Surf Forecasts:
Playa Valor surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with 201 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Valor this week:
The surf forecast for Playa Valor over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Valor in the next 16 days are 0.7m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Valor over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be real about the next couple weeks at Playa Valor. It's gonna be a test of patience, with a couple of mornings that will make it all worth it.
The first week is mostly small and junky. We're looking at waves around 2 to 3 feet, with a lot of cross-onshore afternoon wind and storm risk chopping it up. The mornings are the only time to even think about it, especially when it's glassy. The real highlights are shaping up for the mornings of Thursday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. The swell jumps to about 3 feet, the period stretches way out to 18 seconds—that's proper groundswell—and the winds are light and offshore or cross-offshore. The wave energy really kicks up too, hitting 404 and 570 on the combined scale, which is a massive jump from the weak stuff we've been seeing. This is the best it's going to get.
But that long period is a double-edged sword. At 18 seconds, it can make the reef/river setup at Playa Valor break a bit too straight and fast. It's already an advanced wave, and with that period, you'll need to be on your game for the take-off and hold on for the ride. Still, it'll be clean and powerful.
Moving into the second week, from the 16th to the 20th, it's more of the same—small, 2 to 3 feet, with those glassy windows in the morning. There's a little more consistency in the energy, but nothing special. The afternoons continue to be a write-off with the daily storm threat and onshore breeze.
Oh, and the water's a touch warmer than average—about 3 degrees warmer, which you'll feel. It's not crazy, but it's noticeable.
So, for the best chance at a decent wave, mark your calendar for the mornings of Thursday the 14th or Saturday the 15th. Those are your clean, glassy, groundswell windows. The rest is small, average, and needs a lot of patience. It's not a complete no-go, but don't get your hopes up too high for anything else.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 61mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 64 | 64 | 61 | 63 | 160 | 138 | 98 | 119 | 147 | 144 | 201 | 188 | 163 | 158 | 98 | 66 | 93 | 89 | 116 | 178 | 100 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 7:24PM2.28m | 7:49AM2.57m | 8:18PM2.19m | 8:46AM2.51m | 9:24PM2.13m | 9:53AM2.47m | 10:39PM2.13m | 11:06AM2.48m | 11:55PM2.22m | 12:17PM2.56m | 1:02AM2.39m | 1:21PM2.67m | 2:01AM2.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:22PM0.49m | 1:27AM0.52m | 2:15PM0.54m | 2:21AM0.61m | 3:18PM0.57m | 3:26AM0.67m | 4:28PM0.56m | 4:41AM0.68m | 5:40PM0.48m | 5:57AM0.61m | 6:46PM0.35m | 7:05AM0.48m | 7:44PM0.21m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — |
mm | 1 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 9 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 |
| kJ | 64 | 64 | 61 | 61 | 160 | 138 | 98 | 96 | 57 | 144 | 201 | 188 | 163 | 158 | 98 | 66 | 93 | 26 | 116 | 178 | 24 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 14 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 32 | 36 | 29 | 63 | 82 | 70 | 68 | 119 | 147 | 37 | 39 | 38 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 58 | 24 | 37 | 73 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | SW 22 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 64 | 61 | 61 | 57 | 56 | 67 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 51 | 39 | 89 | 33 | 25 | 100 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Playa Valor Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Playa Valor provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Valor can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Valor 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 Valor) 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 Valor 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 Valor is 23 km (14 miles) from Esparza. If you plan a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya, look for hotels and other accommodation in Esparza. Esparza has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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