Playa Santa Teresa Surf Break

Lat Long: 9.63° N 85.16° W

Playa Santa Teresa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 21 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Playa Santa Teresa sea temperature is
30.2° C
1.9° 

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 21 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,327 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s 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 1.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (CST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Tue 21st Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 15s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 19s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 28th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at Playa Santa Teresa coming up. This stretch of coast has a nice run of swell from the SW, and the water is sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a warm bath out there.

We kick off on Tuesday the 21st with a small morning pulse. Swell is a clean 3 ft out of the SW, period at 15 seconds, and it’s got a moderate energy level (301). The wind is light and offshore from the NE, so the morning session will be glassy and fun for a longboard or a fish. Afternoon turns onshore, so get out early.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are small and very ordinary. Waist-high stuff, messy in the afternoons with thunderstorms possible. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, Friday the 24th is where things start to wake up. The swell drops a little in height to 2 ft, but the period jumps to 24 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is moderate (532) but it’s so clean. The wind is glassy, dead calm in the morning. This is a point-break dream, not a beach break, with that long period. It’ll groom up nicely at the takeoff zone.

Saturday the 25th is another standout. Morning has a 3 ft SW swell, 21-second period, and the energy is strong (580). The wind is cross-offshore from the ESE, so faces are tidy. Expect clean, lined-up waves, and the crowd is possible here – it’s consistent, so there will be a few locals out, but it’s worth it.

The real highlight, though, is Sunday the 26th. Morning brings a glassy, calm ocean with a 4 ft SW swell, 19-second period, and the energy is up there (826). That’s a solid, powerful wave for intermediate to experienced surfers. The wind is zero – dead calm – so it’s going to be silky smooth. This is the best session on offer.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th both have excellent early conditions. Monday morning is glassy with a 4 ft SW swell and 17-second period, energy climbing to 1257. That’s a strong, punchy wave. The wind is offshore from the NNE, so it’s clean. This is definitely for experienced surfers. Tuesday morning is also clean, cross-off wind, with a 5 ft SW swell and 18-second period, energy at 1418. Big, powerful, and long-period – only for experienced surfers. The afternoons get messy with onshore wind and rain.

Wednesday the 29th is another glassy morning, 5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, energy 1033. Strong and clean again. After that, the swell slowly drops through the rest of the week into the start of August. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st have smaller, cleaner mornings but nothing special.

Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd are small and marginal. But come Monday the 3rd, there’s a glassy morning with a 3 ft SW swell, 14-second period, energy 488 – worth a look for a fun session.

Overall, the best of the best is Sunday the 26th and Tuesday the 28th mornings. Get out there early, before the afternoon wind kicks in.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
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
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
3
2
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
12
0.6
SW
12
0.4
SW
26
0.9
SW
7
0.6
SW
24
0.5
SW
24
1
SW
21
0.8
SW
21
0.9
SW
20
1.2
SW
19
1.1
SW
19
1.3
SW
18
1.3
SW
17
1.2
SW
17
1.1
SW
19
1.5
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
301
289
250
171
130
92
92
171
79
444
271
898
543
563
1100
791
996
962
802
930
1327
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
10
SW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
NE
5
N
10
WSW
0
NW
5
NE
5
ESE
10
E
10
ESE
5
SSE
5
ESE
0
SE
10
S
5
NNE
5
NNE
5
WSW
5
ESE
Wind State
off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:16PM2.09m
8:41AM2.29m
9:11PM1.96m
9:34AM2.17m
10:12PM1.86m
10:32AM2.10m
11:16PM1.83m
11:31AM2.08m
00:18AM1.86m
12:28PM2.12m
1:12AM1.93m
1:19PM2.19m
1:59AM2.03m
Low Tide
2:14PM0.54m
2:20AM0.61m
3:08PM0.64m
3:13AM0.74m
4:07PM0.70m
4:11AM0.83m
5:08PM0.72m
5:13AM0.86m
6:07PM0.69m
6:12AM0.84m
7:01PM0.62m
7:06AM0.77m
7:47PM0.53m
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
5:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:05
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:04
6:04
 mm
1
5
10
25
2
3
7
1
1
1
4
2
3
7
Temp °C
28
28
26
28
28
25
29
29
27
27
27
25
27
27
26
28
28
27
28
28
27
Feels °C
32
31
29
32
31
28
32
32
30
30
30
28
30
31
29
32
31
31
33
32
31
  • 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 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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