Surf Forecasts:
La Barra surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at La Barra in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Barra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
The overall pattern is pretty clear: we’ve got a solid run of clean, glassy mornings with a consistent SSW swell, but the afternoons are going to get chopped up by onshore winds. The real magic is gonna be those early sessions. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no drama there.
The standout is hands down La Barra (a river/jetty setup). This spot is fairly consistent and exposed to the SSW swell, which is exactly what’s coming in. The best of the best is the morning of Saturday, 29 August. We’re looking at a clean 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period, combined energy of 777 – that’s strong wave energy. Winds are light and cross-off, so the waves will be clean and well-shaped. This is a legit session for intermediate surfers, though the size and power make it less of a beginner wave. The morning of Monday, 31 August is also a top pick: glassy conditions, 4ft SSW swell, 14-second period, combined energy of 674. That’s a strong, clean morning with plenty of push.
Before that, the early mornings from Monday, 17 August through to Friday, 22 August are all glassy or clean with a consistent 3ft SSW swell. The swell period sits around 14 seconds, giving good shape and energy. Combined energy values are in the 400s, which is moderate. These are fun, user-friendly mornings for intermediate surfers. The mornings of Monday, 24 August and Tuesday, 25 August see the swell drop a bit – 2ft to 2ft – but the glassy wind and long period (16-18 seconds) mean the waves will be clean and lined up, just smaller. The combined energy drops to around 237-403, still moderate but on the low side.
After the 29th, the run continues into Tuesday, 1 September morning: glassy with 3ft SSW swell, 13-second period, and combined energy of 543. Another very good session in the making.
There’s a gap in quality surf in the afternoons through the whole period – the wind switches onshore and chops things up. The mornings are where it’s at. The second week (around 24-27 August) has a few smaller, more marginal days, and the energy drops off noticeably on the 26th and 27th, with combined energy as low as 131. That’s weak stuff. But the forecasts for the end of the month and into September are looking really promising, even if a bit further out and less certain.
So, set your alarm. La Barra in the early light is the ticket.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 352 | 352 | 323 | 303 | 321 | 392 | 344 | 268 | 229 | 161 | 154 | 145 | 253 | 350 | 284 | 229 | 224 | 220 | 161 | 214 | 286 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 6:03PM1.78m | 6:29AM1.94m | 6:47PM1.66m | 7:12AM1.84m | 7:32PM1.53m | 7:58AM1.73m | 8:20PM1.42m | 8:48AM1.64m | 9:15PM1.33m | 9:44AM1.57m | 10:18PM1.28m | 10:45AM1.55m | 11:24PM1.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:03PM0.19m | 00:10AM0.17m | 12:48PM0.27m | 00:51AM0.28m | 1:34PM0.36m | 1:34AM0.38m | 2:24PM0.45m | 2:19AM0.48m | 3:19PM0.53m | 3:12AM0.56m | 4:22PM0.57m | 4:13AM0.60m | 5:26PM0.56m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 29 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 352 | 352 | 323 | 303 | 321 | 392 | 344 | 268 | 229 | 113 | 122 | 45 | 253 | 350 | 284 | 229 | 224 | 188 | 123 | 122 | 116 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 59 | 71 | 70 | 81 | 78 | 84 | 62 | 64 | 81 | 161 | 154 | 68 | 14 | 35 | 123 | 215 | 168 | 220 | 161 | 156 | 286 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 20 | SE 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 21 | 9 | 9 | 31 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 73 | 51 | 32 | 75 | 145 | 60 | 46 | 21 | 8 | 75 | 34 | 148 | 214 | 149 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | W 2 | — | — | S 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 563 | 0 | 0 | 484 | 0 | 0 | 374 | 0 | 0 | 470 | 0 | 0 | 470 | 0 | 0 | 484 | 3 | 0 | 392 | 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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