
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, SW swell with 492 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Samara in the next 16 days are 1.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Playa Samara over the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty mellow stretch, with nothing too crazy on the cards, but there are some real gems for those who like it clean and easy.
Right now, the water’s sitting at a balmy 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—like paddling in a bath, but lovely.
We kick off Thursday afternoon, 30th July, with some small SW swell at 4ft, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are just marginal. Not worth rushing out for. The first proper look comes Friday morning, 31st July. The swell drops a touch to 3ft from the SW, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE, and it's clean. That’s a decent little session for beginners and longboarders, with the combined energy sitting at 385 (moderate). The same holds Saturday morning, 1st August, with 3ft SW swell and light cross-offshore winds.
Then we get a proper standout. Sunday morning, 2nd August, is glassy—dead calm, with the wind from the NNW at just 3 mph. The swell is small at 2ft from the SW, but it’s a long-period groundswell at 15 seconds, which means silky lines. Combined energy is 279 (moderate). The afternoon stays glassy too, with that same long-period pulse. For a beach and reef setup like Samara, the long period can make it a bit straight on the sand, but it’ll be pure bliss on a log or a funboard. The crowds can show up sometimes here, but on a day this clean, it’s worth it.
Monday morning, 3rd August, is also glassy—zero wind—with 3ft SW swell. Another lovely one. The mornings from the 4th through the 6th stay small but often glassy or clean, though the swell period drops and the energy weakens, so it’s more of a froth session.
Now for the next true highlight. Friday morning, 7th August, brings a nice jump—2ft SSW swell, but the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s a very long, groundswell with a combined energy of 514 (strong). The morning is glassy. That’ll produce some long, clean walls—best on the reef or further down the beach. The next morning, Saturday 8th August, is similar: 3ft SW at 16 seconds, with cross-offshore winds and clean, and combined energy at 541 (strong). Those two mornings are the best of the whole run.
We then go back to a pattern of small, clean mornings through to Tuesday 11th August, but nothing special. Then Wednesday morning, 12th August, another spike: 2ft SW swell with a massive 19-second period. Combined energy hits 616 (strong). It’s glassy in the morning. For a spot like Samara, that’s a very long, powerful groundswell that will wrap in nicely. The reef sections will love it, but the beach might be a bit straight. Still, a real standout.
Thursday morning, 13th August, keeps it going: 3ft SW at 17 seconds, cross-offshore winds, and combined energy of 727 (strong). Another excellent morning. And finally, Friday afternoon, 14th August, wraps up with 3ft SW, glassy conditions, and good energy.
Overall, there’s a lot of small but clean surf, and the standouts are the glassy mornings with long-period groundswell—most notably Sunday 2nd August for pure glass, and Friday 7th through Thursday 13th August for the best combination of energy, period, and wind. For beginners, most of the swell stays under 5ft, so it’s all approachable. Just watch the afternoons for storms and onshore wind—they’re mostly a write-off.
That’s your lot. Stay wet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
514 | 492 | 357 | 342 | 241 | 238 | 193 | 147 | 136 | 171 | 167 | 253 | 212 | 101 | 100 | 112 | 94 | 69 | 66 | 87 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:21PM2.38m | 3:52AM2.34m | 3:58PM2.40m | 4:27AM2.42m | 4:35PM2.40m | 5:02AM2.47m | 5:11PM2.36m | 5:37AM2.50m | 5:49PM2.31m | 6:14AM2.50m | 6:30PM2.23m | 6:55AM2.47m | 7:17PM2.14m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:38PM0.31m | 9:53AM0.49m | 10:12PM0.28m | 10:31AM0.45m | 10:45PM0.29m | 11:09AM0.43m | 11:19PM0.31m | 11:47AM0.42m | 11:55PM0.36m | 12:29PM0.44m | 00:34AM0.41m | 1:15PM0.47m | 1:19AM0.48m | |||||||
— | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | — | 7 | 9 |
Temp °C | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 |
514 | 492 | 357 | 342 | 241 | 238 | 193 | 147 | 110 | 47 | 68 | 253 | 63 | 101 | 99 | 112 | 94 | 69 | 66 | 87 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 6 | SW 14 |
13 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 17 | 17 | 91 | 124 | 136 | 171 | 167 | 71 | 212 | 84 | 100 | 77 | 73 | 50 | 14 | 74 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
7 | 12 | 12 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 33 | 85 | 118 | 19 | 68 | 82 | 15 | 38 | 22 | 10 | 50 | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 16 | 9 | 45 | 16 |
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.











