Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Santa Teresa this week:
The surf forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Teresa in the next 16 days are 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright buddy, let’s put this in terms you can feel. This whole run is about a long, steady SW groundswell. It’s not gonna blow you out of the water size-wise, but the period is long, which means the waves have got some deep ocean muscle. The real magic is in the mornings – glassy, clean, the wind laying down for you.
First proper look is Monday morning, August 24th at Playa Santa Teresa. A small 2ft wave from the SW, but running on 18 seconds. That’s groundswell. Water is 87°F – that's 4°F above normal, unusually warm. Wind is offshore from the ENE at 3 mph – basically a mirror finish. The wave energy is weak (271), but with that period, every wave that comes will have a long, peeling face. It’s a perfect starter session.
The first real standout is Friday morning, August 28th. Swell bumps to 3ft from the SW, period 19 seconds. A light, 3 mph cross-offshore wind from the N will keep the face clean. Energy jumps to 695 – that’s moderate now, you’ll feel the push. This is the morning that’ll have you paddling back out before you’ve even caught your breath.
But Saturday morning, August 29th is the one you wait for. Swell hits 4ft from the SW, still a solid 16-second period. Wind is a light cross-off at 6 mph. The energy meter cracks 1093 – strong stuff. For an experienced surfer, the waves will be lined up, powerful, and clean. For anyone else, it's a bit much.
Looking ahead, Thursday morning, September 3rd brings a small 2ft wave but with a massive 20-second period, glassy conditions, energy at 710. That’s a classic long-period groundswell day – the wave will stand up tall and peel.
Then the big daddy arrives. Friday, September 4th and Saturday, September 5th – both mornings see 6ft from the SW. On Friday, cross-off wind, energy at 1879 (very strong). Saturday glassy, energy at 1746 (very strong). This is expert-only territory. The wave will be a fast, heavy wall. The Saturday afternoon session on September 5th is also glassy with the same 6ft – if you’ve got the cojones, that’s your best wave of the whole forecast.
So the pattern is clear: the mornings are your golden hours. The swell builds and holds through that first weekend of September. Keep it simple, stick to the dawn patrol, and let that long-period SW groundswell do its thing. Santa Teresa is the spot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | 211 | 125 | 191 | 110 | 77 | 206 | 150 | 81 | 236 | 531 | 239 | 881 | 920 | 1109 | 1001 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | off | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:47PM1.81m | 12:00PM2.03m | 00:46AM1.91m | 12:54PM2.12m | 1:33AM2.06m | 1:41PM2.23m | 2:13AM2.21m | 2:22PM2.33m | 2:50AM2.36m | 3:00PM2.40m | 3:24AM2.49m | 3:37PM2.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:33PM0.77m | 5:44AM0.90m | 6:31PM0.69m | 6:43AM0.82m | 7:19PM0.59m | 7:32AM0.71m | 7:59PM0.48m | 8:15AM0.58m | 8:36PM0.39m | 8:54AM0.47m | 9:10PM0.31m | 9:32AM0.36m | 9:44PM0.26m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | 5 | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 19 | SSW 6 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 134 | 134 | 132 | 102 | 322 | 53 | 50 | 45 | 62 | 77 | 206 | 66 | 57 | 59 | 531 | 31 | 881 | 920 | 1109 | 1001 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 6 | SW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 76 | 211 | 125 | 191 | 110 | 11 | 75 | 150 | 76 | 236 | 41 | 232 | 161 | 173 | 78 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 13 | — | SW 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 84 | 82 | 72 | 56 | 36 | 37 | 13 | 12 | 30 | 58 | 56 | 54 | 81 | 72 | 123 | 239 | 144 | — | 23 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 92 | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Playa Santa Teresa Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Playa Santa Teresa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Santa Teresa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Santa Teresa 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 Santa Teresa) 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 Santa Teresa 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 Santa Teresa is 51 km (32 miles) from Puntarenas. If you plan a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya, look for hotels and other accommodation in Puntarenas. Puntarenas has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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