Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 991 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 16s 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 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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 1.3m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down this swell window. It’s going to be all about hitting those morning sessions, because the afternoons are going to get chewed up by storms and onshore wind. The water is sitting at a balmy 87°, which is way warmer than normal for this time of year—a real bonus.
Saturday morning is our kickoff at Playa Santa Teresa. There’s a solid 5ft of southwest groundswell with a 16-second period. The morning is clean with a light offshore breeze, so it’ll be holding good shape. There’s moderate energy behind it (1004). It’s a bit much for a raw beginner, but fine for anyone with a few sessions under their belt. The afternoon turns to junk with a cross-onshore and a storm risk, so be an early bird.
Sunday is glassy as can be. The swell drops to about 4ft, still from the southwest with a long 15-second period. Clean, crisp, and fun. The energy backs off a touch to (699), but there will be plenty of nice lines. Another morning session before the storm risk kills the arvo.
Monday morning keeps the good run going. 4ft of southwest swell with clean conditions and a light offshore. It’s a good, fun size. The energy is down to (428), but the waves will be there. The afternoon is cross-off and clean, which is a nice bonus.
Tuesday is the one for the glide. The swell drops to about 3ft, but the wind goes dead calm and it’s glass. Perfect conditions for a longboard or just cruising. The energy is at (535). The afternoon goes onshore, so make it a morning deal.
Wednesday morning is another glassy one. 3ft of swell, clean, and light winds. The period holds at 15 seconds. Just pleasant, clean surfing. Energy is at (514).
From Thursday on, the ocean starts to get weird. Thursday morning has 2ft of swell, but the afternoon brings a bump of short-period, cross-onshore windswell to 4ft. That’s going to be a messy, lumpy mess. Give it a miss.
Friday is almost flat with 1ft of swell and the energy bottoming out. Not worth paddling out for the scraps.
The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd is small. There’s a bit of glass Saturday morning with a weak 2ft, but it’s pretty ordinary. Sunday morning pulls in a new long-period groundswell at 2ft but with a very long 19-second period (305 energy). That could be too straight and closed out at this beach. It’s for the patient ones.
The following week sees a slow build. Monday the 24th has a clean 2ft in the morning. The real standout looks like Friday the 28th. We’re getting a bigger pulse of 2ft of southwest swell with a very long 20-second period, and it’s clean in the morning. The energy jumps to a strong (712). That has serious potential. It’s still a small wave, but that period and cleanliness will make it incredibly fun and hollow. Saturday the 29th morning looks similar with 3ft of swell and glassy conditions, 18 seconds, and the energy at (776). That might just be the pick of the whole window. That’s a promise of epic, long, clean walls.
So, the clear standouts are Tuesday morning for pure glass and the Friday 28th and Saturday 29th mornings for the more powerful, long-period groundswell. Just remember those are a week and a half out, so they’re promising but not guaranteed. Get on it before the afternoon storms roll in.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 7 | SSW 9 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1004 | 897 | 853 | 606 | 606 | 528 | 428 | 434 | 361 | 317 | 336 | 406 | 355 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 222 | 83 | 55 | 35 | 130 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:38PM2.65m | 5:04AM2.77m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:32AM0.13m | 10:48PM0.06m | 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 | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:58 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | 6 | 9 | — | 6 | 12 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | — | 6 | 4 | — | 5 | 2 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
1004 | 897 | 853 | 606 | 606 | 128 | 196 | 196 | 177 | 218 | 212 | 173 | 159 | 155 | 159 | 135 | 222 | 229 | 286 | 286 | 264 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 6 | SSW 7 | S 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 16 |
178 | 177 | 94 | 93 | 37 | 528 | 428 | 434 | 361 | 317 | 336 | 406 | 355 | 251 | 203 | 142 | 138 | 37 | 25 | 17 | 130 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 11 | S 11 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | NW 7 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 6 |
— | — | 63 | 59 | — | 37 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 83 | 55 | 35 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 128 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 12 | 59 | 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.











