Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SW swell with 606 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s 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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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 1.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
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 headed our way for Playa Santa Teresa.
The overall pattern for the next two and a bit weeks is a drawn-out run of fun, small-to-medium southwest groundswell. The water is way warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at a balmy 87°F, so you can leave the thick suit at home. The real standout window kicks off this Sunday the 16th (that's tomorrow), with a solid little pulse that has moderate energy (679) behind it. Expect clean 4ft waves, glassy conditions, and a very long 15-second period that’ll really push through. This is the pick of the entire outlook – a proper long-period groundswell from the SW hitting a peak, with absolutely no wind to mess it up. It’s consistent here, so there will be waves, but be prepared to share, as crowds are likely.
Monday the 17th holds in similar 4ft range from the SW, still with a nice 14-second period. The early morning glass-off will give you beautiful clean lines at the peak, making it a close second-best. The kids and learners will have a ball with these sizes. Tuesday morning the 18th drops a touch to 3ft, but the glassy wind (WNW) keeps it clean and fun for the morning session before the afternoon thunderstorms threaten to shut things down.
Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th see the swell get smaller, with the energy dropping right off. Thursday morning is pretty ordinary, with a weak 2ft swell. The crossing winds arrive on Thursday afternoon, making things messy, but a bigger, shorter-period swell bumps up the height.
The best bet for a proper reset comes on Saturday the 29th of August. We get a new southwest groundswell filling in, pushing 4ft, with strong energy (543) and clean early winds from the NE. This is another morning to mark on the calendar. The swell holds up through Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st, with clean conditions each morning. These later sessions are a bit of a gamble with the long-range forecast, but the early read is promising.
Overall, this is a good stretch for Playa Santa Teresa. The surf is never huge, but it's very consistent and clean in the mornings. Forget the afternoons – they get trashed by wind and storms. Keep your eyes on that Sunday the 16th and Saturday the 29th for the best waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during 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 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 606 | 606 | 528 | 428 | 428 | 410 | 317 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 286 | 292 | 356 | 356 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 120 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | on | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
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 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 606 | 606 | 528 | 142 | 168 | 135 | 149 | 172 | 145 | 140 | 137 | 165 | 184 | 286 | 292 | 356 | 356 | 274 | 206 | 194 | 149 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | 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 |
| kJ | 73 | 58 | 102 | 428 | 428 | 410 | 317 | 322 | 406 | 309 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 114 | 83 | 55 | 56 | 129 | 95 | 138 | 120 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | W 7 | SW 21 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 59 | — | 37 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 28 | 13 | 36 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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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