Playa Negra Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.18° N 85.82° W

Playa Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Negra sea temperature is
30.1° C
1.9° 

Playa Negra surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Playa Negra surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 21s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,465 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s 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 (Jul 20) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Playa Negra in the next 16 days are 1.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Mon 20th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 21s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 27th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Playa Negra.

The forecast is a bit of a slow burner, but it builds to a real cracker of a week starting next week. We’ve got some small, clean waves to start, but the real magic is further out.

Right now, Monday the 20th of July, we’re looking at a small, super clean 3ft swell from the SW with a very long 16-second period. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 86°. The wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the ENE, keeping things glassy. The combined energy is a moderate 366, so it’s not thumping, but it's inviting. Perfect for a longboard or a log.

Things get a bit ordinary on Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd. The swell drops to 2ft, and the wind goes cross-offshore. It’s still surfable, but the energy is weak (180-225). Thursday afternoon sees a brief drop to 2ft. Not the best.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 24th is a serious standout. The swell is 2ft, but the period goes ballistic to 24 seconds from the SW. That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the combined energy is a strong 715. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE. Because of that very long period, the waves might be a bit too straight for the beach break, but the point section at Playa Negra should be an absolute dream. This is the one to circle on your calendar.

Saturday the 25th keeps the good times rolling with a 3ft SW swell at 20-21 seconds, strong energy (798-676), and clean conditions. Sunday the 26th sees the swell building to 4ft-4ft, with the energy getting very strong (920-1054). The wind is offshore from the ESE and ENE. This is excellent, powerful surf, but as it gets over 5ft, it’s starting to get a bit much for beginners.

The real big days are Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th. Monday morning has a solid 4ft SW swell at 16 seconds, with a massive 1444 energy reading. The wind is a gentle offshore from the E. This is expert-level territory. Tuesday pushes the swell to 6ft, with energy at 1783, but the wind is a cross-offshore from the NE. These days are for the experienced crew only.

Then, for a real treat, Wednesday the 29th is magic. The swell is a still-strong 5ft from the SW, but the wind goes dead calm, glassy, with zero wind. The energy is a massive 1312. This is as good as it gets for a powerful, clean wave.

After that, the swell slowly eases back down into the first week of August, with clean, smaller waves in the 3ft to 3ft range, but the absolute peak is that Friday the 24th through Wednesday the 29th window.

This is Rusty, signing off. See you in the water.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
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
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
4
3
3
4
3
4
4
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
16
0.8
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.6
SW
12
1.2
SSW
7
0.5
SW
13
1.2
SSW
8
0.7
SW
24
0.6
SW
8
1.1
SW
21
0.9
SW
21
0.9
SW
20
1.3
SW
19
1.1
SW
19
1.3
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
366
361
365
301
293
250
173
161
92
132
80
150
541
48
1015
756
653
1210
920
996
1185
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
ENE
15
ENE
10
E
10
ENE
10
NE
5
ENE
10
E
25
ENE
5
ESE
10
NE
10
NE
15
NE
10
NNE
15
NE
10
NNE
15
E
10
ESE
10
ENE
10
E
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
7:20PM2.15m
7:48AM2.33m
8:10PM2.00m
8:37AM2.20m
9:04PM1.86m
9:29AM2.09m
10:03PM1.77m
10:25AM2.02m
11:07PM1.72m
11:24AM2.00m
00:08AM1.74m
12:21PM2.03m
1:04AM1.81m
Low Tide
1:19PM0.40m
1:27AM0.40m
2:10PM0.51m
2:15AM0.55m
3:04PM0.60m
3:06AM0.68m
4:02PM0.67m
4:03AM0.76m
5:03PM0.69m
5:03AM0.80m
6:02PM0.66m
6:03AM0.78m
6:56PM0.59m
thunderstorm
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
thunderstorm
light rain
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:31
5:31
5:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
 mm
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
18
1
4
13
14
5
2
Temp °C
27
28
26
30
29
26
26
28
25
30
30
27
29
29
25
28
27
25
25
25
24
Feels °C
29
29
29
33
31
30
30
32
27
32
32
29
30
31
28
30
31
28
29
28
27
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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