Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 435 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. 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 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf for Playa Samara.
We’re looking at a slow start, but the ocean’s gonna wake up. The water is a balmy 87°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year.
Wednesday morning (5th August) is your first real chance to get in. The swell is a tiny 3ft from the south, but the wind is glassy, dead calm from the north. Combined energy is weak (190), so it’s a gentle paddle. It’s clean, but small. Thursday morning (6th August) is similar – 3ft from the SSW and glassy again. The afternoons are a write-off with cross-onshore wind and storm risk.
Friday morning (7th August) the swell is still just 2ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. Combined energy hits a moderate 502, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NE. The waves will be more lined up. It’s a beautiful morning, but the afternoon turns onshore.
Saturday morning (8th August) is the first real standout. The swell is 3ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and combined energy is strong at 561. The wind is offshore from the north, and the sky is clear. This is clean, glassy, and has some grunt. It’s still manageable for most, but the longer period will give it some punch.
Sunday (9th August) and Monday (10th August) mornings offer similar clean conditions with cross-offshore winds, but the swell drops a little.
The big news comes Friday morning, 14th August. The swell is 4ft from the SW, period 18 seconds, and combined energy is a hefty 1090 – that’s strong. The wind is cross-off from the NE. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d agree. If you’re not a beginner, get out there. Saturday morning, 15th August, is even bigger – 5ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and energy at 1229. Glassy offshore wind from the NE. This is top-tier, but it’s getting big for the average surfer.
The swell holds through Sunday 16th and Monday 17th August mornings, with 4ft and 4ft, both glassy and clean. It then fades slowly through the rest of the week.
Crowds are *sometimes* an issue at Playa Samara, so expect company on the best mornings.
The absolute best of the bunch? Saturday morning, 15th August. 5ft SW, glassy offshore wind, strong energy – that’s the one to wait for. Friday morning 14th August is a close second.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 65 | 87 | 87 | 153 | 212 | 209 | 305 | 376 | 367 | 435 | 305 | 401 | 284 | 241 | 172 | 288 | 186 | 224 | 375 | 212 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:17PM2.14m | 7:43AM2.42m | 8:11PM2.06m | 8:39AM2.37m | 9:16PM1.99m | 9:46AM2.34m | 10:31PM2.00m | 10:58AM2.35m | 11:46PM2.08m | 12:09PM2.42m | 00:54AM2.24m | 1:13PM2.52m | 1:53AM2.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:15PM0.47m | 1:19AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.51m | 2:13AM0.56m | 3:11PM0.53m | 3:18AM0.61m | 4:21PM0.52m | 4:33AM0.62m | 5:33PM0.45m | 5:48AM0.56m | 6:39PM0.33m | 6:56AM0.45m | 7:37PM0.20m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | 1 | 6 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 86 | 65 | 87 | 87 | 83 | 163 | 125 | 103 | 376 | 367 | 435 | 305 | 401 | 284 | 241 | 172 | 288 | 174 | 224 | 272 | 212 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 12 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 50 | 49 | 75 | 70 | 153 | 212 | 168 | 151 | 144 | 139 | 55 | 55 | 34 | 35 | 47 | 125 | 41 | 114 | 39 | 375 | 152 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 | S 9 | S 24 | SW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | S 10 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 54 | 34 | 19 | 43 | 21 | 159 | 209 | 305 | 56 | 55 | 11 | 77 | 30 | 31 | 127 | 29 | 99 | 186 | 159 | 38 | 38 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 45 | 16 | 9 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 46 | 9 | 9 | 59 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 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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