Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,087 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Samara this week:
The surf forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Samara in the next 16 days are 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Playa Samara over the next stretch. The water’s running at 86°F, which is much warmer than average for the season – feels nice getting in. The swell is coming from the southwest, and while you’ll need to pick your moments, there are a couple of sessions that are absolute crackers.
Starting off, Thursday the 10th of September morning is the pick of the bunch. You’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 17 seconds, and good energy pushing through (1045 combined). The wind is a light offshore from the ENE at 6 mph, leaving the surface glassy. This is proper groundswell, so expect long, grinding lines and plenty of power. It’s aimed at experienced surfers. The break is a mix of beach and reef, and crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might see a few others, but nothing crazy.
Friday the 11th of September morning is also solid. A 4ft swell from the SW, 16 second period, with 779 combined energy. The wind is a cross-offshore from the NE at 6 mph, keeping things clean. This is a very good session, but Thursday morning has the edge.
From Saturday the 12th through Tuesday the 15th, the size drops and the afternoons get messy with onshore winds and storm risks. The mornings are glassy but smaller, around 2ft to 2ft. Tuesday the 15th afternoon sees 3ft with glassy conditions from a SSW wind at 3 mph and a 17 second period, showing 688 combined energy – could be a sleeper.
Wednesday the 16th of September morning is another winner: 3ft from the SW, 16 second period, with 689 combined energy. The wind is glassy from the NE at 3 mph – very clean and very good surf expected. Crowds are “sometimes.”
After a few blown-out days, Sunday the 20th of September morning comes back strong: 3ft from the SW, a very long 19 second period, with 674 combined energy and glassy winds. That’s another top option for clean, long-period lines.
Finally, Wednesday the 24th of September morning offers 3ft at 14 seconds, with 521 combined energy and glassy winds – another very good session to close out.
With these long-period swells (over 15 seconds), the waves can be a bit too straight for beach breaks, but the reef sections at Playa Samara should give you some nice shape. No swell goes over 5ft, so it stays manageable, but Thursday the 10th morning is the one to circle on the calendar.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 55mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 302 | 314 | 871 | 974 | 728 | 719 | 701 | 550 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 171 | 138 | 234 | 173 | 246 | 379 | 249 | 499 | 427 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 1:04PM2.42m | 1:38AM2.49m | 1:57PM2.52m | 2:25AM2.64m | 2:45PM2.58m | 3:08AM2.73m | 3:29PM2.60m | 3:49AM2.76m | 4:10PM2.57m | 4:28AM2.72m | 4:50PM2.49m | 5:06AM2.62m | 5:29PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:21PM0.27m | 7:48AM0.31m | 8:09PM0.17m | 8:37AM0.19m | 8:54PM0.12m | 9:22AM0.12m | 9:35PM0.11m | 10:03AM0.10m | 10:15PM0.16m | 10:43AM0.14m | 10:53PM0.24m | 11:23AM0.22m | 11:31PM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 4 | 5 | — | 8 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 5 | — | 6 | 20 | 4 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 302 | 314 | 871 | 974 | 728 | 719 | 701 | 550 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 99 | 96 | 108 | 105 | 107 | 172 | 115 | 499 | 427 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 14 | S 8 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | 116 | 134 | 37 | 51 | 69 | 68 | 45 | 49 | 54 | 60 | 46 | 76 | 171 | 138 | 134 | 173 | 246 | 379 | 203 | 80 | 87 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSE 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 234 | 35 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 33 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 80 | 71 | 70 | 68 | 234 | 73 | 71 | 69 | 249 | 109 | 101 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 43 | 9 | 9 | 103 | 14 | 9 | 56 | 16 | 9 | 52 | 16 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 29 | 14 | 9 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Playa Samara Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Playa Samara provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Samara can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Samara 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 Samara) 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 Samara 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 Samara is 31 km (19 miles) from Nicoya. If you plan a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya, 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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