Playa Samara Surf Break

Lat Long: 9.88° N 85.53° W

Playa Samara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 01 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Samara sea temperature is
30.1° C
2.1° 

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 1 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 376 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 6PM (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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sat 1st Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 12s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 7th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Most Powerful12AM (Sat 8th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for our little corner of the coast over the next couple of weeks.

First thing to note, we’re starting off with some small but clean waves. The water temp is sitting at 86°, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year – feels like a bath out there. Playa Samara is a beginner-friendly beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, so there’s always a chance of a wave.

The real standout for the entire period has to be Friday, August 14th, morning. The swell is pushing 3ft from the SW, with a very long period of 19 seconds, and the combined energy is a whopping 1073 – that’s strong, powerful ocean energy. The wind is a light offshore from the ENE, keeping things glassy. This is proper groundswell, so at a reefy spot like Samara, it’s going to line up beautifully. That’s the one to circle on your calendar. After that, Saturday, August 15th, morning is also a beauty with 4ft from the SW, a 17-second period, and clean offshore winds – 958 of combined energy says it’s going to be solid.

Now, let’s walk through the rest.

Saturday, August 3rd morning – 3ft from the SW, 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze. Clean, small, a good start to the weekend. The afternoon gets a bit sketchy with cross-on winds.

Sunday, August 4th morning – 2ft SW swell, 15-second period, cross-offshore breeze. It’s tiny but clean. The afternoon turns into a cross-on mess.

Monday, August 5th morning – 3ft SW, 13-second period, offshore wind from the NNW. Clean conditions, worth a look. Afternoon brings the risk of thunderstorms and cross-on wind.

Tuesday, August 6th morning – 3ft from the SSW, but a short 8-second period. Wind is light cross-offshore. The waves will be a bit crumbly, but it’s clean enough for a beginner session. Afternoon gets onshore.

Wednesday, August 7th morning – 3ft SSW, 8-second period, but it’s glassy. Dead flat wind. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Not a standout.

Thursday, August 8th morning – 3ft S swell, 8-second period, glassy conditions. It’s clean, but the short period means the waves won’t have much shape. Afternoon gets onshore again.

Friday, August 9th morning – Swell drops to 2ft from the SSW, but the period stretches to 18 seconds. Light cross-offshore wind. Small, slow, but clean lines. The afternoon gets a bit messy.

Saturday, August 10th morning – 3ft SW, 16-second period, clean cross-offshore breeze. One of the better mornings of the first week. The afternoon has cross-shore wind and questionable conditions.

Sunday, August 11th morning – 3ft SW, 14-second period, cross-offshore breeze. Clean again. The afternoon is onshore.

Monday, August 12th morning – 2ft SW, 13-second period, cross-shore breeze. Marginal. The afternoon is a write-off.

Tuesday, August 13th morning – 3ft SW, 14-second period, cross-offshore breeze. It’s worth a paddle. The afternoon gets onshore.

Wednesday, August 14th morning – Very small, 2ft SW, but a beautiful 17-second period. Cross-offshore wind. Clean but tiny. Afternoon is cross-on.

Thursday, August 15th morning – 2ft SW, 15-second period, clean cross-offshore breeze. Nice little morning session.

Friday, August 16th morning – 3ft SW, 19-second period. This is the one. The energy is 1073, and the wind is offshore. For experienced surfers, this is firing. The afternoon gets onshore, so get it early.

Saturday, August 17th morning – 4ft SW, 17-second period, cross-offshore. 958 energy. Another big morning. The swell is getting serious, so if you’re not experienced, watch out.

Sunday, August 18th morning – 4ft SW, 15-second period, cross-offshore. Still solid and clean. Afternoon gets onshore with a stronger southerly breeze.

So, for the best of the best: Friday, August 14th morning and Saturday, August 15th morning are the standouts. Long period groundswell, clean offshore winds, and serious energy. Get in the water early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
0
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
0
1
2
0
2
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.9
SSW
8
0.9
SSW
8
0.8
SSW
8
0.8
SSW
8
0.8
S
8
0.9
S
8
0.6
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
238
193
147
136
171
167
253
212
94
112
112
109
87
85
82
100
158
212
209
305
376
Wind (km/h)
10
NE
5
S
10
NNE
5
NNE
10
SSW
10
SSE
5
NNW
10
WSW
0
SSW
5
NNE
10
SSW
5
E
5
NE
10
WSW
5
SE
5
ESE
10
S
10
NE
5
NNE
5
SW
10
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-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
10:31AM0.45m
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
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
<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>
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:02
6:02
6:02
 mm
6
1
1
2
3
9
1
2
9
3
8
9
2
Temp °C
30
31
27
30
30
28
30
29
28
30
29
27
29
28
27
29
29
25
29
29
26
Feels °C
33
35
31
33
33
32
33
32
33
34
33
32
33
32
32
32
32
28
33
33
29
  • Map Icons:
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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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