Playa Negra surf break

Playa Negra surfForecast / Guanacaste / Costa Rica

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Friday 22 May 2026 CST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Playa Negra surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Playa Negra sea temperature is
30.7° C
(Which is 2.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Friday (May 22) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (May 27) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 22nd May)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 24th May)3ft (0.9m) 19s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 25th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
1
1
2
3
1
3
2
1
3
3
2
3
2
0
2
2
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1
SW
15
0.6
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
251
248
234
228
130
163
577
266
644
737
724
606
598
529
507
363
352
295
313
418
172
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
SSW
10
S
5
N
10
WSW
5
E
10
NE
10
SSW
15
E
20
ENE
15
SSW
10
E
10
ENE
15
SSW
5
ESE
5
SE
15
SW
0
SE
0
NW
15
SW
10
S
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
7:17PM2.29m
8:00AM2.28m
8:18PM2.14m
9:01AM2.23m
9:23PM2.03m
10:02AM2.20m
10:29PM1.96m
10:59AM2.20m
11:31PM1.93m
11:52AM2.21m
00:25AM1.95m
12:38PM2.23m
1:13AM1.98m
Low Tide
1:08PM0.41m
1:37AM0.28m
2:12PM0.52m
2:36AM0.41m
3:19PM0.58m
3:36AM0.52m
4:25PM0.60m
4:36AM0.59m
5:26PM0.57m
5:32AM0.62m
6:20PM0.52m
6:23AM0.62m
7:06PM0.46m
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
5:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:58
5:59
5:59
5:59
5:59
6:00
6:00
1
3
1
2
4
4
5
3
9
4
7
Temp °C
31
29
29
30
30
29
32
31
29
33
30
29
30
29
27
29
29
27
29
29
28
34
31
33
33
34
33
36
35
31
36
33
32
32
31
31
34
31
31
32
31
32
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.7
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
8
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
15
1.1
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1
SW
15
0.7
SW
13
Energy kJ
251
248
234
80
95
82
577
266
644
737
724
606
598
529
507
363
352
295
313
418
172
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.7
S
10
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
16
0.7
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
7
0.6
S
7
0.7
S
8
0.9
S
6
0.8
SSW
6
0.7
SSW
6
0.6
S
6
0.5
S
8
0.6
SW
16
Energy kJ
41
44
89
228
118
163
63
64
46
43
28
69
35
38
63
66
42
44
29
31
153
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
10
0.4
SW
10
0.3
SW
10
0.3
SW
10
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
13
0.1
SW
9
0.6
SW
18
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
11
0.4
N
4
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
15
0.2
N
4
0.1
S
13
0.4
S
8
0.4
SW
6
0.1
S
21
0.5
S
8
Energy kJ
27
25
15
15
130
108
3
206
11
9
6
4
4
1
3
18
8
8
28
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
8
0.4
NNE
4
0.6
N
4
0.4
NNE
4
0.6
S
9
0.4
SW
6
Energy kJ
5
7
13
7
55
8
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
0
7
0
2
2
0
0
7
0
13
7
0
0
200
0
0
7
0
0
7
18
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
4
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
8
5
6
6
6
9
8
4
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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