Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SW swell with 606 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 16) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m 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 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break this down in feet and Fahrenheit so you don’t have to do the math.
The next two weeks at Playa Santa Teresa are all about the morning glass-offs. First standout is Sunday morning, August 16th: a solid SW groundswell, 4 feet with a long 15-second period, glassy conditions, and water temp around 87°, which is much warmer than usual. Combined swell energy is 679 – feels solid. That’s your best session early on.
Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th keep the quality with 4 to 3 feet of SW swell, glassy mornings. Wednesday the 19th has 3 feet with cross-off wind, also clean. Friday the 21st is another standout with 4 feet SSW at 11 seconds and glassy conditions – energy 433.
The swell drops to 2 to 2 feet from late Saturday the 22nd through Thursday the 27th, but mornings stay glassy. Not much to get excited about. Then Saturday the 29th of August morning is the big one for that second week: 4 feet of SW swell, 16-second period, glassy wind, energy 546 – that’s your long-range gold. Sunday the 30th has 3 feet, also glassy in the morning.
All the best windows are dawn patrol. Afternoons get wind and storms. The water is warm, crowds sometimes, but early you’ll have it mostly to yourself.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 606 | 606 | 528 | 428 | 428 | 410 | 317 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 201 | 297 | 356 | 363 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 120 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:22PM2.55m | 5:45AM2.68m | 6:05PM2.41m | 6:26AM2.55m | 6:48PM2.25m | 7:08AM2.39m | 7:34PM2.08m | 7:54AM2.23m | 8:24PM1.93m | 8:45AM2.09m | 9:25PM1.81m | 9:47AM2.00m | 10:36PM1.77m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:17AM0.17m | 11:29PM0.17m | 12:01PM0.26m | 00:11AM0.31m | 12:44PM0.38m | 00:52AM0.48m | 1:30PM0.52m | 1:36AM0.64m | 2:20PM0.65m | 2:26AM0.78m | 3:18PM0.75m | 3:25AM0.89m | 4:25PM0.80m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 16 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 12 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 606 | 606 | 528 | 138 | 138 | 130 | 149 | 145 | 142 | 144 | 251 | 173 | 184 | 201 | 297 | 356 | 363 | 338 | 265 | 200 | 149 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 73 | 79 | 97 | 428 | 428 | 410 | 317 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 61 | 203 | 142 | 114 | 84 | 55 | 35 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 120 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 8 | SW 21 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 |
| kJ | 59 | 58 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 73 | 17 | 28 | 42 | 36 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 42 | 60 | 97 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 17 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 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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