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 offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 489 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period. 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, so surf’s been a bit sleepy lately, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel if you can wait.
First stretch, through the middle of the month, it’s all small and weak. Water’s running warm—about 87°—which is noticeably warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in board shorts for sure. The energy’s low, around 369 in the combined swell reading, so no power behind it. Mornings are your friend from the 13th to the 16th, with clean, glassy conditions and tiny 2ft to 2ft SW groundswell. It’s longboard territory, no doubt.
Then the middle of the week goes flat-ish, nothing worth chasing. But hold on, because Sunday the 20th starts to wake things up. That morning, we got 3ft of SW swell with a 19-second period, clean as a whistle, and the energy climbs to 622. That’s a fun, lined-up session.
The real standout, though, is Sunday the 27th. That morning, the swell jumps to 7ft, period around 11 seconds, and the combined energy goes ballistic at 1592. Winds are light offshore out of the east, so it’s gonna be clean and powerful. This is the day for experienced surfers only—big, proper waves. Afternoon gets a bit messy with onshores and storm risk, so hit it early.
Playa Santa Teresa is the spot the whole run—exposed to that WSW swell direction and consistent, so there’s always something. But the 27th is the one to mark on the calendar. It’s over a week away, so nothing’s set in stone, but it’s looking like the best wave of the whole forecast.
A few other smaller windows—the 21st and 22nd mornings look clean, and the 22nd afternoon shows some real potential with clean offshore wind. But that last Sunday is the payoff.
So yeah, a slow grind, then a proper reward. Keep the board ready.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 27°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | 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 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 289 | 176 | 140 | 138 | 234 | 171 | 246 | 379 | 249 | 429 | 371 | 367 | 344 | 350 | 346 | 297 | 228 | 175 | 186 | 236 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:33PM2.62m | 3:53AM2.77m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:40PM0.12m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — |
 | 5:43 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | 3 | 9 | — | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | S 9 | 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 |
| kJ | 289 | 76 | 101 | 99 | 94 | 92 | 90 | 109 | 107 | 112 | 371 | 367 | 344 | 350 | 346 | 297 | 228 | 175 | 175 | 138 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 17 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 40 | 176 | 140 | 138 | 134 | 73 | 246 | 379 | 203 | 429 | 95 | 91 | 90 | 120 | 81 | 76 | 71 | 71 | 74 | 57 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 23 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 80 | 71 | 69 | 68 | 234 | 171 | 72 | 50 | 249 | 109 | 96 | 130 | 50 | 86 | 76 | 118 | 159 | 143 | 186 | 236 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 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.
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