Jaco Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a Costa Rican classic on our hands, and it’s all about Jaco Beach. The forecast is a slow burn at first, but don’t write it off – there’s a big payoff waiting for those who are patient.

The water’s sitting at 87° right now, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That tropical bathwater isn’t going anywhere.

The first few days are small but clean. Saturday morning, August 22, kicks things off with a 3ft south swell, a 10-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is moderate (279), but it’s enough to get a few fun ones. Sunday morning follows with a similar setup: 3ft, glassy, clean as a whistle. Monday morning is also glassy, but the swell drops to 2ft. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

The middle of the week is a bit of a snooze. From Tuesday, August 25, through Thursday, August 27, the swell sits at 1ft to 2ft. The energy drops into the weak zone (179 to 217). There are some glassy mornings, but it’s really just a paddle around. Friday, August 28, gets a tiny bump in size (2ft to 3ft) but the wind goes onshore in the afternoon, and the energy jumps to moderate (466 to 541). It’s a bit messy.

Now, here’s where it gets good. Saturday, August 29, is the standout. The morning brings a 4ft south swell with a 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy (902). The wind is glassy, and it’s shaping up nicely. For the experienced crew, the afternoon is even better: 5ft, still glassy, and the energy rockets up to 1330. That’s a strong pulse, and the waves are going to have some real punch. This is a big, clean day for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Sunday, August 30, keeps the quality high with a 4ft swell, glassy morning, and a long 14-second period. The energy is still strong (836). It’s a great follow-up to Saturday.

The swell slowly winds down through the start of September, but the pattern of clean mornings holds. Monday, August 31, and Tuesday, September 1, offer 4ft and 2ft respectively, with glassy or clean conditions. The energy is moderate (496 to 262).

Then, look ahead to Friday, September 4. This is the second real standout. The morning shows a 6ft south swell with an 18-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell (energy 2072). For a beach break like Jaco, that long period can make the waves a bit racy and straight, but for the experts, it’s going to be a freight train. The wind is glassy, so it’s as clean as it gets. Anything over 5ft is for the experienced only, and 6ft is definitely in that territory. Saturday, September 5, keeps the energy high with 5ft and glassy conditions in the morning (energy 1436). It’s a solid run of bigger, cleaner groundswell for those who can handle it.

The period wraps up on Sunday, September 6, with a 4ft swell and a glassy afternoon (energy 667). A good way to end the run.

Overall, the first week is a slow start, but the second week delivers. The big standouts are the afternoon of August 29 and the morning of September 4. If you’re an experienced surfer, those are the sessions to circle on the calendar. Beginners should stick to the smaller, cleaner mornings early on.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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