
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 21s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,339 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. 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 1.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 5th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 6th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for Playa Samara.
Overall, we're looking at a run of clean, rideable surf right through the period, with a standout window in the middle of the first week that’s got some proper energy behind it. The water temp is sitting pretty close to normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
The action kicks off on Sunday morning, 5th July, with a small but sweet 3ft SSW swell. The wind is glassy, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 639. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and fun. Sunday afternoon gets a bit iffy with a cross-on breeze, so I’d get in early.
Monday the 6th is another morning mission with glassy conditions and a 3ft SW groundswell (16 seconds period). The energy bumps up to 697, still moderate, but that long period means better shaped lines, especially for a spot like Playa Samara that's a mix of beach and reef. You’ll want to pick your corner. The afternoons tend to get a little wind-affected.
Now, Tuesday the 7th of July is the standout of the whole outlook. Tuesday morning you’ve got a clean 4ft SSW swell with glassy winds and a combined energy reading of 1096 (moderate to strong). By Tuesday afternoon it bumps up to 5ft SW, still glassy, and the energy jumps to 1295. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The swell is getting up there, over 5ft, so it’s not a beginner's session, but for anyone with a bit of time in the water, these are the best waves on offer. The wind stays perfect all day.
Wednesday the 8th holds in with clean, cross-off winds in the morning and a 4ft SSW swell. The energy is still strong at 985. Afternoon gets a bit sideshore, but the morning session is quality. Thursday the 9th has another glassy morning with a 3ft SSW groundswell (15 seconds). It’s a touch smaller but still clean and fun.
From Friday the 10th through the rest of the first week and into the second, the pattern settles into smaller, cleaner waves. You’ll see mornings with glassy or clean conditions and swells hanging around 2ft to 3ft. The combined energy dips into the 200-400 range, so it’s weak to moderate. There are a few afternoons with onshore wind or storm risk, but the mornings consistently offer a chance for a fun, uncrowded paddle. The consistency is fairly good, so don’t write off the later days—Sunday the 12th afternoon goes glassy again with a clean 3ft SSW swell.
Into the second week, it's morning missions only. Monday the 13th through Sunday the 19th all show clean conditions in the AM. The standout in this quieter stretch is Sunday morning, 19th July. You’ve got offshore wind, a 3ft SSW swell, and a combined energy of 431. It’s small but clean and clean is king. The following Monday, 20th July, wraps it up with a glassy 3ft SSW swell.
Bottom line: get on it Tuesday the 7th for the biggest, cleanest, and most powerful swell of the run. After that, the mornings are your friend all the way through.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Sat 11 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
371 | 265 | 274 | 467 | 362 | 746 | 730 | 835 | 1124 | 963 | 864 | 683 | 649 | 493 | 425 | 387 | 279 | 279 | 358 | 377 | 362 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 6:08AM2.32m | 6:14PM2.21m | 6:46AM2.34m | 6:56PM2.14m | 7:27AM2.35m | 7:44PM2.08m | 8:14AM2.36m | 8:39PM2.02m | 9:08AM2.37m | 9:42PM2.00m | 10:10AM2.40m | 10:50PM2.02m | 11:15AM2.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49PM0.40m | 12:13PM0.60m | 00:25AM0.45m | 12:57PM0.61m | 1:04AM0.50m | 1:44PM0.61m | 1:48AM0.55m | 2:38PM0.59m | 2:41AM0.58m | 3:39PM0.55m | 3:42AM0.60m | 4:44PM0.49m | 4:49AM0.57m | 5:49PM0.39m | |||||||
— | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | |
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | |
mm | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 10 | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
371 | 265 | 184 | 447 | 362 | 746 | 730 | 835 | 1124 | 963 | 864 | 683 | 649 | 493 | 425 | 387 | 279 | 279 | 358 | 377 | 362 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 |
133 | 122 | 92 | 467 | 277 | 419 | 264 | 208 | 136 | 100 | 116 | 108 | 141 | 90 | 87 | 89 | 65 | 76 | 57 | 47 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 8 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | — | SSW 15 | S 20 | SSW 20 | S 18 | SSW 18 | S 16 | S 16 |
211 | 252 | 274 | 89 | 58 | 56 | 55 | 53 | 35 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | 47 | 31 | 75 | 163 | 106 | 134 | 132 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 16 | 52 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











