La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming up for La Preciosa. I’ve gotta be straight with you – for a spot that’s a reef break and exposed to the north, we’re looking at a pretty long stretch of frustrating surf. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is about average for this time of year down there, so at least you can be comfortable while you’re sitting there waiting.

The pattern for the first week is rough. From Thursday the 2nd right through to Saturday the 5th, the wind is mostly a fresh cross-offshore breeze, and the swell is small and weak. The wave energy is in the doldrums, with combined energy values well under 100 (156, 84, 15, 86, 97) – that’s just not enough push for this reef. The notes say poor surf conditions and honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for those 1.0ft to 4ft, 6 to 8 second waves.

We get a tiny glimmer Sunday morning the 5th. It’s still small, with a 3ft east swell at 7 seconds, but the wind finally goes light offshore, swinging to the SE at 9 mph. The wave energy nudges up a bit to 103 (moderate) and the report says it’s surfable with very ordinary conditions. It’s a 1 out of 10, but if you’re desperate, that’s the only window before the onshore junk returns Sunday afternoon.

Monday the 6th is a write-off with more messy cross-offshore winds from the ESE and E up to 19 mph. The swell bumps up to 4ft – 5ft but with the poor conditions, it’s just a messy, lumpy ocean. The energy is climbing (197, 192) but the wind ruins it.

Now, here’s the only real standout in the whole outlook. Mark your calendars for the morning of Wednesday the 9th of July. We get an offshore wind from the ESE at 16 mph, keeping things clean. The swell builds to 6ft from the east with an 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 381 – that’s a moderate push and the highest we see. The forecast says to expect good surf conditions, and the score is a solid 2 out of 10, which is the best we get over this whole 16-day period. The waves will be a bit bigger, a bit more powerful, and with that offshore breeze, La Preciosa (Costa Rica) could actually have some clean, proper lines. Just be ready for crowds because it says the crowds are “sometimes” here, but if it’s one of the only good days in two weeks, expect more company.

After that? It’s back to the grind. Thursday the 10th morning is okay with offshore wind again and a 5ft swell (energy 266), but by afternoon the wind swings cross-off and the quality drops. From the 11th through the 17th, we’re stuck in a loop of onshore or cross-offshore winds, with swell averaging 4ft to 5ft and periods around 7 seconds. The energy sits between 178 and 270. The reports are all “poor surf conditions” with a few “marginal” mornings. There’s nothing to get excited about.

So to wrap it up: we have a long gap of poor surf from now until Sunday morning the 5th, one small session that morning, then more junk until the best day on Wednesday morning the 9th of July. After that, it’s back to more ordinary conditions for the rest of the run. If you can get out Wednesday morning the 9th, that’s your best bet. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Stay patient out there.
Rusty.

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