
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 19s period, SW swell with 621 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 19s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Samara in the next 16 days are 0.9m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Alright, let’s have a look at what’s comin’ up for Playa Samara. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are some definite windows of clean, fun surf if you’re patient. The water is sitting at a warm 87° which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be in boardies or a spring suit at most.
The first few days are small but clean. Sunday the 13th kicks off with a 2ft SW swell, period a solid 13 seconds, and a morning offshore breeze from the NNE at just 3 mph. That’s clean, long-period groundswell. The afternoon turns glassy with a 2ft SW swell. Combined energy is moderate at 319, so nothing huge, but it’s rideable and tidy. Monday the 14th stays in that same groove: 2ft to 2ft SW swell, with a morning cross-offshore and an afternoon glass-off. Clean as a whistle.
Tuesday the 15th is where things get a bit more interesting energy-wise—the combined swell energy climbs to 565 in the morning and 721 in the afternoon, but the wind shifts cross and then cross-onshore, so it gets a little lumpy. Still, there’s enough push there for a fun little wave.
Now, the standout of the whole outlook is Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th. Wednesday morning brings a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, and glassy conditions. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and at Playa Samara (a beach and reef setup) it should offer up some nicely shaped waves. Combined energy is strong at 709. Thursday morning is similar: 3ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a clean cross-offshore breeze. That’s your best bet for quality, consistent waves in the first week.
Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th see things drop back a little in size, but conditions stay clean in the mornings with glassy or near-glassy conditions. The swell direction stays SW and periods are long, so you’ll still get some nice, lined-up waves even at 2ft to 3ft.
Sunday the 20th is another highlight. Morning glass, 3ft SW swell with a 19-second period—very long period groundswell—and combined energy jumps to 782. That’s strong energy and should produce some good, powerful waves. It’ll be best on the sets and probably a bit walled up at times, but for experienced surfers, that’s a fun session. The afternoon gets a bit onshore and messy.
Monday the 21st has a 4ft SW swell in the morning, 18-second period, with a cross-shore wind and light chop. The afternoon cleans right up to glassy with 3ft SW swell. That’s another good day, especially the afternoon session.
From Tuesday the 22nd through Thursday the 24th, things start to deteriorate. Winds go cross-onshore or onshore, and the swell drops. Conditions are marginal at best, with a few poor afternoons. It’s a bit of a blank stretch for good surf.
Then, on Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th, we see a bump in size but with short-period windswell. Friday morning brings 5ft SSW swell at just 7 seconds, with a moderate cross-shore breeze. That’s choppy and messy. Saturday the 26th morning has 6ft SSW swell at 7 seconds, with a cross-offshore wind. The energy is moderate to strong at 699, but the period is too short for proper shape—this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially at a beach and reef spot.
We finish the outlook on Sunday the 28th and Monday the 28th with a drop back to 2ft to 3ft SW swell and longer periods. Monday the 28th morning has a clean cross-offshore breeze, so the last day of the forecast offers a nice little window again.
Overall, the best on offer are the mornings of Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th, with clean, glassy or offshore conditions and solid 3ft SW groundswell. Sunday the 20th morning is also a standout for its very long-period swell and glassy start. Get on it early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
171 | 138 | 299 | 173 | 246 | 379 | 249 | 499 | 427 | 502 | 471 | 418 | 407 | 401 | 276 | 205 | 205 | 236 | 227 | 199 | 328 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:10PM2.57m | 4:28AM2.72m | 4:50PM2.49m | 5:06AM2.62m | 5:29PM2.37m | 5:44AM2.49m | 6:08PM2.22m | 6:23AM2.33m | 6:51PM2.06m | 7:06AM2.18m | 7:39PM1.92m | 7:56AM2.04m | 8:38PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:03AM0.10m | 10:15PM0.16m | 10:43AM0.14m | 10:53PM0.24m | 11:23AM0.22m | 11:31PM0.36m | 12:02PM0.35m | 00:10AM0.50m | 12:44PM0.49m | 00:52AM0.65m | 1:31PM0.63m | 1:39AM0.79m | 2:27PM0.75m | 2:38AM0.91m | |||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 |
78 | 99 | 73 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 113 | 499 | 427 | 502 | 471 | 418 | 407 | 401 | 276 | 205 | 205 | 175 | 134 | 132 | 328 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 19 | S 9 | SW 12 |
171 | 138 | 134 | 73 | 246 | 379 | 203 | 113 | 91 | 112 | 112 | 70 | 89 | 76 | 73 | 54 | 55 | 57 | 227 | 56 | 118 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 13 | S 10 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | S 9 | SW 18 | S 8 |
70 | 68 | 299 | 173 | 71 | 69 | 249 | 109 | 100 | 95 | 13 | 18 | 123 | 118 | 220 | 198 | 186 | 236 | 55 | 199 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 59 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 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.










