
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period. 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 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) 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 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty, checking in from Playa Santa Teresa. We’ve got a good long look at the next couple weeks, and while it’s not firing non-stop, there are some real gems to chase.
The pattern starts with a meaty groundswell mid-week, then settles into smaller but cleaner mornings, before another pulse of energy arrives around August 8th. The water’s sitting at about 86°, which is a touch warmer than usual for now, so keep it light.
The big standout is Wednesday morning, July 29th. We’re looking at a 5-foot swell from the southwest with a 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is glassy out of the NNE at just 3 mph. The wave energy is strong at 1104. This is the session to rearrange your day for. Just remember, with a long-period swell like that, the sets can pitch a bit straight on a beach break, but with no wind, it’ll be lined up nicely.
Thursday morning, July 30th, is another good call. The swell pulls back to around 4 feet from the SW, period at 14 seconds, and we get a light offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph. Clean waves, moderate energy at 529. Crowds are possible here sometimes, but the early session should be worth the paddle.
The next few days, from the 31st into early August, mornings stay clean with small waves in the 2- to 3-foot range. Glassy conditions pop up on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of August – perfect for a longboard or a fun twin-fin. Energy sits in the low 200s to 300s, so nothing pumping, but very surfable.
There’s a real flat spot around the 5th and 6th. Waves drop to just over 1 foot, and energy plummets to 60 or 95. Save the board wax for a better day.
Then we get a second wind. Friday morning, August 7th, a new SSW pulse arrives at about 2 feet but with an 18-second period – that’s a super long swell. Energy is back up to 378 and it’s glassy. Small but punchy. Then Saturday morning, August 8th, is the other standout: a 3-foot SSW swell with a 16-second period, energy at 514, and glassy conditions. It’s a long-range forecast, so treat it with some caution, but it looks like a beauty.
The second week keeps the theme: small, clean mornings with SW swell and light offshore or glassy wind on the best days. The afternoons are mostly a write-off with onshore breezes.
So, mark your calendar for Wednesday the 29th and that Saturday, August 8th. The mornings are where the magic happens.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1519 | 1109 | 1082 | 964 | 695 | 529 | 521 | 379 | 357 | 304 | 241 | 241 | 167 | 124 | 112 | 171 | 167 | 253 | 208 | 168 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:41AM2.15m | 2:46PM2.34m | 3:20AM2.26m | 3:25PM2.39m | 3:56AM2.36m | 4:03PM2.41m | 4:31AM2.43m | 4:39PM2.41m | 5:06AM2.48m | 5:16PM2.37m | 5:40AM2.50m | 5:54PM2.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:29PM0.44m | 8:38AM0.62m | 9:06PM0.36m | 9:19AM0.55m | 9:42PM0.31m | 9:58AM0.49m | 10:16PM0.29m | 10:35AM0.46m | 10:50PM0.30m | 11:13AM0.44m | 11:23PM0.33m | 11:52AM0.43m | 11:59PM0.38m | |||||||
— | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
6:04 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 7 | SW 13 | S 7 | S 8 |
1519 | 1109 | 1082 | 964 | 695 | 529 | 521 | 379 | 357 | 304 | 241 | 241 | 167 | 116 | 112 | 116 | 66 | 253 | 64 | 127 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | W 10 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
25 | 59 | 81 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 91 | 124 | 89 | 171 | 167 | 47 | 208 | 168 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | W 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
25 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 40 | 16 | 22 | 107 | 87 | 98 | 38 | 37 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 56 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 12 | 0 | 71 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










