Jaco Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a seat, let’s look at what’s happening in the water.

Alright, so we’ve got a proper run of small but clean surf stretching over the next couple of weeks. Nothing huge, but don’t sleep on it – there are some real magic windows here. The mainstay through the whole stretch is Jaco Beach. It’s a very consistent spot, exposed to the swell, and mostly looking at a long-period groundswell rolling in from the SW. The water temp is sitting at 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick rubber at home.

We kick off on Saturday, August 1st afternoon, but conditions are messy with a risk of storms and a light cross breeze, and the swell is only 2 ft at 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (247). Skip it. The first real standout comes on Sunday morning, August 2nd. It’s dead glassy, calm as, with a lovely 2 ft swell at 15 seconds coming from the SW. Combined energy is light (236), but those conditions are going to be silky. This is a proper dawny window for a longboard or a funboard – clean, glassy, and easy.

The pattern repeats most mornings through the first week. Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th, and Wednesday 5th all offer glassy mornings with small SW swell (2 ft to 3 ft) and periods between 8 and 14 seconds. The energy stays moderate, topping out around 275. Thursday and Friday mornings (6th and 7th) are also glassy, with Friday 7th seeing the period jump to 18 seconds (very long groundswell) and combined energy kicking up to 328. On a beach break like Jaco, that long period can make the waves stand up a bit straight, but at that size it’s still fun and the paddling out will be easier with those long gaps between sets.

The best of the first week is likely Friday morning, August 7th, with that glassy surface and a building swell. But honestly, the real highlight is waiting for us.

Friday morning, August 14th – mark it. We’ve got a clear sky, dead calm, glassy conditions, and a 3 ft swell from the SW with a period of 19 seconds. That’s a seriously long, powerful groundswell for this size. The combined energy jumps to a strong 667. This is the pick of the whole outlook. The waves will have proper shape and push for its size, and with zero wind, it’ll be a dream session for a longboard or mid-length.

That runs right into Saturday morning, August 15th – also glassy, calm, with the swell a touch bigger at 4 ft, 16 seconds, and energy at 780. Another cracker. Sunday morning, August 16th is a similar story: glassy, 3 ft, 14 seconds, energy at 572. All three of those mornings are the standout window. The afternoons through the entire period are sketchy with onshore breezes and storms, so it’s strictly a dawn patrol or early morning game.

Crowds at Jaco Beach are noted as “sometimes”, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see a few others with the same idea on those glassy mornings, but nothing insane. The break is very consistent, the spot is exposed, and the optimum swell direction (SSW) lines up well with what’s forecast. Over 5 ft? No. Over 8 ft? No. So it’s safe for all levels through this window, apart from the usual beginner caution on a dropping tide.

So the call is: don’t bother with the afternoons. The story here is all about the glassy mornings, especially August 14th, 15th, and 16th. That’s the gold.

Rusty

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