Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 18 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★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 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+) | 6PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| 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, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up at Playa Santa Teresa over the next couple of weeks.
Straight off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real gems in there if you play it smart. The water is sitting at a very warm 87°F, which is way toastier than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.
The first good window is this Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. The swell is a clean 3ft from the SW with a long 14-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid moderate 373, and with glassy conditions and a light S wind, it’s going to be clean. This is a standout session for getting some long, walled rides. Expect good surf.
Wednesday morning the 19th is another beauty. Similar size at 3ft, but the period pushes up to 15 seconds, bumping the energy to 435. Glassy again with light NE winds. This is a very long period groundswell, so the waves will have plenty of push and shape, but at a beach break like this, it might tend to stand up and throw a bit more. Still, clean conditions make it a solid call.
Thursday morning the 20th holds up with 3ft from the SSW, but the period drops to 10 seconds. The energy is a weaker 296, and with glassy conditions, it’s still surfable but lacks the grunt of the previous days.
Then we hit Friday morning the 21st – this is the pick of the first week. Swell bumps up to 4ft from the SSW, a nice 11-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 493. Glassy conditions again with a light NE breeze. That’s a proper fun-sized wave with enough juice to get into, but not so big it’s out of control. Clean, consistent, and the best early call.
Saturday morning the 22nd drops right off to a tiny 2ft, and the energy plummets to 137. Glassy, but it’s a knee-high dribbler. Sunday the 23rd is similar small, though the period is a very long 19 seconds (energy 304) which means the sets will be super clean but few and far between. You’d be scratching for waves.
There’s a real dry spell through the middle of the week. Monday the 24th to Wednesday the 26th is pretty ordinary – inconsistent, small, and often onshore slop. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, for the long-range promise: hold onto your board. Saturday the 29th of August morning is looking like a proper standout. Swell hits 4ft from the SW with a solid 17-second period and the combined energy rockets to 684. It’s dead calm, glassy, and clean. That’s a very strong, long-period groundswell with perfect conditions. The waves will have serious power and shape, but the sets will be widely spaced. Worth the wait.
Sunday the 30th morning keeps it pumping: 4ft from the SW, 15-second period, and energy at 771. Light cross-offshore wind from the ESE keeps the faces clean. This is another day to circle on the calendar. The same goes for Monday the 31st morning – 4ft, 14-second period, glassy, with energy at 719. A full week of decent swell.
Tuesday the 1st of September morning is the last real highlight: 4ft from the SW, 13-second period, with a light offshore breeze from the NE. Clean and lined up.
So, to sum it up: the best sessions are the mornings of Friday the 21st, and then the long-range run from Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st. Those are the ones to get excited about. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this week are also clean but smaller.
Take care of yourself out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | 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 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
373 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 251 | 203 | 154 | 201 | 350 | 415 | 430 | 129 | 95 | 136 | 118 | 184 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 10:55AM1.98m | 11:47PM1.81m | 12:00PM2.03m | 00:46AM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:35AM0.93m | 5:33PM0.77m | 5:44AM0.90m | 6:31PM0.69m | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 7 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 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 | SW 16 |
124 | 120 | 117 | 126 | 123 | 126 | 154 | 201 | 350 | 415 | 430 | 338 | 259 | 194 | 151 | 134 | 134 | 106 | 83 | 80 | 322 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 9 |
373 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 113 | 83 | 55 | 35 | 129 | 95 | 136 | 118 | 120 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 78 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | W 12 | SW 21 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
8 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 28 | 44 | 36 | 23 | 6 | 18 | 42 | 60 | 97 | 184 | 84 | 82 | 57 | 71 | 36 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | WSW 6 | — | NNW 5 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 36 | 0 | 106 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 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.











