Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 991 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. 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 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the surf at Playa Samara in feet and knots.
First thing, the water is running way warmer than normal for this time of year, over two degrees above average. That’s a real bonus if you’re surfing without rubber.
We’ve got a slow start, but it kicks off proper on Saturday the 15th. The morning brings a solid 5-foot SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and a light cross-off breeze from the NE. That’s clean, powerful, well-lined-up surf. The combined energy is strong at 1243, so the ocean has some push. This is the best of the whole run – quality waves, good wind, and the swell direction is perfect for the exposed bank. This is a beginner spot though, and at 5 feet, that’s getting big for a learner. Experienced surfers will love it. Crowds are possible, so grab your spot early.
Saturday afternoon turns glassy with a light SE breeze, the swell drops a touch to 5 feet, and the energy is still high at 1128. It’s going to be a beautiful afternoon out there.
Sunday the 16th keeps the good vibes. Morning has 4-foot SW groundswell, 15-second period, with a clean cross-off wind. Energy is moderate at 754. Afternoon goes glassy with a light SSW wind. That’s some nice, user-friendly surf.
Monday the 17th the swell eases to 4 feet, still clean in the morning, but the afternoon gets a little cross-shore bump that messes with the shape. Still surfable, but not as good.
From Tuesday the 18th through around Thursday the 22nd, the swell drops and stays inconsistent. You’ll find waist-high waves, sometimes glassy, sometimes with a bit of wind on them. The energy drops into the 300-600 range. It’s not firing, but it’s not flat. The morning of Wednesday the 19th is glassy and clean with 3-foot waves, that’s a fun little session for a longboard.
Then we hit a real lull. From the 23rd to the 27th, the swell is tiny, often under 2 feet, and the energy is low. The mornings are glassy or clean, but the waves are small. Thursday the 27th morning has a 1-foot SW swell with a very long 18-second period, but that’s barely a ripple for a beach break.
Now, keep an eye on the end of the run. Saturday the 29th morning has clean offshore wind from the NNE with 3 feet of SW groundswell and an 18-second period, energy at 818. That’s promising. Then Sunday the 30th morning looks even better: 4 feet of SW swell, 16-second period, clean cross-off wind, and energy jumping to 928. That’s a late call, but it could be the best session of the whole two weeks. It’s a long way out, so don’t get too excited yet, but it’s worth watching.
Overall, the standout is Saturday the 15th, with Sunday the 30th as a promising but less certain second option. The rest is a mix of small, clean conditions and average waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1109 | 991 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 428 | 434 | 416 | 379 | 346 | 406 | 309 | 305 | 238 | 171 | 227 | 225 | 308 | 238 | 218 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross | off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:34PM2.64m | 5:00AM2.76m | 5:18PM2.54m | 5:41AM2.67m | 6:00PM2.40m | 6:22AM2.54m | 6:44PM2.24m | 7:04AM2.38m | 7:29PM2.07m | 7:49AM2.22m | 8:19PM1.91m | 8:40AM2.09m | 9:19PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:28AM0.13m | 10:44PM0.05m | 11:13AM0.17m | 11:25PM0.16m | 11:57AM0.25m | 00:06AM0.30m | 12:40PM0.37m | 00:48AM0.46m | 1:25PM0.51m | 1:31AM0.62m | 2:15PM0.64m | 2:20AM0.76m | 3:13PM0.74m | ||||||||
5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
1109 | 991 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 207 | 169 | 149 | 218 | 183 | 186 | 163 | 159 | 159 | 171 | 227 | 225 | 308 | 238 | 218 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 6 | S 7 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 7 | SW 15 | WSW 7 | SSW 16 |
134 | 137 | 49 | 89 | 37 | 125 | 428 | 434 | 416 | 379 | 346 | 406 | 309 | 305 | 238 | 144 | 138 | 30 | 55 | 17 | 173 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 12 | S 11 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | WSW 9 | W 7 | NW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | WSW 6 |
— | — | 66 | 59 | — | 21 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 84 | 36 | 55 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 102 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 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.











