
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 19s period, SW swell with 621 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s 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 (Sep 13) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 0.9m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right now, it’s pretty quiet out there. We’ve got some small, long period groundswell sliding in and plenty of glassy, clean conditions most mornings, especially through this week. The water’s sitting at 86°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year—you won’t need more than a spring suit, if that.
Let’s start with Playa Santa Teresa. This spot is exposed to the west-northwest, so it handles that southwest groundswell well. Sunday morning the 13th, you’re looking at 2 ft of swell from the SW with a 13-second period, light NNE airs making it glassy, and the combined energy is moderate at 209. It’s consistent here and the NE wind makes for clean, user-friendly waves—great for beginners. Monday morning the 14th is similar, 2 ft but with a 19-second period, again glassy, and the energy bumps up to 244. That longer period means the waves will have more shape and the sets will be further apart, making it easier to get out back.
Tuesday morning the 15th is clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the east at 9 mph, 2 ft SW swell at 18 seconds, and energy climbing to 449. Then Wednesday morning the 16th is a standout—dead calm, glassy, 3 ft of SW swell at 16 seconds, energy at 497. That’s the pick of the early week: clean, fun little waves with plenty of push for the size. Thursday morning the 17th keeps the glassy run going with 3 ft at 14 seconds and energy at 422.
Friday morning the 18th is another glassy session, 2 ft SW at 13 seconds, energy at 318. Saturday morning the 19th, same story—2 ft, 19-second period, glassy, energy at 361. The afternoons turn onshore and lose quality, so mornings are where it’s at.
Now, look ahead to Sunday the 20th. That morning, the swell holds at 3 ft from the SW with a 19-second period, energy jumps to 663, and it’s glassy again—this is a very good session waiting to happen. Monday the 21st morning keeps the energy high at 644 with 3 ft at 18 seconds and glassy conditions.
Then we get a bit of a lull mid-week with marginal conditions and cross-shore winds, but Friday the 25th morning offers a return to clean surf: 3 ft SW at 13 seconds, cross-offshore breeze from the ESE at 9 mph, energy at 444.
The big change comes Saturday the 26th. That morning, the swell jumps to 10 ft from the WSW, period drops to 11 seconds, and the combined energy rockets to 2104—that’s strong energy. But that size is too big for this break, really only for experts. The wind is clean, but the wave itself will be overwhelming for most. Sunday the 27th morning is still sizable at 6 ft from the SW, 9-second period, glassy, energy at 879—clean and powerful, but still hefty. Monday the 28th drops back to 3 ft with cross-shore breeze, finishing off the run.
Overall, the best window is from Sunday the 13th through the following Sunday morning the 20th and Monday the 21st, with the glassy morning sessions delivering clean, forgiving waves. The true standout is Wednesday morning the 16th and Sunday morning the 20th—both glassy, good energy, and that classic long-period SW groundswell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
140 | 138 | 234 | 171 | 246 | 379 | 249 | 429 | 371 | 367 | 344 | 350 | 346 | 297 | 228 | 175 | 186 | 236 | 227 | 155 | 328 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:14PM2.58m | 4:32AM2.73m | 4:54PM2.50m | 5:10AM2.64m | 5:33PM2.38m | 5:48AM2.50m | 6:13PM2.23m | 6:27AM2.34m | 6:55PM2.08m | 7:10AM2.18m | 7:43PM1.93m | 8:01AM2.04m | 8:43PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:08AM0.10m | 10:19PM0.16m | 10:48AM0.14m | 10:58PM0.25m | 11:27AM0.23m | 11:36PM0.37m | 12:06PM0.35m | 00:15AM0.52m | 12:48PM0.50m | 00:56AM0.67m | 1:35PM0.64m | 1:44AM0.81m | 2:31PM0.76m | 2:44AM0.92m | |||||||
5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:42 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 |
101 | 99 | 94 | 92 | 92 | 113 | 111 | 112 | 371 | 367 | 344 | 350 | 346 | 297 | 228 | 175 | 175 | 138 | 134 | 132 | 328 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 17 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 12 |
140 | 138 | 134 | 73 | 246 | 379 | 200 | 429 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 66 | 115 | 99 | 71 | 71 | 74 | 78 | 56 | 55 | 118 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 10 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 8 |
69 | 68 | 234 | 171 | 72 | 50 | 249 | 109 | 96 | 130 | 50 | 18 | 76 | 118 | 159 | 143 | 186 | 236 | 227 | 155 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 36 | 0 | 100 | 12 | 0 | 93 | 17 | 0 | 93 | 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.










