Surf Forecasts:
Playa Negra surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,160 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. 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 1.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 12AM. 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 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this down for Playa Negra over the next couple weeks.
First up, Friday the 14th of August is a beauty. We’re waking up to clear skies and a moderate offshore breeze from the ENE at 12 mph. The swell’s at 4 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, with a combined energy of 901 – moderate wave energy for the size. The morning is the clear standout. Water temp is about average for the time of year.
Saturday the 15th is a mixed bag. Morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze at 16 mph, swell up to 5 ft from the SW (16-second period, 1118 energy). It’s solid. But the afternoon is the real call: risk of thunderstorms clears to an offshore ENE breeze at 12 mph, swell at 5 ft, and the report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s your best wave quality of the weekend. At that size, it’s getting busy for beginners.
Sunday the 16th drops off. Morning is clean with 4 ft swell (677 energy), but the wind picks up fresh in the afternoon.
After Sunday, the swell drops. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th see 4 ft waves with glassy or light winds, but the energy drops below 500. Tuesday afternoon is a washout. Wednesday the 19th morning is glassy with 3 ft groundswell, but the afternoons are blown out. Thursday the 20th is small and clean but fading fast.
From Thursday the 20th through the end of that week, it’s weak – waves at 2 ft and energies in the low hundreds. A real gap.
Sunday the 23rd of August shows a pulse of long-period swell: 2 ft but with a 19-second period, energy of 333. That’s a sneaky groundswell, with a gentle offshore breeze in the morning. Very inconsistent, but could surprise.
Friday the 28th of August morning is clean with a moderate cross-offshore breeze, 3 ft SW swell (490 energy), 16-second period. Afternoon goes proper offshore at 12 mph, clean. Good session.
The long-range standout is Saturday the 29th of August. Clear, moderate offshore from the ENE at 12 mph, swell at 4 ft from the SW with a 14-second period, energy of 543. The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” Crowds can be an issue on a clean weekend, so plan accordingly.
Overall, the first weekend is your go, with Saturday afternoon the pick. The second week has a few high-period pulses that could deliver, but Saturday the 29th looks like the best bet long-range.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 901 | 881 | 1160 | 1109 | 897 | 1041 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 428 | 500 | 410 | 428 | 401 | 477 | 355 | 350 | 238 | 183 | 138 | 201 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 3:48PM2.56m | 4:17AM2.64m | 4:34PM2.52m | 5:00AM2.63m | 5:18PM2.43m | 5:42AM2.56m | 6:01PM2.29m | 6:23AM2.44m | 6:44PM2.14m | 7:05AM2.29m | 7:29PM1.98m | 7:50AM2.14m | 8:18PM1.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:40AM0.14m | 10:01PM0.01m | 10:28AM0.13m | 10:44PM0.05m | 11:13AM0.17m | 11:26PM0.15m | 11:57AM0.25m | 00:07AM0.28m | 12:41PM0.36m | 00:48AM0.43m | 1:27PM0.49m | 1:31AM0.58m | 2:16PM0.61m | 2:20AM0.71m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 32 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 8 | SW 16 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 901 | 881 | 1160 | 1109 | 897 | 1041 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 428 | 500 | 410 | 428 | 153 | 477 | 98 | 108 | 137 | 119 | 125 | 201 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | SW 14 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 163 | 251 | 178 | 136 | 134 | 129 | 60 | 60 | 74 | 90 | 142 | 108 | 114 | 401 | 94 | 355 | 350 | 238 | 183 | 138 | 83 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | S 11 | S 20 | SW 10 | N 5 | SW 8 | S 11 | N 5 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | NNW 7 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 21 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SSW 19 |
| kJ | 18 | 160 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 59 | 18 | 37 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 60 | 78 | 45 | 17 | 25 | 18 | 36 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 16 | — | 17 | 30 | 22 | 30 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 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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