
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period with SSW 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 08) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. 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 1.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| 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
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks here at Playa Santa Teresa. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming through, with the real standout action shaping up for the weekend of the 14th and into the 15th. The water’s sitting at a toasty 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you won’t be needing a wetsuit, that’s for sure.
We kick things off on Saturday the 8th. Saturday morning is a cracker: glassy conditions with a 3ft SSW swell rolling in, period a long 16 seconds, and combined energy sitting at a moderate 461. That’s proper long-period groundswell, so it’ll be clean and have plenty of push for a beginner-friendly spot. By Saturday arvo, the wind swings onshore and it gets messy, so make the most of the early.
Sunday the 9th, morning is looking good with a clean 3ft SW swell and a gentle offshore wind from the ENE – that’ll keep the faces tidy. The energy drops a touch to 413, but still plenty of fun. Afternoon turns cross-onshore and choppy, so again, it’s a morning mission.
Monday the 10th, another clear morning with light offshore breeze and a 3ft SW swell (energy 320). Clean and easy. Arvos are a write-off with the cross-on wind.
Tuesday the 11th, glassy again in the morning, swell 3ft from the SW at 14 seconds (energy 387). That’s a lovely window of calm conditions. The afternoon gets messy with a cross-on breeze and a weirdly long 18-second period for a small wave – that can make it a bit fat.
Wednesday the 12th, morning clean with a cross-off breeze and 2ft SW groundswell (energy 349). Small but tidy. Afternoon has a risk of thunderstorms and onshore wind, so no good.
Thursday the 13th, glassy morning again but the swell’s dropped to 2ft and the energy is weak at 137. Surfable but very ordinary.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 14th, morning is glassy with a 4ft SW swell, period a deep 18 seconds, and energy jumping to 710. That’s a serious step up in power. Expect very good surf conditions. Afternoon goes cross-onshore and marginal, so it’s all about that dawn patrol.
Saturday the 15th is the standout of the whole forecast. Morning has a clean 5ft SW swell with an offshore ENE breeze at 15 km/h, period 16 seconds, and combined energy hitting a strong 1004. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers – too big for beginners at over 5ft, and with that long period, it’ll be working best at the points and reefs around here. The water’s still warm, and it’ll be a proper session if you’ve got the skill.
Sunday the 16th, morning stays good with a 4ft SW swell, light cross-off wind, and energy at 606. Clean and very good. Afternoon has a risk of storms and cross-on wind.
Monday the 17th, morning clean with a 4ft SW swell (energy 428), but there’s a risk of thunderstorms. Still good if you dodge the rain.
Tuesday the 18th, glassy morning, 3ft SW swell (energy 466). Solid. Afternoon onshore and no good.
Wednesday the 19th, morning offshore and clean, 3ft SW swell (energy 430). A nice little session.
From Thursday the 20th, the swells start to drop off. Morning glassy but only 2ft and energy down to 186 – very ordinary. Friday the 21st is even smaller, with a 3ft SSW swell but a short period of 9 seconds, so it’s weak and a bit gutless (energy 193). Saturday the 22nd morning has a bit more life, 3ft SSW at 11 seconds and a clean offshore (energy 358), but it’s nothing to write home about. Sunday the 23rd finishes the run with a 2ft SW swell and clean offshore conditions, but energy’s low at 211.
So, if you’re picking one day, it’s Saturday the 15th morning. That’s the one with the most power, the best offshore wind, and the kind of size that’ll get your heart pumping. The morning of Friday the 14th is a close second. After that, it’s all about the smaller, cleaner morning windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
322 | 435 | 268 | 401 | 288 | 205 | 205 | 293 | 314 | 228 | 319 | 173 | 211 | 206 | 183 | 137 | 167 | 369 | 710 | 694 | 940 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:51AM2.33m | 10:36PM2.01m | 11:03AM2.35m | 11:51PM2.10m | 12:14PM2.42m | 00:58AM2.26m | 1:17PM2.52m | 1:57AM2.44m | 2:14PM2.62m | 2:49AM2.61m | 3:05PM2.68m | 3:36AM2.73m | 3:53PM2.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:26PM0.53m | 4:38AM0.64m | 5:38PM0.46m | 5:54AM0.57m | 6:43PM0.34m | 7:02AM0.45m | 7:41PM0.20m | 8:02AM0.32m | 8:33PM0.09m | 8:56AM0.21m | 9:20PM0.02m | 9:46AM0.15m | 10:05PM0.01m | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 12 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
322 | 435 | 268 | 401 | 288 | 205 | 205 | 293 | 314 | 228 | 288 | 173 | 211 | 56 | 65 | 78 | 71 | 120 | 710 | 694 | 940 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | S 8 | S 7 | S 12 |
139 | 55 | 57 | 34 | 48 | 47 | 45 | 41 | 56 | 53 | 319 | 56 | 56 | 206 | 183 | 137 | 167 | 369 | 90 | 70 | 228 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 24 | SW 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 15 | — |
52 | 11 | 79 | 12 | 49 | 68 | 113 | 61 | 186 | 159 | 55 | 152 | 138 | 103 | 73 | 92 | 113 | 203 | 90 | 209 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 6 | WNW 6 | NNE 3 | — | — | NW 8 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 17 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 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.











