
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Samara surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 21s period, SW swell with 1,167 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with S 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 (Jul 18) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 1.1m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Samara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Playa Samara over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the window opens up nicely. The first few days you’ll be looking at small, clean little waves. The real standout action is further out, so keep your eyes peeled on the calendar.
The first wave worth paddling for is on Saturday morning, July 18th. We’re looking at a small but clean 2ft swell out of the south, with a lovely long period of 14 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNE at 6 mph, so the face should be tidy. The water is a warm 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The overall energy is moderate (387). Saturday afternoon goes glassy with no wind, same size, sweet and clean. It’s a gentle start.
Sunday, July 19th, picks up a touch. Morning sees a 3ft south swell, still a long 14-second period, light NE cross-off breeze at 3 mph. The energy bumps up to moderate (649). The afternoon goes glassy with a WSW breeze, and the waves drop to a 12-second period but still 3ft. Real nice, small-wave fun.
Monday, July 20th, is a little gem. The swell shifts to the SW at 3ft, but check this out: a 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell. The energy is moderate (645). The wind is glassy in the morning, then goes light offshore from the NNE in the afternoon at 6 mph. That’s about as clean as it gets for a small day. These long-period SW swells like this break's setup, so the shape should be good.
Now, the end of the first week and into the second week is where it gets interesting. Thursday, July 23rd, has a messy morning with a short period 3ft swell, but the afternoon glass-off with a 3ft SSW swell (7 seconds) is worth a mention for a quick session.
The first true standout is Friday, July 24th. The morning brings a 2ft SW swell with a jaw-dropping 24-second period. The energy is a solid moderate (840). The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph. Waves that long are going to peel beautifully at a point break or reef, and Playa Samara’s beach and reef setup should handle it. The afternoon glass-off is smaller at 2ft, but still with that insane 24-second pulse. If you’re free, Friday morning is the one.
The second standout, and the biggest call of the forecast, is Sunday, July 26th, and Monday, July 27th. Sunday morning sees a 4ft SW swell with a 19-second period, and the energy jumps into strong territory (1009). The wind is glassy. That’s an excellent session for experienced surfers. Monday morning, July 27th, is the peak: a solid 5ft SW swell, 19-second period, and the energy is pumping at 1788. The wind is glassy from the NE. That’s strong, clean, and powerful. 5ft is a bit much for beginners, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, this is the best of the whole run. The afternoon glass-off is still 4ft with the same long period.
After that, the swell stays solid through the 28th and 29th – 5ft SW swells with 16-second periods, but the wind is a bit more cross-on or onshore at times, so choose your session carefully. The glassy afternoons on the 28th and 29th are still serious.
The last few days of July and into August, the swell drops back, but we still get some clean little mornings. The glassy morning on Sunday, August 2nd, with a 4ft SSW swell and a short 7-second period, is a fun way to finish the run.
Overall, Playa Samara is looking good. The first few days are mellow and clean, but the real power and quality come from Friday the 24th through to the 29th. Don’t sleep on that Monday the 27th morning.
Stay stoked, and I’ll catch you in the water.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
203 | 198 | 303 | 377 | 304 | 256 | 371 | 361 | 309 | 301 | 293 | 250 | 173 | 101 | 92 | 93 | 89 | 156 | 563 | 271 | 898 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:43PM2.56m | 6:15AM2.66m | 6:32PM2.41m | 7:01AM2.56m | 7:20PM2.25m | 7:48AM2.42m | 8:11PM2.08m | 8:36AM2.28m | 9:06PM1.94m | 9:29AM2.17m | 10:06PM1.85m | 10:26AM2.09m | 11:10PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:39AM0.22m | 11:56PM0.11m | 12:29PM0.31m | 00:41AM0.26m | 1:18PM0.42m | 1:27AM0.43m | 2:09PM0.53m | 2:15AM0.59m | 3:03PM0.63m | 3:07AM0.73m | 4:02PM0.69m | 4:05AM0.82m | 5:03PM0.71m | ||||||||
5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | |
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | 9 | 16 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 8 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 35 | 35 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 8 |
164 | 164 | 303 | 377 | 304 | 256 | 68 | 91 | 75 | 301 | 293 | 250 | 69 | 65 | 65 | 93 | 89 | 156 | 222 | 238 | 191 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 18 | SSW 6 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 8 | S 8 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 |
203 | 198 | 45 | 53 | 194 | 47 | 206 | 361 | 309 | 132 | 57 | 67 | 173 | 101 | 92 | 73 | 80 | 82 | 563 | 271 | 898 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
20 | 20 | 94 | 219 | 14 | 194 | 371 | 187 | 184 | 25 | 101 | 99 | 62 | 62 | 39 | 19 | 57 | 79 | 55 | 57 | 52 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 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.










