Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, SW swell with 531 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s 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 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 11s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ for Playa Santa Teresa over the next couple of weeks.
We start off with a bit of a mixed bag. The first real standout hits you right away on Friday morning, 21 August. Swell is 4 ft from the SSW with an 11-second period, and the water is 87° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 434. Winds are glassy from the NNW, so the surf is clean and inviting. This is a consistent spot, so you can expect some fun waves rolling in.
The afternoon turns onshore with a SSW wind at 15 km/h, and conditions drop off quickly. Saturday morning, 22 August, is small and glassy again – 2 ft from the SW with a long 14-second period, but it’s weak energy at 101, so it’ll be a bit lackluster. Sunday morning the 23rd picks up a bit with 2 ft from the SW and a very long 19-second period, giving clean waves thanks to a cross-offshore ENE breeze of 10 km/h, energy at 304.
Monday morning the 24th sees 2 ft from the SW with 18-second period, light offshore NE wind at 10 km/h, and clean conditions again. Energy is moderate at 271. Not big, but workable.
Tuesday the 25th brings another glassy morning – 2 ft SW swell with 16-second period and NE wind at 5 km/h, energy at 202. Keep the small-wave board handy. Wednesday the 26th is even smaller: 2 ft from the SW with 15-second period, glassy NNE breeze at 5 km/h, but only 146 energy. It’s ordinary, but surfable.
Now, Thursday the 27th morning – things get a little hectic. Swell jumps to 6 ft from the SSW but with a short, crumbly 7-second period, and a cross-offshore ESE wind at 15 km/h. Energy is 500, and it’s marginal. Not the best for paddle surfing – this setup starts to look more interesting for kiteboarding.
Friday the 28th is messy with cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Not your day.
Here’s the first true standout of the whole outlook: Saturday morning, 29 August. We get 5 ft from the SW with a solid 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the NW at 5 km/h. The combined energy hits a strong 1170. This is excellent for experienced surfers – the size and power are there, and the glassy wind means clean faces. The swell direction matches the optimum from the WNW, so the break will light up. This is a beauty.
Sunday morning the 30th stays solid with 5 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and glassy NE wind at 5 km/h, energy at 891. Very good conditions.
Monday the 31st morning brings 4 ft SW swell with 13-second period, offshore ENE wind at 5 km/h, energy at 516. Clean and fun, but not as big as the weekend.
Tuesday 1 September morning is 3 ft from the SW, 13-second period, glassy ENE wind at 5 km/h, energy at 477. Good, but tame.
Now, another standout appears on Wednesday morning, 2 September. Swell is 2 ft from the SW but with a very long 17-second period, glassy NNW wind at 5 km/h, and energy at 531. That long period will create nicely shaped waves with good gaps between sets – perfect for this beach break, though it can make things a bit straight at times. Still, very good conditions.
Thursday morning the 3rd is 3 ft SW at 15 seconds, cross-offshore NNE wind at 10 km/h, energy at 589. Clean again.
Then we get a final standout on Friday morning, 4 September. Swell of 4 ft from the SW with a 17-second period, glassy NW wind at 5 km/h, and energy at 1028 – excellent for experienced surfers. This is a strong, clean session.
Saturday morning the 5th sees 4 ft from the SW at 16 seconds, but with a slight cross-onshore WNW wind at 5 km/h, energy at 899, so it’s a bit less clean.
Overall, the best on offer are Saturday morning 29 August and Friday morning 4 September – both with glassy wind, solid size, and plenty of energy. Get out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
356 | 430 | 129 | 95 | 136 | 118 | 184 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | 165 | 125 | 191 | 110 | 77 | 75 | 111 | 137 | 239 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:25PM1.81m | 9:47AM2.00m | 10:36PM1.77m | 10:55AM1.98m | 11:47PM1.81m | 12:00PM2.03m | 00:46AM1.91m | 12:54PM2.12m | 1:33AM2.06m | 1:41PM2.23m | 2:13AM2.21m | 2:22PM2.33m | 2:50AM2.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.75m | 3:25AM0.89m | 4:25PM0.80m | 4:35AM0.93m | 5:33PM0.77m | 5:44AM0.90m | 6:31PM0.69m | 6:43AM0.82m | 7:19PM0.59m | 7:32AM0.71m | 7:59PM0.48m | 8:15AM0.58m | 8:36PM0.39m | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 29 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 34 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SW 15 | SW 7 |
356 | 430 | 338 | 208 | 192 | 149 | 134 | 137 | 132 | 129 | 99 | 99 | 73 | 51 | 47 | 44 | 41 | 92 | 111 | 76 | 204 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
55 | 35 | 129 | 95 | 136 | 118 | 120 | 206 | 260 | 199 | 241 | 322 | 165 | 125 | 191 | 110 | 77 | 75 | 108 | 81 | 239 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | WSW 6 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSE 8 | SW 19 | SW 14 | S 13 | SW 21 |
23 | 15 | 18 | 6 | 60 | 97 | 184 | 84 | 82 | 72 | 56 | 36 | 37 | 13 | 12 | 30 | 20 | 56 | 54 | 31 | 72 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 3 | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 7 | — |
— | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 137 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 106 | 12 | 0 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











