Surf Forecasts:
La Barra surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period, S swell with 383 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for La Barra this week:
The surf forecast for La Barra over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at La Barra in the next 16 days are 1.1m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Barra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s the outlook for La Barra in imperial units. This river/jetty setup is fairly consistent and loves the SSW swell window. The water’s sitting at 88°F—a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first few days are all about the mornings. From Thursday the 20th through Wednesday the 26th of August, the wind goes glassy or clean offshore, and the swell runs between 1ft and 4ft from the SSW or S. Nothing huge, but clean. Thursday morning the 20th, dead calm with 3ft of SSW swell at 14 seconds—a nice little groundswell. The combined energy is moderate at 302. Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd mornings are also glassy, with 4ft and 3ft of S swell. The afternoons are a write-off—cross-onshore winds chop it up. So you’ve got a 6-day window of clean mornings.
Then a lull from Wednesday the 27th of August morning through Friday the 29th morning. The swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, conditions get ordinary. Thursday the 27th morning is surfable but nothing special, and Friday the 28th has a risk of thunderstorms and poor conditions.
But Saturday the 29th of August is the standout. The morning brings 4ft of SSW swell at 16 seconds from a clean cross-off breeze, and the combined energy hits 975 (strong). The afternoon is even better: glassy, 5ft of SSW swell, and energy at 1048 (very strong). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers—the jetty will line up. The long 16-second period means longer lulls but powerful, well-shaped waves. Sunday the 30th morning is also good with 4ft of SSW swell and clean offshore wind, but the afternoon gets choppy.
After that, from Monday the 31st of August through Friday the 4th of September, the swell holds around 3ft to 4ft from the SSW. The mornings are generally glassy or clean, especially on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of September, making for good surf. But the afternoons mostly turn cross-onshore and choppy. On the 3rd, the morning has 4ft of S swell with a short 8-second period—a bit jumbled for the jetty.
Overall, Saturday the 29th of August is the best bet—that strong, glassy SSW swell. The mornings from the 20th to 26th are also solid for smaller, clean waves. The 1st of September mornings look promising, but it’s less certain out that far.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 207 | 154 | 145 | 300 | 302 | 235 | 185 | 182 | 217 | 161 | 214 | 286 | 180 | 267 | 310 | 234 | 147 | 215 | 137 | 89 | 115 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 8:20PM1.42m | 8:48AM1.64m | 9:15PM1.33m | 9:44AM1.57m | 10:18PM1.28m | 10:45AM1.55m | 11:24PM1.29m | 11:46AM1.57m | 00:26AM1.35m | 12:42PM1.61m | 1:18AM1.44m | 1:30PM1.67m | 2:03AM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:24PM0.45m | 2:19AM0.48m | 3:19PM0.53m | 3:12AM0.56m | 4:22PM0.57m | 4:13AM0.60m | 5:26PM0.56m | 5:18AM0.61m | 6:24PM0.52m | 6:20AM0.58m | 7:13PM0.45m | 7:15AM0.52m | 7:55PM0.38m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | S 8 |
| kJ | 207 | 86 | 60 | 300 | 302 | 235 | 185 | 182 | 182 | 125 | 122 | 89 | 85 | 88 | 310 | 234 | 129 | 45 | 137 | 79 | 115 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 65 | 154 | 68 | 23 | 38 | 52 | 73 | 166 | 217 | 161 | 154 | 286 | 133 | 267 | 63 | 63 | 147 | 215 | 27 | 89 | 85 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 6 | SSW 20 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 30 | 50 | 145 | 93 | 60 | 123 | 21 | 75 | 33 | 24 | 214 | 149 | 180 | 46 | 33 | 23 | 50 | 40 | 39 | 23 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | — | — | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 635 | 0 | 0 | 498 | 0 | 0 | 484 | 52 | 0 | 552 | 3 | 0 | 498 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 498 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guatemala - Pacific Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Guatemala | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the La Barra Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for La Barra provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at La Barra can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our La Barra 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 (La Barra) 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 La Barra 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.
La Barra is 9 km (6 miles) from San Jose. If you plan a holiday in Guatemala - Pacific Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Jose. San Jose has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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