
Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SW swell with 871 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s 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 (Sep 07) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) 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 7th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Jaco Beach over the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real gems in there if you pick your moments.
The overall pattern shows a consistent, long-period SW groundswell hanging around, but it’s the wind that’s gonna make or break it. The mornings are where the magic is, with a lot of glassy, clean conditions on offer. The afternoons, though, tend to get a bit messy with cross-onshore breezes and the risk of thunderstorms. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing to worry about on that front.
The real standout here is Thursday morning, September 10th. The swell is coming in at 4ft from the SW with a solid 17-second period, giving us a combined energy of 932 – that’s some serious grunt in the water. But the kicker is the wind: dead calm, glassy as a mirror. That’s about as good as it gets for a beach break. It’s clean, it’s got push, and the sets will be well-spaced. This is the session to circle on the calendar.
Right after that, Friday morning, September 11th is another beauty. The swell eases just a touch to 4ft from the SW, still with a 16-second period and combined energy of 661. And again, we’ve got that absolute glass – zero wind. It’s going to be a repeated dose of clean, punchy waves. Expect the same quality, just a little less power than Thursday.
The following week has some decent mornings too. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th both have glassy starts with smaller, but fun, chest-high waves. The swell period drops a bit, but for a longboard or a funboard, it’s still a good time. Further out, Monday morning, September 21st shows some promise with a clean cross-off breeze and a 3ft SW swell, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.
The afternoons are pretty much a write-off across the board. The wind swings onshore, the surface gets choppy, and the quality drops off fast. You’ll want to be in the water early, and out by lunch.
Keep in mind, Jaco Beach is a very consistent, exposed beach break, so it’s always got something. It’s also a beginner-friendly spot, but when that swell hits 4ft with that kind of energy, it might push into intermediate territory on the sets. Crowds are a possibility, especially on those glassy mornings, so get out there early.
For the long-range stuff, like Sunday morning, September 20th with a clean offshore wind and a 2ft SW swell, it’s a nice idea, but don’t lock in your plans just yet. Forecasts are less reliable that far out.
So, to sum it up: the play is the mornings. Thursday the 10th is the absolute pick of the bunch, with Friday the 11th a very close second. The rest of the week has some fun, smaller windows, but those two are the standouts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
447 | 363 | 299 | 245 | 249 | 232 | 306 | 371 | 310 | 781 | 861 | 737 | 635 | 619 | 427 | 346 | 346 | 245 | 176 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 10:58AM2.38m | 11:47PM2.27m | 12:10PM2.45m | 00:52AM2.46m | 1:12PM2.57m | 1:46AM2.65m | 2:05PM2.68m | 2:33AM2.81m | 2:52PM2.75m | 3:16AM2.91m | 3:36PM2.77m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:37AM0.73m | 5:28PM0.54m | 5:54AM0.64m | 6:33PM0.42m | 7:00AM0.49m | 7:28PM0.29m | 7:55AM0.33m | 8:17PM0.18m | 8:44AM0.21m | 9:01PM0.12m | 9:28AM0.13m | 9:42PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | 14 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 8 | 4 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | 8 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
447 | 363 | 299 | 245 | 202 | 172 | 306 | 371 | 310 | 781 | 861 | 737 | 635 | 619 | 427 | 346 | 346 | 245 | 176 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 8 | S 9 |
99 | 32 | 30 | 20 | 249 | 232 | 64 | 68 | 79 | 18 | 51 | 49 | 35 | 33 | 38 | 36 | 30 | 51 | 54 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | WSW 6 | W 10 | SW 19 | S 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 19 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 18 | SSW 18 |
8 | 26 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 34 | 133 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 37 | 8 | 8 | 80 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 16 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 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.










