Papagayo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. The next couple of weeks at Papagayo are shaping up with a real feast of solid swell, especially later on, but you’ve gotta wait through a bit of average stuff first. Water temp is sitting around 57°, pretty normal for this time of year.

We kick off on Wednesday the 29th of July with a clean start. Morning glass-off, no wind, and a 4ft WSW swell rolling in with a 12-second period (573 combined energy). That’s glassy, lined-up, and very good surf – a proper treat for an intermediate crew. Crowds are often around here. The afternoon stays clean too with a light NW breeze, waves easing slightly to 4ft.

Thursday the 30th gets a bit average. Morning cross-shore wind picks up to 15 km/h, waves drop to 3ft. Afternoon improves a little – cross-off breeze, 5ft W swell, clean faces – but still marginal.

Friday the 31st holds clean, though the swell is a bit mixed. Morning sees 5ft WNW swell with a cross-off breeze fresher at 25 km/h – still surfable. Afternoon drops to 4ft and the wind backs off.

Now Saturday the 1st of August – this is where it starts to get interesting. Morning glass-off again, a solid 7ft WSW groundswell (13 seconds, 1491 combined energy) – clean, glassy, expert territory. This is the standout of the week. Afternoon turns onshore, so hit the dawn session.

Sunday the 2nd glass-off morning with 4ft W swell (746 combined energy), very good surf. A long-period swell at 12 seconds – better on this point setup.

Monday the 3rd keeps the run of glassy mornings, but the swell builds. 6ft WSW in the morning, ramping to 6ft by afternoon – and that afternoon session is glassy with a 12-second period, clean and powerful (1081 combined energy). Excellent conditions for experienced surfers.

Tuesday the 4th is another glassy morning with 5ft WSW swell (1034). Afternoon turns cross-on and choppy.

Now, the real standout of the whole forecast: Wednesday the 5th of August. Morning glass, a big 10ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period (3316 combined energy). That’s very long-period, powerful groundswell, and combined with the north-east offshore optimum direction for this point, it’ll be pumping. Expert-only territory. Afternoon stays glassy at 10ft (3456). If you’re experienced and you score this, you won’t forget it.

Thursday the 6th is still solid at 8ft SW (2078) but cross-shore wind adds some chop. Friday the 7th is messy with strong side wind. Saturday the 8th holds big – 10ft again (3365) but cross-shore wind.

From Sunday the 9th onward the swell drops and the wind turns cross-onshore, so it fades into average conditions. A couple of small glassy windows around the 11th and 13th of August with 3–4ft SW swell – good for a longboard or fish.

So, the best bets are the glassy mornings on Saturday the 1st of August for a clean 7ft, and Wednesday the 5th of August for that big 10ft groundswell glory. Get on it early.

Stay stoked.
Rusty.

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