Surf Forecasts:
Jaco Beach surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, SSW swell with 480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s 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 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jaco Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, Jaco Beach is your only option on the table for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a mixed bag. The water’s sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
The next few days are pretty ordinary. A bit of small, weak swell with that long-period energy kicking in, but it’s cleanest on the Thursday morning (20th August) with glassy conditions and a little 3ft SSW swell. The combined wave energy is moderate (301), so it’s not pumping, but it’s rideable for a beginner. Friday morning (21st August) is the pick of this early window – glassy, calm, with a 4ft SSW swell. That’s a little bigger, but still fine for a learner. The combined energy hits 480 – moderate, but the clean conditions make it worthwhile.
Then we hit a bit of a lull with smaller waves from Saturday through to Tuesday, but the mornings stay glassy or clean. The long-period SW swells (18-19 seconds) are in there, which gives the waves some shape, but they’re small – around 1ft to 2ft. The combined energy drops off to 231 by Tuesday morning, weak.
Now, the real standout is shaping up for Saturday 29th August morning. The forecast shows a 4ft SW swell, glassy conditions, and the combined energy is a solid 999 – strong. That’s very good surf for the area, with clean, glassy waves. The swell direction is right on the money for Jaco, too. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but for a morning like that, it’s worth the paddle. The 5ft Sunday morning (30th August) is also looking good, with glassy conditions and a combined energy of 950, also strong.
From there, the second week sees some smaller, cleaner mornings, like Monday 31st August with a 3ft SSW swell and glassy conditions, and the combined energy is still strong at 758. The energy slowly drops off through the start of September, but the good morning windows keep popping up.
So, the best on offer is definitely Saturday 29th August morning, with Sunday 30th August morning as a close second. The rest is small but clean, mostly for beginners.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 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 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 255 | 251 | 160 | 144 | 163 | 480 | 430 | 343 | 332 | 259 | 194 | 151 | 133 | 162 | 260 | 155 | 246 | 216 | 129 | 127 | 118 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 12:02PM2.14m | 00:49AM2.02m | 12:57PM2.24m | 1:36AM2.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:46AM0.96m | 6:34PM0.74m | 6:46AM0.87m | 7:22PM0.62m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | — | 6 | 1 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 11 | 11 | — | 4 | 13 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | 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 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 96 | 126 | 132 | 144 | 163 | 480 | 430 | 343 | 332 | 259 | 194 | 151 | 108 | 110 | 106 | 126 | 97 | 76 | 55 | 52 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 17 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 255 | 251 | 160 | 144 | 114 | 30 | 47 | 66 | 129 | 49 | 107 | 93 | 129 | 162 | 260 | 155 | 246 | 216 | 129 | 127 | 118 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | W 14 | S 15 | S 13 | S 11 | SW 19 | W 13 | SW 15 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 9 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 41 | 14 | 3 | 35 | 9 | 7 | 60 | 60 | 133 | 87 | 84 | 75 | 37 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 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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