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Surf Forecasts:

Playa Negra surfForecast / Guanacaste / Costa Rica
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
30.4° C
(Which is 1.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)Playa Negra surf forecast from 28 May 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 31 May, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 20s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 1 Jun, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,860 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 27 May, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s 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 (May 27) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s 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 1.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jun 01) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 16s period and expected on Saturday (May 30) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 27th May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 31st May) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 1st Jun) | 6ft (1.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Negra over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 27 | Thursday 28 | Friday 29 | Saturday 30 | Sunday 31 | Monday 1 | Tuesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | SW 13 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | |
352 | 295 | 313 | 418 | 172 | 308 | 167 | 164 | 493 | 257 | 543 | 843 | 1210 | 1326 | 1615 | 1860 | 1436 | 989 | 976 | 743 | 614 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | |
High Tide | 00:25AM1.95m | 12:38PM2.23m | 1:13AM1.98m | 1:22PM2.25m | 1:57AM2.01m | 2:03PM2.28m | 2:37AM2.05m | 2:43PM2.30m | 3:17AM2.07m | 3:22PM2.30m | 3:56AM2.08m | 4:01PM2.28m | 4:36AM2.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:20PM0.52m | 6:23AM0.62m | 7:06PM0.46m | 7:09AM0.60m | 7:49PM0.40m | 7:52AM0.57m | 8:29PM0.35m | 8:32AM0.53m | 9:08PM0.31m | 9:12AM0.52m | 9:46PM0.30m | 9:52AM0.52m | 10:25PM0.31m | 10:31AM0.55m | |||||||
— | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | |
6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | 6:01 | |
3 | 10 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 9 | 2 | |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 |
32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 7 | SSW 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
352 | 295 | 313 | 418 | 172 | 308 | 167 | 45 | 493 | 459 | 836 | 743 | 1210 | 1326 | 1615 | 1860 | 1436 | 989 | 976 | 743 | 614 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 16 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 21 | SW 20 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 19 |
31 | 42 | 37 | 25 | 119 | 27 | 40 | 164 | 253 | 257 | 543 | 843 | 602 | 467 | 276 | 339 | 184 | 137 | 132 | 83 | 446 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 4 | N 4 | WSW 4 | S 7 | WSW 5 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 6 | — | — | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | S 10 |
— | 1 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 3 | 94 | 89 | 47 | 44 | 196 | 299 | 248 | 245 | 18 | — | — | 72 | 71 | 239 | 53 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 74 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
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.












