Playa Samara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days for our little corner of Costa Rica.

The short-term forecast is looking promising, with a solid SW groundswell hanging around for a good part of the first week. The water is cooking at a warm 87°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so a spring suit is just extra baggage.

Right off the bat, Tuesday morning, September 8th, at Playa Samara is a real gem. We’ve got a clean 3 ft SW swell coming in with a 13-second period, and the wind is dead glassy from the east at just 3 mph. It’s a beach and reef setup, so that long period (13 seconds) will push in some nice lines. The combined wave energy is moderate at (579), and with those calm conditions, it’s going to be a fantastic session for beginners and intermediate surfers alike. You might have some company, as crowds are possible, but it’s worth it.

Thursday morning, September 10th, is the standout for the stronger surfer. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the SW with a period of 17 seconds, packing a lot more punch. The combined energy jumps to a strong (1044), and we’ve got glassy conditions again with a light NE breeze. This is getting into the territory that’s better for experienced surfers – over 5 ft on a long period like that will have some real push. The long period (17 seconds) means those waves will have some serious shape and energy, and the offshore wind will keep the faces clean.

The mornings continue to be the go-to. Friday morning, September 11th, and Saturday morning, September 12th, both offer glassy conditions with a SW swell around 4 ft and 3 ft respectively. The longer period drops a bit by Saturday, but the windows of clean surf are there.

The middle of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. The afternoons are almost all blown out by onshore winds and risk of thunderstorms, so stick to the dawn patrol. There’s a gap in quality surf from around Sunday afternoon, September 13th, through to Wednesday morning, September 17th, where the wind is a bit more crossed-up or onshore. The swell is still there, but the quality drops off.

Looking further out, Thursday morning, September 17th, is a bright spot in the second week. We get back to glassy conditions with a 3 ft SW swell and a 14-second period. The energy is moderate (575), and the offshore breeze from the south will make for some clean, fun waves. The long period (14 seconds) is a groundswell, and it’s still a beach and reef break, so it should offer some good, lined-up waves.

The final weekend, September 20th and 21st, has some lookers too. Sunday morning, September 20th, has a clean 3 ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period and a light cross-offshore wind. That’s a lot of energy for the size, and it’ll be a great option for a point or reef setup. Early Monday morning, September 21st, is also glassy with a similar 3 ft SW swell.

Overall, the best bets are the glassy mornings in the first week. Don’t get caught out by the afternoon wind machine.

Rusty out.

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