Surf Forecasts:
Playa Negra surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SW swell with 350 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period. 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 0.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 11s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Lookin’ at Playa Negra, we’ve got a decent stretch of surf ahead, but it takes a few days to get goin’. Water temp is about average for the season, nothing wild.
Wednesday the 19th starts with 3ft groundswell from the SW, 15-second period, and ENE offshore wind—clean with solid energy (367). It’s a consistent break but can get crowded sometimes. Arvo holds 3ft with lighter east wind, still glassy.
Thursday the 20th drops to 2ft, 13 seconds, and weak (160). Mornin’ is clean but ordinary; arvo gets cross-onshore and choppy. Friday the 21st is even smaller—1ft in the mornin’ with NE cross-off, then cross-onshore junk in the arvo. Saturday the 22nd mornin’ is poor despite clean conditions; arvo picks up to 2ft with a 14-second period and light SE cross-off (256)—that’s a little fun session.
Sunday the 23rd is a gem: mornin’ 2ft with a 19-second period (269) and offshore ENE wind, clean. Arvo is 2ft, 18 seconds (351), with light SSE cross-off, nearly glassy—rippin’ for the size. Monday the 24th mornin’ is marginal with 2ft and moderate offshore (327), arvo goes onshore. Tuesday the 25th bounces back: mornin’ 2ft, 16 seconds, offshore E wind (246)—clean and good.
Thursday the 27th mornin’ has 2ft with an 18-second pulse (231) and light offshore, but small and clean. Arvo gets cross-shore chop. Now the standout: Friday the 28th morning—dead glassy, 2ft with a 19-second period (727). That’s pure groundswell energy, no wind, perfect. Arvo onshore kills it.
Saturday the 29th mornin’ jumps to 5ft, 16 seconds (1207), but cross-shore wind makes it messy—experts only if you want the size. Sunday the 30th mornin’ has 5ft, 14 seconds (1085), with ENE cross-off keeping it clean—solid and for advanced surfers. Monday the 31st mornin’ is 4ft, 13 seconds (609), offshore and clean. Tuesday the 1st September starts glassy with 4ft, 13 seconds (488), good and clean. Wednesday the 2nd has a glassy 2ft mornin’ with 16 seconds (403). Thursday the 3rd September morning finishes with 3ft, 16 seconds (813), dead glassy—picture perfect.
Best bets: Friday 28th August morning and Thursday 3rd September morning for glassy, long-period groundswell. Sunday the 30th morning if you want real size and are advanced. Plenty of small clean windows in between.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 9 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 355 | 350 | 238 | 183 | 138 | 83 | 76 | 54 | 100 | 95 | 155 | 97 | 184 | 260 | 330 | 255 | 305 | 322 | 211 | 206 | 191 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 7:29PM1.98m | 7:50AM2.14m | 8:18PM1.83m | 8:41AM2.01m | 9:17PM1.72m | 9:41AM1.93m | 10:26PM1.67m | 10:47AM1.90m | 11:36PM1.70m | 11:51AM1.94m | 00:36AM1.79m | 12:46PM2.02m | 1:25AM1.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:27PM0.49m | 1:31AM0.58m | 2:16PM0.61m | 2:20AM0.71m | 3:14PM0.71m | 3:17AM0.81m | 4:20PM0.75m | 4:24AM0.86m | 5:27PM0.74m | 5:33AM0.85m | 6:26PM0.67m | 6:33AM0.78m | 7:14PM0.57m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 |
Temp °C | 31 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 28 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 28 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 35 | 33 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 7 |
| kJ | 355 | 350 | 122 | 94 | 123 | 270 | 291 | 289 | 284 | 223 | 198 | 153 | 109 | 106 | 109 | 104 | 102 | 322 | 55 | 206 | 48 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | N 4 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 89 | 90 | 238 | 183 | 138 | 83 | 76 | 6 | 100 | 95 | 155 | 84 | 85 | 260 | 330 | 255 | 305 | 76 | 211 | 53 | 191 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | N 5 | NW 8 | N 6 | N 5 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | N 5 | N 5 |
| kJ | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 36 | 36 | 54 | 75 | 68 | 98 | 97 | 184 | 84 | 75 | 72 | 69 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | — | N 5 | NNE 5 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 3 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | — | 7 | 12 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 12 | 5 | — | 11 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 13 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 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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