Surf Forecasts:
Playa Negra surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,151 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Negra this week:
The surf forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Negra in the next 16 days are 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey mates, Rusty here. Let’s talk waves for the next couple of weeks.
Monday morning at Playa Negra starts off small and messy. We’ve got a 0.8m SW groundswell with a 13-second period, but a fresh cross-off wind is keeping things average. Water temp is 30°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—no spring suits needed.
The first real chance for a good session comes Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. The swell stays around 0.8m to 0.9m from the SW, with a 14-second period, and the wind turns to a clean offshore or cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (343 to 379), and the waves will be clean and have some shape. Good for the advanced crew.
Tuesday afternoon through Thursday gets rough. Onshore winds and the chance of storms mess up the surface, and the swell drops to 0.6m to 0.8m. Not worth paddling out unless you’re desperate.
Now, Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are a different story. Swell builds to 1.1m to 1.5m from the SW, with a long 16 to 18-second period. The energy jumps into strong territory (822 to 1132). The mornings are the money window with cross-off winds keeping things clean. That Saturday morning with 1.5m and offshore wind is the standout for the experienced crowd.
Then, the real prize. Sunday the 16th morning is glassy—no wind at all—with a clean 1.2m SW groundswell at 15 seconds. Energy is strong at 606. This is as good as it gets in this forecast: clean, lined up, and punchy. Keep in mind, crowds are sometimes a factor here, so get in early.
Monday the 17th through to Wednesday the 19th keep the fun rolling with steady 0.9m to 1.1m SW swells, 14 to 15-second periods, and clean offshore winds in the mornings. Nothing huge, but very consistent and fun.
From Thursday the 20th onward, the swell fades to 0.5m to 0.7m. There’s the odd glassy window, like Saturday the 22nd arvo, but the energy is weak (under 200). Late on the 24th, we see a brief spike in long-period swell, but the onshore winds kill it.
For me, the best bet is the whole stretch from Saturday the 15th morning through to Wednesday the 19th morning, with Sunday 16th being the absolute pick of the bunch. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon morning, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 14 | SSW 20 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 202 | 331 | 253 | 218 | 375 | 212 | 211 | 206 | 181 | 176 | 255 | 373 | 804 | 881 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:07PM2.33m | 00:51AM2.12m | 1:11PM2.42m | 1:50AM2.30m | 2:08PM2.50m | 2:43AM2.46m | 3:00PM2.56m | 3:32AM2.58m | 3:48PM2.56m | 4:17AM2.64m | 4:34PM2.52m | 5:00AM2.63m | 5:18PM2.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:37PM0.33m | 6:53AM0.42m | 7:36PM0.20m | 7:55AM0.31m | 8:28PM0.09m | 8:50AM0.21m | 9:16PM0.02m | 9:40AM0.14m | 10:01PM0.01m | 10:28AM0.13m | 10:44PM0.05m | 11:13AM0.17m | 11:26PM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
Temp °C | 32 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 28 | 36 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 30 | 36 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 202 | 331 | 171 | 218 | 308 | 212 | 211 | 206 | 61 | 72 | 255 | 248 | 804 | 881 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | N 5 | SW 12 | S 9 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 125 | 12 | 87 | 37 | 375 | 57 | 136 | 53 | 181 | 176 | 55 | 58 | 163 | 160 | 178 | 136 | 134 | 129 | 100 | 100 | 102 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 8 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 14 | N 5 | SW 20 | SW 11 | SW 14 | — | SW 10 | N 5 | N 5 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 30 | 28 | 253 | 157 | 50 | 152 | 57 | 128 | 71 | 91 | 7 | 373 | 18 | 251 | — | 4 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 38 | 37 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | — | — | N 5 | — | — | NNE 5 | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | — | NNE 4 | N 5 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | 6 | — | 8 | 11 | — | 8 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Playa Negra Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Playa Negra provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Negra can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Negra 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 (Playa Negra) 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 Playa Negra 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.
Playa Negra is 41 km (25 miles) from Nicoya. If you plan a holiday in Guanacaste, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nicoya. Nicoya has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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