Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Teresa surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. 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 29) 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 1.6m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Teresa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into this one.
We’re looking at a solid run of surf ahead at Playa Santa Teresa. The wait is short with small but clean conditions kicking things off Thursday morning, then building into a really promising stretch. The water is sitting at 86°F with a positive anomaly of 4°F, so that’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first real standout is Friday morning, 28 August. The swell is 3 ft from the SW, period 19 seconds, and combined energy is pumping at 716 (moderate). The wind is dead calm, glassy — it’s going to be clean, long lines. That long period means better shaped waves, more energy, and longer gaps between sets. Perfect for a morning paddle-out.
Saturday morning, 29 August, is the next big call. Swell jumps to 5 ft, still SW, with a period of 16 seconds and strong energy (1098). The wind is a light offshore from the east, cross-off, so expect clean, peeling waves. This is excellent for experienced surfers.
Sunday morning, 30 August, is also very good with 5 ft SW swell, glassy conditions, and 896 energy. Consistent fun.
There is a gap from Tuesday morning, 1 September, through to Thursday morning, 3 September, where the surf quality drops off. The wind gets messy and the swell dips. But hang tight.
Friday morning, 4 September, we’re back in business. Swell is 4 ft SW, 17 seconds, combined energy 1116 (strong). Glassy conditions again. This is another excellent session for experienced surfers.
Saturday morning, 5 September, is also excellent: 5 ft SW, 16 seconds, 1116 energy, glassy. The afternoon is a write-off with onshore wind.
Sunday morning, 6 September, is very good with 4 ft SW, 15 seconds, 688 energy, and calm glassy conditions.
The long-range standout is Thursday morning, 10 September. Swell peaks at 5 ft SW, 16 seconds, combined energy 1313 (strong), and glassy wind. That’s a solid pulse for the experienced crew.
Overall, the best windows are Friday and Saturday mornings, 28-29 August, and then again Friday and Saturday mornings, 4-5 September, plus the Thursday 10 September morning. Crowds are possible at Santa Teresa, so get out early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 77 | 75 | 150 | 81 | 239 | 531 | 239 | 777 | 1029 | 1109 | 1001 | 833 | 726 | 541 | 392 | 386 | 282 | 256 | 220 | 216 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:13AM2.21m | 2:22PM2.33m | 2:50AM2.36m | 3:00PM2.40m | 3:24AM2.49m | 3:37PM2.46m | 3:58AM2.59m | 4:14PM2.47m | 4:33AM2.64m | 4:51PM2.45m | 5:10AM2.65m | 5:30PM2.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:59PM0.48m | 8:15AM0.58m | 8:36PM0.39m | 8:54AM0.47m | 9:10PM0.31m | 9:32AM0.36m | 9:44PM0.26m | 10:09AM0.29m | 10:19PM0.25m | 10:46AM0.25m | 10:54PM0.26m | 11:25AM0.25m | 11:33PM0.30m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | 4 | 10 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 7 | — | 7 | 7 | — | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 19 | SSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | 79 | 74 | 56 | 60 | 62 | 531 | 51 | 777 | 1029 | 1109 | 1001 | 833 | 726 | 541 | 392 | 386 | 181 | 239 | 171 | 120 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 7 | SW 17 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 77 | 75 | 150 | 76 | 239 | 62 | 235 | 66 | 44 | 82 | 44 | 63 | 99 | 39 | 78 | 96 | 282 | 256 | 220 | 216 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | S 10 | WSW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 11 | 56 | 54 | 81 | 72 | 123 | 239 | 189 | 69 | 33 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 84 | 112 | 112 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 12 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 12 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 65 | 53 | 12 |
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.
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