Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m 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 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the surf at Playa Santa Teresa for the next 16 days. The water’s sitting at a balmy 87°, which is much warmer than what’s normal for this time of year, so you’ll be cooking out there.
We start off small. Wednesday morning the 12th has a long-period SW groundswell at 2ft with a 16-second period. The wind is light and cross-off, making for clean lines (combined energy 317). It’s a fun, small wave to get wet. The afternoons that day and all of Thursday look poor with onshore wind, so stick to the mornings.
Friday the 14th kicks things up. The swell comes in at 4ft from the SW, with an even longer 18-second period and glassy conditions. The energy is strong (804), and the surf is looking very good.
Now, the real standout is Saturday morning, the 15th of August. We’ve got a 5ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and dead calm, glassy wind. The combined energy is pumping at 1004, and this is described as excellent for experienced surfers. That is your session. The water will still be that unusually warm. Because the period is so long, expect the sets to be a bit faster and straighter at the shore, but the face quality will be world-class.
Sunday the 16th is still a cracker, with 4ft of SW swell and glassy conditions in the afternoon. Energy is still high (606). Monday and Tuesday mornings (17th & 18th) keep it clean with offshore-ish winds and 4ft and 3ft swells respectively. Great follow-up sessions.
We hit a quiet patch mid-week (19th-23rd), with swell dropping to 1ft to 2ft and mostly onshore breezes. A few glassy mornings offer knee-high waves for a longboard, but it’s a definite lull.
The final highlight is a week away. On Thursday morning, the 27th of August, a new long-period SW groundswell arrives with 3ft surf and a 17-second interval. The wind is glassy, and the energy is strong again (552). It’s a way off, but it’s a good reason to keep an eye on the forecast.
The pick of the whole run is Saturday the 15th morning. Big, clean, and powerful. The weekend of the 16th-17th is also top-tier. The last week is quieter until that potential re-up on the 27th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 211 | 206 | 183 | 137 | 251 | 369 | 804 | 686 | 1050 | 1004 | 897 | 853 | 606 | 606 | 528 | 428 | 434 | 410 | 317 | 346 | 406 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:14PM2.62m | 2:49AM2.61m | 3:05PM2.68m | 3:36AM2.73m | 3:53PM2.69m | 4:21AM2.79m | 4:38PM2.65m | 5:04AM2.77m | 5:22PM2.55m | 5:45AM2.68m | 6:05PM2.41m | 6:26AM2.55m | 6:48PM2.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:33PM0.09m | 8:56AM0.21m | 9:20PM0.02m | 9:46AM0.15m | 10:05PM0.01m | 10:32AM0.13m | 10:48PM0.06m | 11:17AM0.17m | 11:29PM0.17m | 12:01PM0.26m | 00:11AM0.31m | 12:44PM0.38m | 00:52AM0.48m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | 13 | — | — | 9 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 7 | S 8 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 76 | 73 | 82 | 92 | 69 | 80 | 804 | 686 | 1050 | 1004 | 897 | 853 | 606 | 606 | 528 | 428 | 434 | 410 | 83 | 138 | 406 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | S 7 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | 211 | 206 | 183 | 137 | 251 | 369 | 50 | 202 | 184 | 177 | 177 | 169 | 247 | 191 | 231 | 94 | 100 | 79 | 317 | 346 | 93 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 14 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | SW 19 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 8 |
| kJ | 136 | 103 | 73 | 92 | 47 | 248 | 90 | 301 | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 15 | 35 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 43 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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