Playa Negra Surf Break

Lat Long: 10.18° N 85.82° W

Playa Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Negra sea temperature is
30.2° 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 18 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: Saturday 25 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 21s period, SW swell with 1,015 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 1.1m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 18th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 21s
Most Powerful12AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a classic Playa Negra stretch. The first few days are pretty quiet. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°F, which is a nice bonus.

Friday, the 17th, is a write-off. We’ve got a tiny 1ft swell from the SW with a long 15-second period, but the wind is a cross-offshore at 19 mph, and the energy is weak (142). It’s clean-looking but there’s just nothing to work with. Saturday the 18th picks up a little. The swell bumps to 3ft from the SSW, period at 12 seconds, and the wind turns offshore in the morning. The energy is moderate (253), and the conditions are clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s a start.

Sunday the 19th drops back to 2ft with a very long 19-second period. That period is so long it’s going to be tricky on a beach/point setup like this – the waves will be fat and straight. The energy is low (170). Skip it. Monday and Tuesday the 20th and 21st are similar: small swell (3ft), persistent 16 mph cross-offshore winds, and poor surf conditions. The energy stays moderate (366-345) but it’s just not clean enough.

Now, the real story starts on Thursday, the 23rd of July. We get a jump to 4ft of SSW swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds. That’s weak, punchy, beach-break style. The energy is moderate (270). It’s surfable and clean with a light breeze, but it’s not the main event.

The standouts are the 24th and 25th of July. Friday the 24th morning brings a 3ft SW swell with a 24-second period and energy hitting 853. That’s a strong groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore, and conditions are very clean. The wave comment says “very good” – this is what we’re waiting for. Saturday the 25th morning is similar: 3ft, 21-second period, energy at 944. Light cross-offshore wind. The long period means this will be best at Playa Negra’s point and reef sections, not so much straight-out beach peaks. The waves will have shape and power, with long lulls between sets making it easier to get out back.

If you’re an expert, the absolute best of the whole window is Sunday the 26th of July. We’re looking at 4ft of SW swell, 19-second period, and the morning is glassy with zero wind. The energy is strong (938), and the wave comment is “excellent for experienced surfers.” The afternoon gets even better – energy jumps to 1307, still glassy, with 4ft and 18-second period. This is your day. The water is warm, the wind is dead calm, and the swell has serious travel behind it. The only caveat: it’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll break a bit straight on the beach, but the point and reef sections will be firing.

Monday the 27th morning is still excellent – 4ft SW, 18-second period, gentle offshore wind, energy at 1263. Still a top pick. Tuesday the 28th morning sees the swell push to 5ft from the SW, 18-second period, energy at 1527. That’s big, strong, and expert-only territory. The wind is a light cross-offshore, so it’s clean. After that, the swell slowly drops off through the end of the month and into August, but the quality holds with glassy or light offshore windows on the 30th and 31st.

Overall, the best is the 26th and 27th of July. The 24th and 25th are also very good, but the 26th is the glassy, clean, full-power day. The 28th is for experts only. Surf is on the table from the 18th, but the real quality doesn’t kick in until the 23rd.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
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
1
1
1
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.8
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
13
0.5
SW
19
0.9
SSW
12
0.6
SW
18
0.8
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.8
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
1.3
SSW
7
0.4
SW
26
0.4
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
178
140
192
164
286
170
244
192
366
361
313
305
297
250
173
161
92
176
186
79
Wind (km/h)
20
ENE
20
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
20
ENE
20
ENE
10
ENE
20
NE
25
ENE
20
ENE
25
ENE
25
ENE
20
NE
15
ENE
15
NE
10
ENE
10
ENE
15
E
15
E
10
E
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
4:55PM2.56m
5:28AM2.59m
5:43PM2.45m
6:15AM2.54m
6:31PM2.31m
7:02AM2.45m
7:20PM2.15m
7:48AM2.33m
8:10PM2.00m
8:37AM2.20m
9:04PM1.86m
9:29AM2.09m
10:03PM1.77m
Low Tide
11:10PM0.00m
11:38AM0.21m
11:56PM0.10m
12:28PM0.30m
00:41AM0.24m
1:19PM0.40m
1:27AM0.40m
2:10PM0.51m
2:15AM0.55m
3:04PM0.60m
3:06AM0.68m
4:02PM0.67m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:07
 mm
2
1
1
1
2
1
Temp °C
32
27
30
31
27
31
32
27
29
29
27
29
29
25
27
26
25
28
25
25
Feels °C
33
26
33
34
27
33
35
27
29
29
26
30
29
27
27
29
28
31
27
28
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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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