Playa Samara Surf Break

Lat Long: 9.88° N 85.53° W

Playa Samara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 15 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Samara sea temperature is
30.4°C
2.4° 

Playa Samara surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Playa Samara surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with 679 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 3PM (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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. 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 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Tue 15th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 15th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 21st Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right now, Playa Samara (Nicoya) is looking at a run of small but clean waves for a few days, but don't get too attached – this stretch has a real mix of good mornings and iffy afternoons.

Tuesday morning (Sept 15) is a nice place to start. We’ve got some clouds, a light cross-offshore breeze out of the NNE at 6 mph, and 2ft of southwest swell. That’s not much on the face, but the period is a long 18 seconds, so there’s some push behind it. The water is sitting at 86.7°, which is a couple of degrees warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s noticeable, feels like a bath. Combined energy is moderate at 563, so it’s not flat, just small. Clean, workable, and a good one for the loggers or beginners. By Tuesday afternoon, the wind switches to glassy, the swell bumps to 3ft at 17 seconds, and it’s all smooth. This is your best bet for the first day – glassy, clean, and the swell is starting to fill in a touch.

Wednesday morning (Sept 16) holds that glassy early vibe, with the swell up to 3.3ft at 16 seconds. Still clean, still offshore-ish energy from the ENE at 3 mph. But Wednesday afternoon turns a bit cross-onshore at 6 mph, and the surface picks up some ripples. Not terrible, but the magic is gone.

Thursday morning (Sept 17) is a standout in this early run – clear skies, light cross-offshore from the ENE at 3 mph, and 3.3ft of SW swell at 14 seconds. Clean, lined up, and the energy is moderate (619). This is the pick of the first few days. Thursday afternoon fades to cross-on with more ripples – surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Friday morning (Sept 18) drops to 2.6ft at 13 seconds but stays clean with a NE cross-off. Okay for a soft day, nothing special. Saturday morning (Sept 19) goes glassy again with 2ft at 19 seconds – that long period is there, but it’s really small. Fine for a cruise, not for anything serious.

Then there’s a little reset. Sunday and Monday (Sept 20-21) bring back some size – 3ft to 3.6ft with longer periods (17-19 seconds). The mornings are glassy or light cross-on, with combined energy jumping to 700-797. These mornings are decent. Sunday morning especially – glassy, 3ft at 19 seconds, clean face. But the afternoons get a bit more wind. Monday afternoon goes glassy though, which is a nice surprise.

Now, here’s where the trouble starts. From Tuesday Sept 22 through Thursday Sept 24, the winds get more onshore and the swell drops back to 2.6-3.3ft. Mornings are marginal at best, afternoons choppy or with onshore junk. This stretch is not worth your time unless you’re desperate.

Then Friday Sept 25 – this is where it gets real. The morning shows a big surge: 7.9ft of SW swell at just 9 seconds. That’s a lot of raw energy (1069), but the period is short and the wind is onshore at 3 mph from the south. That’s a messy, crumbly wave. The afternoon is worse – 6.9ft at 8 seconds, cross-onshore at 9 mph, and the comment says poor. This is too big for the beginners, and honestly, even for the better surfers, it’s going to be a washing machine. The Saturday Sept 26 run continues the trend – 5.6ft at 9 seconds with cross-onshore winds. Choppy, lumpy, and not inviting. That whole stretch from Sept 25-26 is more about staying out of the water than getting in it.

After that, it settles back down. Sunday Sept 27 has 3.6ft at 13 seconds but with onshore winds, so it’s still messy. Monday Sept 28 and Tuesday Sept 29 are rough – onshore winds, dropping quality, and by Tuesday afternoon there’s a 5.2ft, 7-second windswell that’s straight onshore. That’s junk.

Wednesday Sept 30 – the last day in the window – shows a small pickup with 2.3ft at 14 seconds in the morning but cross-on, and then the afternoon jumps to 4.9ft at 8 seconds with onshore wind. That’s another short-period, onshore mess.

So here’s the bottom line. The best surf on offer in this whole 16-day run is Thursday morning Sept 17 – 3.3ft of clean SW swell, light offshore, moderate energy, and a

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
1
2
3
1
3
2
0
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
18
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
16
1.1
SW
16
1
SW
15
1
SW
14
1
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.9
SW
19
0.9
SW
19
0.8
SW
18
1.1
SW
18
1
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
249
499
427
502
532
418
407
401
276
205
205
236
227
199
328
621
614
437
679
582
443
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
5
SW
10
NE
5
ENE
10
SW
5
NNW
5
ENE
10
SSW
5
NNW
5
NE
10
SW
5
NW
5
NE
10
WSW
5
NNW
5
E
10
SW
10
SE
5
SE
5
SE
5
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
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
8:58AM1.94m
9:50PM1.76m
10:09AM1.90m
11:03PM1.81m
Low Tide
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
3:34PM0.82m
3:52AM0.96m
4:45PM0.81m
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:31
5:31
5:31
5:31
5:31
5:31
5:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:42
5:40
5:39
5:39
5:38
5:38
 mm
2
6
1
7
4
1
2
2
9
5
32
5
5
12
Temp °C
30
29
27
30
28
26
30
29
27
30
29
28
29
29
27
30
29
27
27
27
27
Feels °C
33
33
31
33
32
31
33
32
32
32
32
33
33
33
33
34
34
32
32
32
31
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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