AM0.83m | 3:19PM0.80m | 3:26AM0.94m | 4:26PM0.85m | 4:36AM0.99m | 5:35PM0.82m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 6 | — | 4 | — | — | 9 | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 134 | 138 | 106 | 127 | 121 | 99 | 118 | 126 | 129 | 129 | 197 | 422 | 430 | 350 | 338 | 264 | 200 | 149 | 137 | 139 | 109 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 15 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 371 | 371 | 313 | 171 | 138 | 406 | 255 | 251 | 160 | 144 | 114 | 14 | 35 | 66 | 129 | 62 | 107 | 93 | 129 | 162 | 260 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | W 14 | S 15 | S 13 | S 11 | SW 13 | W 13 | SW 15 | SW 22 | WSW 6 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 21 | 19 | 8 | 163 | 151 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 60 | 60 | 133 | 87 | 84 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 1 |
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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