Playa Santa Teresa Surf Break

Lat Long: 9.63° N 85.16° W

Playa Santa Teresa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Santa Teresa sea temperature is
30.2°C
2.1° 

Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SW swell with 822 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Teresa in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 11th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 11th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 16s
Most Powerful12PM (Thu 10th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

We've got a solid run of swell lining up for Playa Santa Teresa, starting this Thursday morning. The water is sitting at 86°, which is much warmer than what you'd normally expect for this time of year – a proper tropical bath.

Thursday morning, the 10th of September, is the call to get wet. It's glassy, dead calm, with a clean 4 ft SW groundswell rolling in at a very long 17 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (881). This is a proper long-period groundswell that will wrap in nicely, offering clean, well-shaped waves. Perfect for a beginner-friendly spot like this, but be aware that long period swells can sometimes make the take-off a little more critical at the peak. Thursday afternoon, the onshore wind kicks in, so make the most of the morning.

Friday morning, the 11th, is another beauty. There's a light NNE breeze at 3 mph, keeping it glassy. The swell holds at 4 ft from the SW, with a 16-second period. A great option for a late-morning session before the sea breeze gets messy.

The wave energy drops off a bit through the weekend. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th stick around 2 ft to 3 ft, but with clean, glassy mornings. If you're just learning or want a longboard glide, the dawn patrols are your best bet.

We then have a bit of a lull early next week, but it's not total flatness. The swell stays small, around 2 ft to 2 ft, but with some very long-period SW swell (18–19 seconds) pushing through. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th mornings are clean and glassy, but the waves won't have much push.

The real standout looks like it's shaping up for Wednesday the 23rd of September. That morning, the swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SW, with a 16-second period, and it's glassy. The combined energy hits a moderate 627. Then, things get interesting. The swell jumps to 7 ft on Wednesday afternoon, but it's a short-period windswell (8 seconds) and the wind is onshore. Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th see the swell hold at around 6 ft to 7 ft, but the period is still short (7–8 seconds). This is going to be a big, lumpy, and generally messy wave. For the experienced crew, Friday morning the 25th of September is the pick: a 6 ft SW swell, clean offshore NE wind at 3 mph, and solid energy (1357). That's an expert-only window as the size is over 5 ft, and the short period will make it dumpy.

Overall, the best windows are the early mornings, particularly Thursday the 10th, Friday the 11th, and the promising glassy morning on Wednesday the 23rd. The end of the period is for the big-wave crew only.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
3
3
0
2
2
0
2
2
0
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
3
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SW
17
1.2
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
1
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.7
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.9
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
861
728
719
701
485
398
346
289
176
140
138
234
171
192
379
249
429
371
496
344
305
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
15
SW
5
ESE
5
NNE
15
SSW
5
ESE
5
ESE
15
S
10
E
0
SW
10
SSW
10
NE
0
E
10
SW
5
NW
5
NE
10
SSW
5
SE
10
E
15
SSE
5
NE
Wind State
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
on
off
glassy
on
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
2:02PM2.53m
2:30AM2.65m
2:49PM2.60m
3:13AM2.75m
3:33PM2.62m
3:53AM2.77m
4:14PM2.58m
4:32AM2.73m
4:54PM2.50m
5:10AM2.64m
5:33PM2.38m
5:48AM2.50m
6:13PM2.23m
Low Tide
8:14PM0.18m
8:42AM0.20m
8:58PM0.12m
9:26AM0.12m
9:40PM0.12m
10:08AM0.10m
10:19PM0.16m
10:48AM0.14m
10:58PM0.25m
11:27AM0.23m
11:36PM0.37m
12:06PM0.35m
00:15AM0.52m
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:44
5:43
5:43
5:42
5:40
5:40
5:39
 mm
3
3
2
8
2
14
2
2
12
2
1
1
4
15
5
1
8
Temp °C
29
29
28
29
29
28
29
29
27
28
29
27
29
29
28
29
29
28
29
29
27
Feels °C
32
32
32
32
32
32
33
32
31
33
32
31
33
32
32
33
32
33
32
32
31
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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 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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