Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 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★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be offshore 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 glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| 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
G’day, I’m Rusty.
Alright, let’s get into what’s cooking at Playa Samara over the next couple weeks. This is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the SSW swell, and the water’s sitting at a warm 86°, which is much warmer than we’d normally feel this time of year – you’ll notice that the moment you splash in.
The start is a bit quiet, but there’s some real promise building. The first proper standout is Saturday morning, August 8th. We’ve got clean 3ft swell from the SW, period around 16 seconds, and a light NE cross-off breeze. Combined wave energy is a solid 563 (moderate to strong). That’s a window where everything lines up – good shape, clean walls, and that longer period will give you some proper push. It’s a friendly size for most, but the quality will have the locals happy.
Then Saturday afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and the swell holds at 3ft from the SW with a 15-second period. Energy’s still strong at 500 sets. If the storms stay away, that afternoon session could be magic.
Moving into the second week, the real highlight hits on Friday morning, August 14th. Clean 3ft SW swell, 18-second period, and a light NE cross-off wind. Wave energy jumps to 811 (strong energy). That’s a beautiful, powerful groundswell – but with a period that long, it’ll run straight at a beach break, so the reef sections will tidy it up. That’s one for the crew who know where to sit.
Saturday morning, August 15th, is similar – 4ft SW swell, 16-second period, cross-off wind, and energy at 861 (strong). And Sunday morning, August 16th, gives us 3ft SW swell with 14-second period and glassy offshore conditions – wave energy at 708 (strong). That Sunday morning looks like a clean, crowd-friendly session for the intermediate crowd.
A couple things: crowds are *sometimes* a factor here, so you might have some company on those standout mornings. The break is fairly consistent overall, so even the flatter days between swells won’t leave you hanging for long.
The gap after the early days is short – things fire up again by Saturday the 8th. The long-range stuff from August 14th onward looks good, but with a 16-day call, always keep an eye on the updates.
Stay stoked.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 193 | 147 | 136 | 171 | 167 | 253 | 212 | 91 | 128 | 119 | 116 | 85 | 90 | 75 | 70 | 158 | 212 | 209 | 305 | 376 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | on | off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:43AM2.42m | 8:11PM2.06m | 8:39AM2.37m | 9:16PM1.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:08PM0.51m | 2:13AM0.56m | 3:11PM0.53m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — |
mm | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 3 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 7 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 193 | 147 | 110 | 171 | 51 | 253 | 86 | 91 | 112 | 119 | 116 | 85 | 90 | 65 | 65 | 63 | 72 | 66 | 305 | 376 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 7 | S 6 | SW 14 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 91 | 124 | 32 | 31 | 167 | 71 | 212 | 82 | 128 | 77 | 73 | 50 | 49 | 75 | 70 | 158 | 212 | 205 | 151 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 14 | SW 6 | SW 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 136 | 85 | 98 | 19 | 68 | 84 | 15 | 38 | 36 | 54 | 37 | 9 | 43 | 21 | 159 | 209 | 57 | 144 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 9 | 103 | 16 | 9 | 45 | 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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