Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, SSW swell with 430 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Teresa in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 11s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. Playa Santa Teresa is our only spot, and it’s looking like a slow burn with a solid payoff later on. The water temp is sitting at 87°, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s notably warm, so you’ll be in boardies for sure.
Right now, we’ve got a bit of a gap before anything really gets going. The first few days have some small, clean waves, but nothing that’ll get you too excited. Wednesday morning the 19th kicks off with a tiny 3ft SW groundswell, period a very long 15 seconds, and glassy offshores. The energy is weak (309), so it’s more of a longboard cruise than a proper session. Thursday morning the 20th is similar with 3ft SSW swell, but the period drops to 10 seconds – still clean with offshore winds, just not much push.
Friday morning the 21st is the first real bright spot. Swell bumps up to 4ft from the SSW, period 11 seconds, and we’re glassy with offshore winds. Combined energy hits 434 – moderate – so there’s a bit more juice. This is a solid small-wave window for the morning.
Then things get a bit messy for a few days. Saturday and Sunday see the swell drop back, but Sunday morning the 23rd has a curious 2ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period. That’s groundswell, and at a beach break like Playa Santa Teresa, it might break a little straight, but those long lulls make paddling out easy. Energy is moderate (304). Still, with offshore winds, it’s surfable.
The real standout is further out. Mark your calendar for the morning of Saturday the 29th of August. That’s when we get a 6ft SW groundswell rolling in with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 1548 – strong. Winds are cross-off and clean, making for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a proper swell, not for the beginners. Then Sunday morning the 30th holds solid at 5ft SW, 15-second period, still clean, with energy at 1037. That’s another excellent session for the crew who know what they’re doing.
Monday morning the 31st is still good, with 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, glassy, and energy at 572. After that, the window closes again with smaller, more ordinary surf.
So, bottom line: the first week is small and clean, with Friday morning the 21st being the best early option. But the real gold is the last weekend of August – Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are the standouts. Big, clean, long-period SW groundswell. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 309 | 251 | 203 | 154 | 166 | 350 | 356 | 55 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 97 | 184 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | 165 | 125 | 191 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | off | glassy | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 7:34PM2.08m | 7:54AM2.23m | 8:24PM1.93m | 8:45AM2.09m | 9:25PM1.81m | 9:47AM2.00m | 10:36PM1.77m | 10:55AM1.98m | 11:47PM1.81m | 12:00PM2.03m | 00:46AM1.91m | 12:54PM2.12m | 1:33AM2.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:30PM0.52m | 1:36AM0.64m | 2:20PM0.65m | 2:26AM0.78m | 3:18PM0.75m | 3:25AM0.89m | 4:25PM0.80m | 4:35AM0.93m | 5:33PM0.77m | 5:44AM0.90m | 6:31PM0.69m | 6:43AM0.82m | 7:19PM0.59m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | 6 | 3 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 7 | — | 3 | 8 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 |
| kJ | 122 | 119 | 129 | 154 | 166 | 350 | 356 | 358 | 332 | 259 | 192 | 151 | 134 | 137 | 134 | 129 | 99 | 99 | 73 | 63 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 309 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 114 | 83 | 55 | 55 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 88 | 120 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | 165 | 125 | 191 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | W 14 | SW 21 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 17 | 28 | 42 | 36 | 23 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 60 | 97 | 184 | 84 | 82 | 57 | 37 | 36 | 37 | 13 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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