
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,722 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 26s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 26s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 26s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way for Playa Samara, but it’s a bit of a slow burner to start. The first couple of days are small, but don’t write it off yet – the wind is light and the water is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 86°.
Thursday the 23rd kicks off with tiny 2-foot waves from the SW, but a light cross-offshore breeze keeps things clean. The energy is only moderate (159), so it’s more of a paddle-around session than a wave-counting day. Friday morning the 24th is where it starts to get interesting. That same SW swell picks up to 2 feet but the period jumps to 24 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The offshore NNE wind at 6 mph will have the faces looking smooth, and the energy jumps to 731. This is a good one for a point break or reef, but at a beach break like Samara, that long period might make the waves a bit too straight. Still, a fun morning.
Saturday the 25th morning sees a touch more size at 3 feet, still SW, with a cross-offshore breeze. The energy is solid (725). Sunday the 26th is a standout. Morning glass with 4-foot swell and 942 energy, but the afternoon is the real gem: 4 feet from the SW, a light offshore wind from the NNW, and the energy jumps to 1135. Clean, punchy, and excellent for experienced surfers. Monday the 27th morning is also glassy with 4-foot swell and 1414 energy – that’s a lot of juice for the size. The wind is dead calm, so expect a mirror-like surface.
The middle of the week gets a bit messier. Tuesday the 28th has size pushing 6 feet in the afternoon, but that’s from the SW with onshore wind, so it’ll be lumpy. Energy is high (1727), but the quality drops. Wednesday the 29th is another morning standout: 5 feet, glassy, with 1260 energy. That’s a powerful, clean swell for experienced surfers, but the period is dropping to 16 seconds, so it’s still solid groundswell.
From Thursday the 30th onward, the swell fades. Morning glass on the 30th with 4 feet, but the energy drops to 617. The weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August is small – 2 to 3 feet – with glassy mornings, but it’s mostly for the longboard or a fun cruise. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are tiny, with wave energy dropping below 200. By Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th, the swell is weak and short-period, mostly under 3 feet and periods under 11 seconds, so it’s pretty flat. Friday the 7th of August gives a little bump back to 3 feet from the SSW with a 14-second period, and the afternoon is perfectly glassy with zero wind. A nice way to close out the run.
The best on offer? Sunday the 26th afternoon and Monday the 27th morning. The size, the energy, the glassy/offshore wind – that’s the window to set your alarm for. After that, Wednesday the 29th morning is also a cracker if you don’t mind a bit of size.
Crowds at Samara can pop up sometimes, but with this forecast being mostly clean and the swell not huge, it should be manageable.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 26 | SW 8 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
93 | 171 | 102 | 563 | 271 | 898 | 658 | 563 | 1210 | 800 | 996 | 1185 | 800 | 715 | 1465 | 1213 | 1663 | 1225 | 1194 | 964 | 856 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | on | glassy | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 9:29AM2.17m | 10:06PM1.85m | 10:26AM2.09m | 11:10PM1.81m | 11:26AM2.07m | 00:12AM1.84m | 12:23PM2.11m | 1:07AM1.91m | 1:14PM2.18m | 1:55AM2.01m | 2:00PM2.26m | 2:37AM2.13m | 2:42PM2.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:02PM0.69m | 4:05AM0.82m | 5:03PM0.71m | 5:06AM0.85m | 6:02PM0.68m | 6:06AM0.83m | 6:56PM0.61m | 7:01AM0.77m | 7:43PM0.52m | 7:49AM0.69m | 8:24PM0.43m | 8:33AM0.61m | 9:03PM0.36m | ||||||||
5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
31 | 104 | 102 | 113 | 59 | 898 | 658 | 563 | 1210 | 800 | 996 | 1185 | 546 | 525 | 1465 | 1213 | 1663 | 1225 | 1194 | 964 | 856 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 7 | SW 24 | S 7 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 6 | S 6 |
93 | 59 | 62 | 563 | 35 | 99 | 39 | 142 | 114 | 100 | 98 | 96 | 800 | 715 | 41 | 253 | 39 | 61 | 58 | 19 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SW 26 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 24 | SW 12 | S 8 | S 8 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 |
35 | 171 | 45 | 55 | 271 | 71 | 28 | 44 | 113 | 42 | 41 | 18 | 68 | 67 | 28 | 89 | 25 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 16 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 34 | 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.










