Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,682 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. 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 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 0.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s heading our way for the next couple of weeks.
The pattern starts off a bit sluggish, but there’s a real gem waiting for us this weekend if you’re keen and experienced. The water temperature is sitting at a balmy 87°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll feel it as soon as you hit the water.
Friday the 28th afternoon is a write-off with a weak 2ft SW swell, messy cross-on wind, and poor conditions. Not worth paddling out.
Our first real standout comes early on Saturday the 29th morning. Playa Santa Teresa will be the place to be with a clean 5ft SW groundswell, a period of 16 seconds, and flat calm glassy conditions. The combined energy is pumping at 1178 (moderate to strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers, but that long period means the sets will be fat and lined up – best suited for a point or reef. Crowds are possible here, so get out early.
Saturday afternoon turns onshore and messy, and Sunday the 30th morning is another good window with 5ft SW swell, 14-second period, and glassy conditions under a light NE breeze. The combined energy is 920 (moderate). This will be very good surf, but not quite the peak of Saturday morning.
Monday the 31st morning offers a clean 4ft SW swell with glassy conditions, but the energy drops to 440 (moderate). It’s a decent session for a longboard or a funboard. The afternoons throughout this period get chopped up by onshore winds and storms.
Looking further ahead, Thursday the 4th of September morning is another potential standout: 5ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period and glassy conditions, combined energy at 1321 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers again. The same goes for Saturday the 5th of September morning, with 6ft SW swell (bigger than 5ft, so watch out beginners), 16-second period, glassy wind, and a combined energy of 1467 (strong). Very promising.
After that, the second week from the 6th to the 12th of September sees a gradual drop-off. There are still clean mornings with 3ft to 4ft SW groundswell, glassy conditions, and moderate energy, but nothing will match the size and power of that first week’s best days. The 6th morning has 4ft SW swell with calm winds, and the 12th morning offers a clean 4ft SW swell.
In short: your best bets are the mornings of Saturday the 29th of August, Thursday the 4th of September, and Saturday the 5th of September. Get on them.
Stay safe, and see you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 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 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 239 | 881 | 1017 | 1215 | 1001 | 911 | 726 | 541 | 392 | 386 | 331 | 256 | 220 | 216 | 246 | 326 | 257 | 302 | 499 | 881 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:24AM2.49m | 3:37PM2.46m | 3:58AM2.59m | 4:14PM2.47m | 4:33AM2.64m | 4:51PM2.45m | 5:10AM2.65m | 5:30PM2.40m | 5:49AM2.62m | 6:13PM2.31m | 6:33AM2.54m | 7:01PM2.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:10PM0.31m | 9:32AM0.36m | 9:44PM0.26m | 10:09AM0.29m | 10:19PM0.25m | 10:46AM0.25m | 10:54PM0.26m | 11:25AM0.25m | 11:33PM0.30m | 12:08PM0.29m | 00:15AM0.38m | 12:55PM0.37m | 1:03AM0.48m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 2 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 45 | 881 | 1017 | 1215 | 1001 | 911 | 726 | 541 | 392 | 386 | 99 | 96 | 91 | 216 | 241 | 167 | 45 | 302 | 499 | 881 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 6 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 235 | 48 | 161 | 58 | 44 | 68 | 65 | 44 | 42 | 62 | 331 | 256 | 220 | 49 | 246 | 326 | 149 | 43 | 31 | 151 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 14 | S 11 | — | S 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 6 | S 7 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | W 9 |
| kJ | 239 | 189 | 62 | — | 31 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 84 | 112 | 112 | 29 | 44 | 257 | 114 | 176 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 12 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 68 | 12 | 0 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 12 |
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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