Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,213 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s 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 Santa Teresa in the next 16 days are 1.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m lookin’ straight at Playa Santa Teresa, and this is a pretty special run. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sittin’ at 87°, which is a nice bonus.
We’ve got a solid, long-period SW groundswell lining up. The pulse really kicks in from Monday the 20th, with a clean 3 ft face from the SW, a period of 16 seconds, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is moderate at 580, but that long period means the waves will have shape and power. That Monday morning is a real standout—light wind, clean, and that SW groundswell (16s period) is perfect for this exposed break. It’s consistent here, so you can expect a set to roll through.
Tuesday the 21st stays clean in the morning with a cross-offshore breeze, but the energy drops a notch. Wednesday the 22nd is glassy again in the AM, absolutely worth a paddle. The swell drops a little but the quality is there.
Now, the real juice starts building again from Friday the 24th. That morning is glassy with a 2 ft swell from the SW, but the period jumps to 24 seconds—that’s a very long period groundswell, meaning energy (605) is moderate but the waves will be lined up and powerful. Saturday the 25th afternoon and Sunday the 26th look stellar. Sunday morning sees 4 ft from the SW at 19 seconds, combined energy of 826, and a clean cross-off breeze. Sunday afternoon gets even better: 4 ft, 18 seconds, offshore wind, clean as a whistle.
The absolute standout of the whole run? Monday the 27th. Morning brings 4 ft from the SW, 19-second period, offshore wind, clean, and a combined energy of 1170—that’s strong. This is the best on offer for experienced surfers. The break is exposed, so it’s handling all that energy. Tuesday the 28th afternoon pushes bigger with 6 ft from the SW at 17 seconds, energy at 1650, and offshore wind. That’s solid, heavy stuff—only for the experts.
Wednesday the 29th morning is glassy, 5 ft, 16-second period, also a great window for the crew who know what they’re doing. After that, the swell slowly fades through the end of the month and into early August, but there are still clean, fun mornings right through to Tuesday the 4th of August.
There’s no real gap in the surf here—it’s consistent all the way through. Just keep an eye on the afternoon storms that pop up most days. The mornings are where it’s at.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 26 | WSW 7 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 314 | 361 | 309 | 301 | 289 | 250 | 171 | 130 | 92 | 92 | 171 | 93 | 444 | 271 | 898 | 543 | 563 | 1100 | 791 | 996 | 962 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:25PM2.26m | 7:52AM2.43m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:23PM0.43m | 1:32AM0.45m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 8 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | WSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 58 | 195 | 309 | 301 | 289 | 183 | 171 | 119 | 44 | 88 | 153 | 93 | 173 | 56 | 898 | 543 | 563 | 1100 | 791 | 996 | 962 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 7 | SW 24 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 8 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 |
| kJ | 208 | 361 | 184 | 132 | 134 | 250 | 88 | 130 | 92 | 92 | 57 | 77 | 444 | 50 | 99 | 119 | 43 | 55 | 60 | 61 | 94 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 6 | S 7 | W 10 | S 6 | WNW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 26 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 24 | SW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 314 | 45 | 47 | 20 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 39 | 20 | 171 | 66 | 54 | 271 | 50 | 20 | 24 | 39 | 35 | 52 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 12 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 12 | 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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