
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 (Aug 11) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Playa Samara.
We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way, starting right now. The water is pretty special – it's sitting at 87°, which is well above the norm for this time of year, a full 4° warmer than average. That’s a real treat.
The pattern kicks off Tuesday morning the 11th with a clean 3ft SW swell. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 3 mph, and it’s making for some nice, clean lines. The wave energy is moderate (420). Not a standout, but a nice way to get started.
Wednesday morning the 12th sees the swell drop a touch to 2ft, but the wind goes glassy from the ENE at 3 mph. The water will be like a mirror. It’s small, but it’s fun and clean with moderate energy (403).
Thursday morning the 13th keeps the 2ft SW swell going, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the NE at 6 mph. The combined energy eases slightly (344), but it’s still a good morning session.
Now, here’s where things start to get interesting. Friday morning the 14th is a standout – the swell bumps up to 4ft from the SW with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE at 3 mph, and the energy jumps to a strong 904. This is a really good window for a point break or reef setup, but as a beach-and-reef break, that long period might make it a bit too straight. Still, it’s clean and punchy.
Saturday morning the 15th is the big one. This is the best on offer. We’re looking at 5ft of SW swell, with a period of 16 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 1243. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE at 3 mph, and conditions are clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers – it’s getting a bit too big for a beginner. The water is still warm, and the crowds are _sometimes_ a factor here, so you might have some company for the best waves.
Sunday the 16th offers more clean 4ft SW swell in the morning, with a cross-offshore breeze at 9 mph, and then in the afternoon it goes completely glassy with 0 mph wind from the NE. That afternoon session is a real gem – clean, glassy, and fun.
Monday the 17th is a carbon copy of the good stuff: 4ft SW swell, clean offshore winds in the morning, and glassy conditions in the afternoon. Perfect for a long session.
Moving into the second week, things hold up but start to ease. Tuesday the 18th morning is glassy with 3ft SW swell. By Wednesday the 19th, the morning is clean with 3ft SW swell. The wave energy is still moderate.
Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st drop to a shorter period S swell at 10 seconds, with 3ft. The winds are light and clean in the mornings, but the energy dips to the low 300s. It’s smaller and less powerful.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd bring a smaller SW swell back, around 2ft, but with a longer period. The mornings are clean, but the afternoons get messy with onshore winds and risk of thunderstorms.
The real surprise is on Wednesday the 26th. A promising long-range call: the morning is glassy with 3ft of SW swell and a very long period of 19 seconds. The energy is strong (599). It’s a way-off, but it could be a great little session if the forecast holds.
So, overall: Playa Samara is looking good. The best windows are the mornings throughout, with Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th being the clear standouts. The water is unusually warm, the surf is consistent, and the wind is mostly kind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
224 | 375 | 212 | 211 | 163 | 181 | 176 | 251 | 369 | 804 | 777 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 428 | 434 | 416 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:13PM2.52m | 1:53AM2.42m | 2:09PM2.61m | 2:45AM2.59m | 3:01PM2.68m | 3:33AM2.72m | 3:49PM2.69m | 4:17AM2.77m | 4:34PM2.64m | 5:00AM2.76m | 5:18PM2.54m | 5:41AM2.67m | 6:00PM2.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:37PM0.20m | 7:57AM0.32m | 8:29PM0.08m | 8:51AM0.21m | 9:16PM0.01m | 9:41AM0.14m | 10:01PM0.00m | 10:28AM0.13m | 10:44PM0.05m | 11:13AM0.17m | 11:25PM0.16m | 11:57AM0.25m | 00:06AM0.30m | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 7 | 13 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SW 14 |
224 | 224 | 212 | 211 | 76 | 84 | 74 | 251 | 369 | 804 | 777 | 1050 | 1109 | 897 | 942 | 606 | 606 | 598 | 146 | 132 | 416 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 7 |
37 | 375 | 56 | 56 | 134 | 181 | 176 | 55 | 58 | 35 | 166 | 181 | 134 | 137 | 132 | 75 | 75 | 82 | 428 | 434 | 105 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
159 | 51 | 150 | 136 | 163 | 109 | 94 | 27 | 248 | 65 | 206 | — | — | — | — | 59 | 58 | 37 | 21 | 20 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
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)
Latest Updates
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.











