Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, SSW swell with 430 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m 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 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 11s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (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 talk about Santa Teresa over the next couple of weeks. The real payoff sits right at the tail end of the window. Mornings hold the cleanest waves; afternoons get blown out by seabreezes from the SSW.
There is a dry spell with no morning sessions worth chasing from the weekend of August 23rd through to the early hours of Wednesday August 28th.
The standout is Saturday morning, August 29th. Santa Teresa sees a 5ft SW groundswell at a 16-second interval with glassy northwest wind. The combined energy is very strong (1081). This is in the expert zone—big enough to push around, but clean as anything. If you’ve got the skill, that’s your session.
The morning before (August 28th) is also clean: 2ft of SW swell with a 20-second pulse and calm north-northwest wind. Energy’s solid (578). The long period could make it a little straight at the beach, but it’s a nice option for a log.
Water temp’s about normal for the time of year.
Crowds can be a factor on good days here. Expect company on those premium early windows.
For beginners, the 29th is too big. The mornings from August 21st through 24th offer 1ft to 2ft clean glass, but the energy is weak to moderate (62 to 304). Those are longboard days.
Into the second week, the mornings on August 30th and 31st, plus September 1st, hold 4ft to 5ft SW swell with clean cross-off or glassy wind. Energy drops a bit but it’s still fun.
The final Thursday morning, September 3rd, delivers 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds with glassy west wind and 780 energy. That one looks crisp.
If you’re an experienced surfer, circle August 29th morning. Everything else is small or blown out by afternoon.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat 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 | SSW 11 | 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 | 197 | 350 | 356 | 430 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 97 | 184 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 243 | 322 | 165 | 125 | 191 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | off |
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 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 8 | — | 3 | 9 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 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 | 197 | 350 | 356 | 430 | 332 | 259 | 194 | 149 | 134 | 137 | 134 | 129 | 99 | 99 | 73 | 51 | 92 |
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 | 56 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 88 | 120 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 243 | 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 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 60 | 97 | 184 | 84 | 82 | 57 | 37 | 36 | 37 | 13 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 56 | 12 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 17 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 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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